The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-01
NARROW ESCAPES
Of CHAMP IONS
Lucky Punches That Caused
Trouble for Holders of
PugiIiStiC Titles.

Many and narrow have been the es-
capes of champion pugilists from
knock-outs at the hands of despised
opponents, and many times has
champion been fairly knocked out. but
escaped the consequences through the
Partially of the referee who did not
have the heart TO see the title holder
put away by a man not in the same
class. 1t is a fact that many pugilists
seek an opportunity to take advantage
of the champion, thereby hoping to
gain reputation and riches al small
effort and little danger.
No boxer ever had a more painful
experience in that respect than Rob
ert F1tzsimmons, who in his day was
the greatest man in the world for his
weight. In 1894, three years after Fitz
had won the middeWeight champion
ship from Jack Dempsey, and at
time when he was earnestly endeavor-
ing to get on a bout with Jim Corbett
for the heavyweight honors. Fitz made
a siX-round match with Joe Choynski
to be decided in Boston theatre.
FftzsimmOns was engaged to be mar
ried to Rose Julian. sister of Martin
Julian, and the freckled fury had lit
tie thought Of going in set battle.
But Choynski had an idea which he
kept to himself, and that was that
there would be fine chance TO intro
duce the celebrated double cross into
the proceedings.
Love Taps for Two Rounds.
For two rounds they exchanged love
taps, and the few spectators began to
yawn. In the third round FitZ was
counting up the house i'm order to see
how much money there would be to-
ward his wedding expenses. Choynski
saw the opportunity. and sent a
smashing left to the jaw that tumbled
F1tz down on his face and set the small
crowd yelling like a tribe OF Co
manches
Fitz rolled over on the floor. his
freckles mingling with the resin dust.
and Choynski stood watching him with
a critical smile. Finally Ruby Robert
got up on his hands and knees and
shook bis head to clear it, Just as the
referee counted nine Fitz tottered to
ms feet. CroynsH rushed forward to
nnlsn his man, but Fitz clutched the
Calotornian before he could strike. and
held him like grim death. All around
the stage they wrtseled, Choynski max
ing a desperate effort to free himself
ana F1tz hanging to his man like a
grizzly.
When Fitz had steadied himself he
broke away and spared at long range
10 the end of the round. With one
minute of sponging and towel swing
ing FItz was quite fresh when he
came w for the fourth round
Maher Had Fitz Dazed.
t1tzsimmons had another narrow es-
cape, this time at the hands of Peter
Mdher. They met in a bout at New
orleans in 1892. and Maher reached
FltZ jaw with one of his famous left
handlers. in the second round. Down TO
the canvas went Fitz. with his nose in
the dust but on his knee. He was an
parently unable TO get his head off the
floor, although his legs were not Sc
riously affected
The COrnishman was screaming his
nose in the dust until il was close 10
the count of ten, when he managed 10
get on his feet After that he was
more careful and gradually wore
Maher down to point where the Irish
champion became discouraged and re-
FUSED 10 come out of his corner for the
thirteenth round
George Dixon had an unpleasant ex-
peIlence IN the City of Brotherly Love
IN by when he was completely
knocked out by the Kentucky Rosebud
negro who had shown some htttino
ability, but scant courage. The cir
cumstances under which Dixon u-as
defeated were such that the Rosebud
GOT niue credit for it. and, as he later
nuked' out Of match with Little
chocolate, in which Dixon had
planned to get even with the Rosebud
ne hnockout was regarded as a con-
iemptlDle double-cross and went down
IN the records as a draw battle.