Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-22
FITz HAD NOTABLE
CAREER AS BOXER
Cornishman Was One of Great
est Fighters That Ever
Stepped Into a Ring.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

From scores of horseshoes that hang
over theater managers doorways, 1ash-
toned in plying his trade as black
smith by Bob Fitzsimmons as souvenirs
today are futtering bits of crepe. for
.I.anky Bob" one Of the greatest fight
ers that ever stepped into a ring, is no
more Stricken with pneumonia While
in Chicago, where he was filing a stage
engagement, Fitz was rushed to hos
pital, where for i've days he put up the
fight of his career. battled grim!y ana
gamely with death, but the odds were
too great and early today he took the
count from the grim reaper,
Fftz faced the final battle with the
same courageous determination that re-
turned him victor in the squared circle
against opponents to whom he had con-
ceded as much as fifty pounds In weight.
He waved away the nurses, his SECONDS
in the finish fight that no mortal ever
wins. I'm all right" he said, let me
fight it out by myself" He put up a
typical Fitzsimmons battle and STAYED
off for three days the end his physicians
knew to be inevitable, but when tltz
would not admit to himself, although
he knew of the ringside odds against
him.
Fitzsimmons was ffty-fve years old.
having been born at Helsten, Cornwall.
England, June 4. 1852. and. considering
his comparatively light weight, was one
of the most remarkable boxers who
ever drew on glove. some authorities
regarding him as the greatest ever 1t
was in Australia that he first won
recognition in the ring. his feat of win
ming the amateur championship or New
Zealand in 1880 by defeating four men
in one night at tournament conducted
I'D. tyNr n
prominence IN the pugilistic world. He
added to his fame in Australia the
following year by putting away FIVE
men in one night. including Herbert
Slade, the great Maori scrapper. and
three other famous New Zealand boxers.
He virtually cleaned up in New Zea-
land that year and continued to reign
supreme until he was defeated by Jim
Hall in four rounds during 1890 The
next year he invaded this country and
knocked out Jack Dempsey, one of the
greatest fighters in the annals of the
ring This battle was fought at New
Orleans in 1891 and lasted thirteen
rounds. This started Fitzsimmons and
he disposed of so many OF his oppo-
nents in Jig time that ring critics be-
gan TO recognize him as a dangerous
coming heavyweight.
In 1892 his most important fight was
with Peter Maher, who he knocked cold
in twelve rounds at New Orleans, and
he also lulled Joe God1rey 10 steep with
a punch in this city later In that year.
The next year Fitz knocked out Jim
Hall, Dan Creedon and Frank Keller
besides drawing with Joe Choynski He
did little in 1895, but the next year his
three important bouts were with Peter
Maher and Tom Sharkey. He stopped
Peter in one round in the famous Lang
try, Tex, bout. where Maher claimed
he was half blinded by dust and sand
and later boxed a three-round draw
with Peter in New York. He lost on a
| foul to Tom Sharkey in eight rounds
later, but redeemed himself to the
whole world pugilstery by knocking
| out Jim Corbett in the fourteenth round
| in the famous Carson City melee on
March II, 1897. This gave him the
| championship, but he did not retain il
very long for Jim Jefferries put him
away in eleven rounds at Coney Island
June 9, 1899.
Fitz never regalned the title after
| that. ALTHOUGH he knocked out Ed
| Dunkhorst, Gus Rubin and Tom Shar-
kew the next year. He tried it agair
| with Jefferies in 1902, but was put &c
| sleep in eight rounds at San Francisco
| July IS. After that Fitz was easy &c
| beat. for Jack O'Brien. Jack johnson
! and Bill Lang knocked him out. al
+ though we won few minor bouts be
| tween these defeats.
The largest purse FitZ ever fought TO!