Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-19
FlTzSIMMONS FIGHTS AGAIN
Ancient Cornishman to Meet Lang at
Sydney Next Week.
OLD ONES ARE TO COME BACK
HIS Return to the Rims Recalls the
Memorable Battles with Jeffries
johnson says It's n
shame 10 Allow Bout.

while upecuIation Is rife in this country
as 20 the possibility Of a rejuvenated JET
fries. Australians are also wondering
vhether Robert Fitzsimmons can come
hack when he meets Bill Lang at Sydney
IN a twenty-round fight for the heavy
weight championship of the Antipodes.
F~itzsimmons and Lang will hook up a
week from tomorrow and Sydney is already
on tiptoe.
No greater fighter thar the ancient Cor
nishnan ever lived. No harder Duneher
ever delivered a knockout blow. Champion
OF the world. though a natural middle-
weight, Fitzsimmons gradually went back
because of advancing years. and In lSOi,
when Jack Johnson stopped him In two
rounds Il was generally believed that the
end had come. Fitzsimmons will be ~
years old next June, yet he still considers
himself a young man and actually believes
he can fight as we'll as ever. He has been
out OF the ring more than two years, but
declares that the rest has done him a
world of good; also that his broken hands
are now as well as ever and that he can
wallop with the same tremendous power
that made him the condueror of Corbett,
6harkey, Rubin, Maher and other noted
heavyweights in days gone by,
Fitz has been a good liver and has en-
toyed life as much as any man. but his
wonderful constitution has enabled him to
Withstand the ravages of time. When he
boxed in London last summer he displayed
the same broad shoulders, the long slnewy
arms, the great muscles in his back and
the pipestem legs. He was remarkably
active on his feet and by dint of much
strenuous outdoor exercise he seemed to
have regained some Of his former stamina.
Confidence was always one of Fitz's best
qualities and 1t seems that ne has not lose
II. When ne met Hugh Mcintosh. the
Australian light promoter, in England last
fall he said:
eli can fight an well as 'hever. Mr..
Mcintosh, hand hif you'Il give me a han
to show the people Of Haustralia 'ow HI
can go Hill make good"
Mcintosh quickly saw an opportunity ia
provide a special attraction for the fight
fans Of Sydney and lost no time in signing
the ancient Cornishman to meet Bill Lang.
He guaranteed Fitz a round trip ticket
for himself and his wife and a 5000 bonus
win, lose or draw. Fitzsimmons arrived in
Australia six weeks ago and has been
doing some vigorous training ever since.
Jeffries, who is matched to fight johnson
for the worlds championship next July
utter an absence of nearly five years, from
the prize ring. owes his worldwide promi'
hence in pugiiism to his victories over this
yame Fitzsimmons. Ring follower whC
remember how jeff wrested the champion
chip from Fitzsimmons never tire OF telling
he story. which is Of interest to the
younger geenration, no doubt.
Moving pictures cut no figure in the ar
AH-a
F~itzsimmons fight at Coney Island in 1899
FItz was the champion and he dictated
terms that gave him 65 per cent OF tn,
gross receipts, win or lose. He regarded
Jsffrles as a punk pugilist and did no
consider him seriously until he actual,
got in the ring with him. Then he realize,
that he had made a fatal mistake wheE l
was too late. -
Comparison of Big Ones.
Sporting writer's had a chance to com
pare Jeffries and Fitzsimmons at thei
training quarters a week before the fight
Jeff was in the hands of Billy Delaney an
Tommy Ryan. He had taken off fort
pounds of superfluous flesh and was a
lit as a racehorse. Road runs of ten an
fifteen miles were pie for him. and whe
he was trained to the minute he jumpe
on the scales one day and weighed exact
900 pounds. As fast as q welterweigh
Jeffries was able TO make it hot for tn
clever Ryan in eight and ten round bout
No matter how hard he worked. the bi
boilermaker never tired. His powerfl
lungs and phenomenal strength Shove
that he was ready for q long fight. viii
his terrific hitting indicated that Fit
simmons would so up against a toue
game.
The Cornishman on the other hand toe
things easy at his camp. He ate as niue
2 as he wanted, drank various stimulants ar
exercised In a half hearted manner.
"tE' a big mutt said Fltz whenev,
Jeffries was discussed. "Hill stop 4
with a punch"
"Jeffries Is a dangerous young felloV
Fltz.'' remarked the writer a few da!
before the mill. Hes fast and stron
He is clever and can hit. You are goir
TO nave trouble with him"
THAT the way with all you newspap
fe.lers." replied Fitx, hotly. "Halwa.
knockin'. Railways predictin' that HI
get licked. But Him goin' to fool 20
Wait AND see"
When the men faced each other befo