Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-04
THE pUGlLlSTS.
AFTER ALL
 OF THEM.
Bob Fitzsimmons to Make Jim Corbett Look Re- diculous Boxer is Bet ter Than a Wrestler.

New York. March 4.-Bob Fitzsifn- mons came from Chicago yesterday brimful of enthusiasm and full of fight. The ex-champion has mapped out campaign in the ring which if he # upholds will keep him busy for some time. To show that he is strictly in earnest, the first thing Fitz did after ' his arrival was to visit a local gym 1lasium. There he went through sev- 4 Sral stunts, including wrestling, S punching the bag and q rattling four round bout with Tommy Shortell. A 7 Reporter happened on the scene while 3 Fitz was wrestling. The "old man. #fwas as frisky as a kitten in his work and seemed to be strong. 'You can tell them for me that I have not quit" :" said Lanky Bob. earnestly. I'm in the game for some time to come. l will be ready to have it out with any body in the business except Jim Jeff fries. And I wouldn't mind tackling him again if thought wouldn't break my hands punching him. You know he is mighty tough. My ambi- lion just now, of course, is to have it out with Jim Corbett. But there is no use so long as he tries to avoid me. But there is way of getting him to fight. and that way is to take 'em all on and beat them, and leave Corbett to the ridicuIe of the public afterward if he Hunks from a match. That's my plan, and isn't 1t good one? There is some talk about going to South Af- rica and fighting there. That's go all right, but as | haven't been noti. fled officially. naturally cannot ac- cept But when the offer comes in the Fright way you can gamble will take 1t up if it's good one. But Jim Cor bett for mine first" ritz's hands ~Aiil bother him. but they are rounding into shape again. The Cornishman's hands, if his bout with Shortell is any cri, terion, are in trim once more. At any rate he used them with his old-time vim and power.
 Now that wrestling is havipg such # a vogue, particularly i'll Merrie Eng land, the old comparison between that sport and boxing is cropping up.
 An Englishman, Thomas Denny, an eficer in His Majesty's army, has something to say on the subject:
 MT Denny begins by remarking that while the wrestler may possess greater muscular strength. he may not ] be blessed with that keen perception
 
 of your really clever boxer.
 ssAnd since brains are admittedly the chief factor in the performance of difficult task, so boxers fists will be directed to any portion of the wrestler's body with far greater ra- pidity than will the latter's hand when trying hold," continues MT Denny.
 ssThe wrestler'S arms, too, are uSu ally extended in a curved position as he moves forward for grip, and this attitude is invariably in favor of the other, while a wrestler is seldom ol never able to step back or retreat or the instant The boxers normal atti tude makes him, on the other hand, in stantly ready for either attack or de fense, always assuming that he is clever on his feet and that he fully un derstands the value of the slightes movement.
 sgrhe boxers footwork must, it zoe without saying, be superb, and his feints and slipping of the highest de gree of science. If he adopts punch 3fg and guarding tactics with eithel hand. the wrestler must stand off. The rush by the wrestler for q hold. cer tainly requires very skillful evasivt # tactics on the part of the fighter. Ht must therefore train his feet and hi' eyes to perfection. He must also re member that his greatest strength ii best demonstrated when he is oi guard or in his defensive attitude For although he may not be as strons bodily as the wrestler, it is in this at titude that the clever boxer is usua ll7 at his best. The secret is to be first either in the ring or in a street row.