Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-30
"FITZ is CHAMPION
SAYS HIS RIVAL
Tommy Ryan Admits That Lanky
Bob 10 Leader Of MIddle-
WejoI1fa


weights
Sig Hart, the pugilistic authority Of
Chicago. is authority for the state
ment that Tommy Ryan, who has
paraded for several years as the mid
dleweight champion, admitted on sew
eral occasions in conversation with
sporting men in the west that he has
no just claim to the title.
Several weeks ago, while a party Of
ring followers were seated in a cafe
and were discussing pugilistic topics.
the name of Bob Fitzsimmons was
brought up. Ryan, who was one Of
the party, then publicly made the ad-
mission that Fitzsimmons was the
only legitimate middleweight cham
pion.
"He is a great old man." Ryan is
reported to have said, 'and at the
weight do not think any one can
defeat him. He won the title from
Jack Dempsey. and no one has ever
defeated him for 1t. have been called
the champion Of the class, but the
only title I can really claim is that
Of welterweight championship, which
I won."
This confession of Ryan's should put
a new phase on the long standing dis
pute as to whether or not Fitzsimmons
is the champion Of the class. Every
critic admits that Ruby Robbie is still
the leader of the middleweights. and
until he fails to make the limit, he at
least is entitled to recognition as the
champion.
At the present time there is great
deal Of talk concerning the weight
limit of the class. Some claim that It
is 154, while others place it at 1856
pounds.
OF late years 1t has come to pass
that the champion Of his class gener-
ally names the weight. George Dixon
always defended his featherweight
title at 11s pounds. He fought Terry
McGovern, and was defeated at that
weight, but when the latter gained the
championship he Immediately claimed
that the limit OF the class was 122
pounds, and when he took on weight
rdlSeQ tHe ilIHit' NOipCIS oSAS1Scu
Terry at 12s pounds, and the latter,
while really lightweight, was hailed
as the champion Of featherweights.
Joe Cans is still the champion Of the
lightweights, but Of late most of his
matches have been made at 1888
pounds, and when he recently trained
down near the legitimate figures he
was so weak that he could hardly
stand before the rushes OF Jimmy
Britt.
There Is also a mix-up in the welter-
weight class. Young Peter jackson,
by virtue OF his victory over Joe Wal
cott, insists that he Is the champion
of the class. Yet the match was at
catch weights. and Jackson can no
more make the welterweisht figure
than George Wares big mule can fly.
AS to the middleweight limit. II was
always 1854 pounds. FitHsimmons
fought Dempsey at those figures. but
neither tipped the beam. Now FitS-
simmons, as champion, claims that 1853
is the weight. Certain 1t IL that II
Bob can stili make 1853, he would not
be himself and weighing in at the
ringside 1t is question IL he would
not be so weak as to fall an easy VIC
tim to such young and clever oppo-
nent as Jack o'Brien.
Much OF the talk sent out by Ryan
should be taken with grain OF salt,
Tommy has for years suffered from a
stomach trouble. and hard course OF
training. such AZ championship
match would require, would do him
no good So far as the weight quss-
ton is concerned, puEilism IL in a
muddle.