Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-19
o'BRIEN CONFIDENT
OF WHIPPING FITZ

SAN FRANCISCO, December 19.--When
well-krown horseman heard that Bob
FitzZstmmons was using a new brand OF
pickle to harden his hands, he remarked:
Then OBrIen had better pickle his solar
plexus."
II the turtle had seen O'Brien he would
have thought that OBrien was needing the
advice Jack. who had just Invested him
self of the heavy clothing worn during q
couple of hours road work, was In the
hands of his trainers. He stood in the mid
die of the floor while Willie Fitzgerald
soused him literally with alcohol and witch
hazel O'Brien held himself rigidly and
the muscles over the stomach stood forth
like the ridges on a washboard. And 1t
can truthfully be said that Fitzgerald made
a noise Hike dashboard as he rubbed the
hardening mixture on the sinewy ripples OF
O'Brien's midsection.
According to some old trainers a wash
board front is a delusion and q, snare, mas
much as when fighter is assailed In that
particular region he is relaxed from exer-
lion until his flesh is soft as dough.
But aside from all questions as to the
efficacy of a washboard "tummy" as a pro-
lection from picked fists, 1t must be said
superbly trained athlete. He Is muscied all
over and everything about him. from his
square jaw and durable looking neck to his
spare, though serviceable appearing shanks,
There is not an atom of superhuots weight
on his frame or limbs.
o'Brien Serious
O'Brien Is very serious man just at
present. He is alive to what victory or de-
feat means and he is not losing sight of
anything that is likely to contribute to his
chances of success. He hasn't said much
as to the plan of battle he has outlined for
tomorrow night. but the degree of footwork
and fast boxing he has INDUCED In tells its
own story. He isn't going to make bar
room fight OF his championship tussle with
the man Of freckies.
A remark O'Brien made furnished addi-
tlonal proof that Jack wants all the sea
room the law allows when he stands before
the Cornishman. 1t was when some one
questioned him as to the size Of the ring
for the forthcoming contest.
1T will be the full twenty-four feet called
for by the Queensbury rules or there will
be no contest said Jack II guess that
has been attended to, though. The matter
was talked over and the promoters know
that the conditions are to be the same as In
all worlds championship contests
o.Brien says it Is not because he has any
particular fear Of Fitzsinmons that he
wants the ring the right size, but because he
wants to make use of the cIeverness and
nimbleness that nature and years OF ring
work have endowed him with. Pugilism. he
says. Is known as the art of self-defense,
and not self-sacrifce.
"I found out In my last affair with Fitx
that there Is good deal OF exaggeratton
about the weight of his blows" said Jack.
He claims to have knocked me out of the
ring. but nothing of the kind happened. He
didn't even knock me down. I fell twice
through slipping on wet spots In fhe corner
that fought from.
Fitx In Good Shape.
II am glad to hear that Fitz Is in good
shape" continued o'Brien IT see where
some of the smart sporting men OF the east
have selected him to win. but past history
OF this kind of thing shows that forecasts
are more often wrong than right. So far as
Fitz Is concerned. he has earned the repu-
tation OF Knockout, and It stays with
him. am going to show him that he isn't
the only bubble on the beer when II comes
to q question OF hard hitting. T profited
more than the average person would sus-
pect by my former bout with Eftz. had
little or no confidence when I faced him
then. whereas have every confidence In
the world now, feel that Wednesday
nights battle win terminate with knock
out, and the face on the door will not be
Jack O'Brien's either
II Is beginning to appear that the grand
fettle shown BIZ "OId Man. Fitxsirnnons
during his concluding indoor work on Sum
DAY Is about to revoiutiontze the bstting.