The Irish standard., 1905-05-13
bob" FITZSIMMONS.
Champion Of Prize Ring Talks ot
Past Battles.


Past Battles.
1t is doubtful if any aspirant for
honors in the fistic arena has enjoyed
more interesting or successful history
than Robert Fitzsimmons. His career
is best described by himself and in an
interview recently made, gave forth
het following interesting statement:
II have been in the ring for seven
teen years, have fought 365 battles and
lost two. This seems a fairly good
record. Only one man ever beat me
james J. Jeffries, and 1 consider
Jeffries the pugilistic marvel of the
age. He has every advantage over
the other heavyweight boxers, has
strength, weight, skill and ring gen.
eralship, and is clearly in a class by
himself
"It is thirteen years since won my
first championship, defeating poor
Jack Dempsey, long since dead, in
thirteen rounds. This battle was re-
garded as easy for Dempsey. I had
just landed from Australia, and did
not look like a fighter. 1 have always
had peculiar physique with which
to deal, appearing too top-heavy. But
know that this apparent fault has
resulted in my winning so many bat
ties, as all my weight is in my shoul-
ders and arms, the points which are of
vital interest to fighter.
"Jack Dempsey was the middle
! weight champion of the world, and
one of the greatest fighters that ever
lived. He had everything in the
lighting line, not lacking point OF
pugilistic ability. He was an Irish
man, wonderfully game, crafty, su-
perb ring general and lightning fast.
"We fought for the middle-weight
championship, then held by Dempsey.
This was in 1891. Dempsey weighed
14S pounds, and I was two pounds
heavier. z
"The battle is ring history. For
twelve rounds the great and game
Dempsey struggled against fate. He
fought every inch of the way. l told
him in the eleventh round to throw
up the sponges, for hated to punish
a man of his caliber. His seconds
begged to be allowed to end the battle,
but Dempsey smiled grimly, remarked
that he had seen other men take their
medicine and that he was going
through the battle at any cost.
"He was knocked out cold in the
1 thirteenth round, and l was sorry to
see him go. He never recovered from
the defeat and died of broken heart.
Out on the Oregon river there is now
a grave, secluded in the solitude of
the forests Dempsey loved so we'll.
One Of the proudest moments Of my
life was when 1 was asked to con.
tribute something toward the fund for
the support of the widow of my great.
est and gamest apponent
"Then for eight years was called on
to meet heavy-weights and men weigh.
ing above ITS pounds. Middle-weights
of the Dempsey class were few and
far between, and they would not face
the man who had defeated the once
great champion. It was either case
of fighting the heavy-weights or re-
firing, and as fighting was my bust
ness, chose the former course.
Perhaps the most memorable bat
tie was with Peter Maher in New Or
learn in 1895. Maher had come across
the water from ireland, hailed as the
worlds champion. He was met in
New York harbor by delegation OF
men who were prepared to back him
to the limit. We were matched to
to finish in New Orleans, and Ma.
her quit in the twelfth round. He was
not game-the only Irishman that
have ever seen who would not take
a beating. He had fearful punching
powers, was big and strong, but as
soon as began to get to him he was
attacked with fright and passed out
of the ring
-Four years later fought Maher
again this time in Langtry, Texas.
Peter still had the same old fear. We
were boxing under clean-break rules,
and he fouled me no less than four
times in the first minute. Then he
fouled me again, and 1, managed to
get his jaw exposed for second, and
it was all over. made about $4,000
in just ninety seconds. which, guess,
-. --ErsEST,TNk