The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-26

some persons have had the idea
that / tried to duck out of the ma CHI
with Bob Fitgsimmons, belief that
is shattered by the facts concerning
our matching and the incidents tho I
followed afterward In quick success
sion | had half dozen excellent
excuses for lodging a match win
fitz-but none was used simply be-
cause l was as anxious to battle Fitz
but none was used simply because
as he was to clash with me
When Bob issued the formal chal-
ienge TO me in a New Orleans ring he
stated that he would fight me for a
$4,000 side bet. l accepted that
challenge at once. On October i.
1924. meeting was held in New York
for the purpose of signing articles. /
was not present and clash between
Fitz aDd William A. Brady, who was
my MA mayer made 1t Impossible to
conclude ARRANGEMENTS at that meet
ing. AS soon as / learned about the
failure to sign the articles, / got in
touch with Fitz by wire and another
conference was arranged for October
IL. 1894, In New York newspa per
office.
Soon after the meeting had been
called to order / said Gentlemen,
MIR. Fitzsimmons has challenged me
for a contest for the cha mpionship of
the world. the Police Gazette belt and
$4,000 side bet I have here with
me the $4,000 to bind my part of the
match and II Mr.. Fitzsimrons will
put up his $4,000, we will get right
down to business"
But Bob didn't have the money with
him. He had only s2.5oo In cash
Right then. ! SO had wished. could
have Jailed off negotiations as Fitz
had failed 10 carry out his part of the
bargain through his failure to have
the $4,000 with him.
Il can put UP $4,000 now and will
put up the other $500 in instruments
Il you will give me little time"
Fiz said to me Il have Just con-
traCted to go on the stage in vaude-
Vile and expect to get enough money
through this to enable me TO put up
the other $500 between now and
af.v-4-~fSa5
| told F'itz that his proposition was
agreeable to me. This surprised my
supporters who figured that Fits
failure to have the s10.0 In his pos
session at the time the meeting took
place should have nulled all negotia-
lions, But. as I have said before,
was mighty anxious to meet Fitz
was the heavyweight champion at the
time and from the day had whipped
sullivan I had stood readytto take on
any man who had Just claim for -
battle with me. The record which
Fitz had made was one that entitled
him to chance at the heavyweight
cham pionship. So told F'itz that his
proposition was acceptable to me.
doing this despite the protests OF my
he at h
fairness in this ma tier and We then
got down to the business of ruling
the bids made by the Representatives
Of fight clubs who were at that con-
ference.
The best bid turned I'm was by the
Olympic Club of New Orleans whose
agent offered a $4,000 purse but that
bid was refused because he had no
cney to put up to bind his part Of
the bargain. The next best offer was
from the Florida Athletic club. of
Jacksonville, which offered a 34t. 900
purse. This proposition was accepted
and the following articles OF agree
ment were drawn up:
First-The match is for the heavy
weight championship of the world.
a stake of twenty thousand dollars
t20,oool and a purse OF forty-one
thousand dollars t&41, 0o0). and the
Police Gazette" championship belt.
Second-The contest shall take
place before the Florida Athletic club.
ia aksonville. Fla. on a date after
July 1895. to be selected by The
club.
Third--The Florida Athletic club
agrees to deposit with the nnal stake
holder the sum OF Ave thousand dol
fars tss.ooo> as guarantee of good
IA it'll and $1,000 to each OF the prin-
cipals on April /, 1875, for training
expenses. The club agrees to pay into
the hands OF the stakeholder ten
days prior to the date of the contest
the balance of $4,000.
Fourth-The principals hereby
agree upon Mr. Philip Dwyer as per-
sta keholder.
Fifth-Each of the principals here