The Washington times., 1905-12-17
Fitz Still Has Punch
Is NdughtOn's Opinion
Expert Who Knows Him Thoroughly Thinks
Cornishman Hasn't Lost Hitting Power,
But Has Undoubtedly Gone Back.
By w. w. NAUGHTON.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16-SO far
Fitzsimmons has disappointed whole
lot Of people
he has kept up a steady lick of train
ing and hasn't complained of sore feet
or aching joints. As he will be in the
ring with O'Brien a few nights from
now. it would be obviously futile to
speculate further on the probability of
the Cornishman collapsing under the
strain of preparation, and the discus
sions have switched to the fight itself.
Numbers of those who were convinced
That the speckled veteran would never
stand the grind of five weeks prep.
are now harping on another string
Ihey say that the ancient one will
hang out signals OF distress before many
ROUNDS OF the fight have passed. and
mat the San Francisco public win be
treated TO another fizzle
VINO knows? Isn't it just possible that
fltz may surprise us in this respect
the same as he did with his training?
Not as Good as Ever.
In my mail the other day was a let
ter from a Portland Ore. sporting
man who asked me IL I had expressed
the opinion that F'itz is as good as
ever. If so what helped me TO the
conclusion
Friend, l must plead not guilty. I
nave been watching Fitz in action for
nigh cnto sixteen years 1 saw him
defeat Dempsey in New Orleans. Maher
on the Rio Grande, Corbett up In the
sage brush, and Sharkey at Coney ISL
and 10 say nothing of other per
1ormances before, between, and since.
have no hesitation in saying that 1
DO not consider Fitz as good as ever.
con sec how he could be unless he un-
uerwent some such treatment as Rider
Maggards She" was subjected to-
While the spirit of frankness is with
me- will say 1 was among those who
had doubts regarding Fitzs ability to
stand training. l had in mind his poor
showing with George Gardner, and
was further Influenced by the report
that he had Cracked up" at Salt I,ake
Puzzled by His Stamina.
am not only surprised but puzzled
at the way the old fellow has been COM
ing through the five weeks ordeal. and
am wondering what other shocks ne
has In store for us. / have said. and
cheerfully repeat. that when Fitz
warns up 20 a boxing bout with one of
his partners he seems as agile and as
resourceful as the F'itz of years ago
There is this much OF a reservation 10
the statement. however. l fully recog-
nize that setting-to with a sparring
partner is very different from being IN
action with bona fide opponent who is
bent on hurting you or tiring you out
/ do not believe there is any way of
gathering from mans training how
far he can go in real battle or how much
rough usage he can stand You may
learn something. however, In respect TO
the force behind his punches, and my
observation and inquiries have caused
me TO think that Fitz retains the hurt
full ''wallop' which made his name 4
terror TO bygone ringsters.
Shoulders All Right.
In making a study of Fits physical
points. l noticed that while he wears "A
| toupee and has acquired crows feet
around the eyes, his shoulders are "a
hummocky and muscle-shesthed as
| ever. Peter Jackson. when in his prime.
| had grand shoulders, but when he
| trained for Jeffries over at CroIrs ii
/ was remarked that the big knobs had
hattened down considerably, and that
there was less of a suggestion of driv-
| ing power about Jackson's upperworks
than formerly.
have had no diminishing effect, 50 far
as the appearance of his batteries are
concerned. Wrinkles may come and