The Washington times., 1905-12-24
GAhENESS WAS ALL
LEFT BY OLD AGE
Fitz Had Deteriorated in
Other Respects.
LIKE JOHN LIS LAST BOUT
Marked Similarity Between Fights
- Marking Pugilistic Finishes OF
Two Once Great Fighters.
By CHIP.

CHICAGO, Dec. 23.-That old-time
pugilistic proverb. Youth will be serv-
ed" was never more strikingly exemp-
lifted than when Jack O'Brien, in the
heydey of his youth and strength, grad
ually battered game old Bob Fitzsim-
mons into state of helplessness.
1t was the story of Corbett and Sui
Ivan over again-in fact the details OF
the fight are almost identical with those
of the memorable one in New Orleans
in 1892 O'Brien, like the equally clever
Gentleman jim" danced around the
Older and slower man, worrying him
with straight jabs and short hooks,
closing his eyes and swelling his face.
until at length. having rendered him
nearly helpless, he stepped boldly in and
administered the coup de grace which,
in OBrien's case, strangely enough, was
the very punch that once won a cham
pionship for Fitz himself-the celebrated
solar plexus.'
Gameness Alone Left.
OF all the qualities that went to make
of the famous Cornishman the greatest
fighter of his weight that the world
ever saw, terrific punching power, ring
generalship, a peculiar sort OF clever
Fitzsimmons has apparently surrendered
to the inexorable march of time all
but the last-named attribute. He took
without finching a beating that might
we'll have stopped younger and strong
er man. waiting. he waited at Car
son City. for the opening that he prob
ably believed, up TO the last, would
come and which would enable him to
land his terrific knockout punch.
But O'Brien. fighting carefully at all
stages, left no opening, and gradually
the old fellows strength deserted him
until he became an easy victim for the
Unrelenting streak OF lightning that
played around him, darting in and out,
stinging and binding him until the
power to land a telling blow had passed.
What Comes Next?
The victory means much to O'Brien.
With 1t goes the title of light-heavy-
weight champion. which F'itz had pre-
viously won from George Gardner, and
also a strong claim to the heavyweight
crown, which will, OF course, be vigor-
ously disputed by Marvin Hart.
A battle between these two great
youngsters is now in order. although
the great disparity IN the weight and
size OF the DleD-plODdOlS IOTIy pOOUQS
in Hart's favor makes il look rather a
bad match for O'Brien, even on the
strength Of his showing against Fitz-
simmons. Still. O'Brien will probably
be only too eager to meet the big
kentuckian-in due course of time of
course, for Hart IS at present tied UP
with a long transforming tour. and
O Brien himself will more than likely
follow precedent and proceed TO clean
up a barrel of easy money on the
well-established lines of exhibitions and
theatrical work. In the meantime the
battle can be arranged and will be a
beautiful bit Of presswork for their re-
spective shows
And what of Fitzsimmons The great
old man OF the ring has no doubt
fought his last real fight. Although far
from being rich man he still has few
thousands left from the various rat
holes that his ring earnings have gone
into. Although his prestige has gone.
he is. like John L. Sullivan. still popu-
lar idol for what he has done. and will
always be able to make a good income,
and possibly a little more, from his pub
lie appearances.