New-York tribune., 1913-12-31
FITz BARRED FROM
THE BOXING RING
State Athletic Commission
Takes Formal Action
After a Hearing.
CASE MAY NOW BE
CARRIED TO COURTS
Manager of Former Champion
Threatens TO Get Out a Re-
straining Injunction.

Bob Fitzsimmons. now i'm his ffty-sec-
ond year. former heavyweight champion
Of the world. and considered by many as
the greatest fighter Of all time, is formally
debarrcd from engaging in any boxing
bouts in this state This was announced
at the regular meeting of the State Ath-
letic Commission, held at the headquar-
ters. no. Il Park Row. yesterday after
noon.
The action was taken only after
lengthy meeting. in which Fttzsimmohs'
the managers of the Atlantic Garden Atm
lotic club. Dr.. RoscnthaL physician OF
the club. and the commissioners talked
freely on the advisability of allowing the
veteran Cornishman TO re-enter the ring'
The commission maintains that II
would he contrary TO the best interests OF
boxing TO allow Bob Fitzsimmons 10 box
i'm this state" said Charles j. Harvey, the
secretary. i'm Announcing the verdict Inc
decision was unanimous, and reached ON!
after the facts of the case had been gone
over i'm detail. Fitzsimmons is too ola
nan to box real battle. and TO ailo" MN
10 enter the ring would he 10 invite pei
haps fatal injury 10 one OF the creates
fighters I'm the history Of boxing. We
have advised Fitzsimmons of our decision
and also the Atlantic Garden Athletic
club. We shall also inform all clubs un-
der our jurisdiction OF our decision.
johnny Meek. manager Of titzsimmohs'
was indignant when he beard the decision
last night. lie declared that he woa'o
put the case I'm the hands Of his attorney
Al once. This Is outrageous he iuiheu'
This commission has set itself bet"ei"
FftzsimmOns and a living. Boxing Is the
only game he knows. ard he has rlsht
10 enter the rims if he can secure the en-
gacements There is nothing i'm the Fra"-
lev law which dsbars a man from COM
netting. providing he is over eighteen years
Old. / don't intend TO let them get away
with ANYTHING like this ! will put the
case i'm the hands OF my lawyer and ne
Wil call at their Offices tomorrow morn
iug. If necessary we will secure an IN
fmction restraining the State Athleuc
commission from interfering with TINS
contest.
And who are these commissioners VINO
presume TO teI Bob FitZsmmOns that he
cannot box? / will bet any one OF the
three commissioners that if they were TO
put on boxing gloves they would not know
what to do or how to do it, question If
they would know the difference between
a left hand lab and q right cross counter,
yet they presume to tell the greatest
most wonderful fighter in the world that
ne cannot earn living in the manner IN
which he has always done II.
'.Fitzsimmons is as good to-day as he
was ten years ago. lie has been in CON
stant training for several months, and In
All his training bouts has shown great
speed. endurance and strength. He can
hit as OF old and. all in all, il is ridicu-
lOus TO prevent him from boxing
FitzSlmmons was raging when he
leaned the news 1t is a bally shame
NE said Here / am in perfect condition,
and although I'm bit above the average
age Of a boxer. / still feel young and
strong. II ! can't beat any of the white
heavyweights in four rounds am will
ing to quit boxing for all time"
Dr Rosenthal, Of the Atlantic Garden
Athletic Club admitted when questioned
by the commission that at fifty-twO
years of age a man was not physically i'm
condition TO engage in such strenuous
exercise as boxing and especially against
men 50 many years his Junior
The meeting Of the commission was
much i'm the nature of a friendly gather
ing FitzsimmOns talked freely Of his
past battles and referred constantly 10
how he defeated Jim Corbett who was
recognized a 5 perhaps the clcverest boxer
i'm tho world lie also spoke of how he
trained Jim Jeffries to whip corbett. and
said that il he was good enough to ac-
complish that he could hold his own with
the present crop Of fighters.
Frank &. O'Noil, chairman of the COM
mission, i'm the course Of conversation
said to FitzsimmOns:
I'VE have the greatest respect for you,
Bob out We question whether you would
he able to hold your own with these fell
lows. Now. what is your opinion OF Jim
Corbett? Could he box again.
NO" roared Fitz He's through. and
been through for some time. He couldn't
beat any OF the white men to-day
Then" replied O'Neil If he is FIN
ished. and is several years younger than