The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-26
Corbett's Daily Letter
On Greet Sport Topics
nr JAnIlss ]. CoRRETr

by JAMES j
Editors Note: This is the continue
ton of series of articles by Jim Cor
bett. which deal with the career of Bob
Fitzsimmons Few men knew Fitz as
Corbett knew him, and so these stories
reveal some incidents in the life OF
Fitzsimmons that never before have
been printed. The next chapter will APP
pear tomorrow
The FIVE consecutive knockout VIC
tories scored by Bob Fitzsimmons fol-
lowing his loss of the heavyweight
crown entitled him to another chance
at Jim Jeffries. And Jeffries. always
eager to meet anyone who figured to
have a chance against him, consented
to the match. 1t was put on in San
Francisco on July 25. 1902, before the
San Francisco Athletic club.
Fitz went into his second battle with
Jeffrfes weighing around ITO pounds.
Jim beamed about 21O. The betting was
21s to 1 and to / on Jeffries to win.
Eddie Graney was the referee.
ROUND ONE
Fitz fought a much better battle in
his second meeting against Jeffries
than he exhibited in the first. Over
confidence, which had nulled his chance
in the first contest, was not foe In
his second meeting. He recognized the
mightiest rival of them all in Jeffries
at that time, and he went into the
contest resolved to wage cautious
battle. He did. And he had a long lead
on points against Jim Jeffries when
the eighth round began. And then once
again it happened.
Here is a round by round description
of that contest which tells the story
of how Fitz failed in his effort to re-
cover the title as heavyweight cham
pion of the world.
"Fitz, first to lead, set a short right
jab to the jaw and followed with an
other. jeff rushed but Fitz side
stepped. Jeff rushed again and Fitz
smothered his left for the body. Jeff
tried for the face but fell short. JEFF
missed hard left swing. Fitz landed
a light right to the face. Jeff sent
hard wallop to the body. Bob countered
without damage to the head. Jeff con-
tinued to force his man. When the
gong rang Jeff's nose was bleeding
from one of Bobs left jabs.
SECOND ROUND
Jeff led short left for the head
Fitz jabbed to the neck. Fitz tried for
the head but was blocked. F'itz broke
ground before Jeff's left but finally
sent a light left to Jeff's head. Bob
sent a left to Jeff's face. Jeff sent Bob
against the ropes with a left body
blow. F'itz put two left hooks on the
face and ducked the champions left
Jeff went at Fitz and landed a left on
the head. Fitz hit Jeff on the nose and
brought blood in a stream. At the close
of the round Jeff seemed worried. His
nose was bleeding very freely.
Jeff came up forcing matters. He
crouched at first but at once changed
tractics and assumed an upright posi-
ton. Jeff led two lefts for Fitz but
Fitz blocked them and smashed q left
to Jeff's nose. Jeff tried another left
but was stopped with a left jab on the
face. Fitz put a stiff one on the nose
and Jeff bled freely .Fitz opened Jeffs
cheek with a left hook and more blood
flowed. The champion caught Bob in
the stomach with a right. Bob jabbed
his left twice to Jeff's face and the
champion looked worried. Bob was
cool and calculating. q eff's face was
covered with blood at the end of the
round.
f"Jeff looked enraged but STAYED clear
of Fits left jabs. Bob blocked two
swings for the head and got out of the
reach of the other They exchanged
lefts on the face. Fitz put in a short
right hook on the head and Jeff landed
left on the chest. Fitz hit Jeff on
the nose and the blood came again.
Jeff received right on the head and
then swung a left and a right hook,
landing. Bob led a right and Jeff re-
taliated with left to the head
Jeff led a left for the body. missed,
and received a stomach punch for his
efforts. Fitz landed left on Jeff's nose
but took left and right on the body
jeff forced Fitz to the ropes, and put
left and right on his face twice.
Fitz cliinched but when they broke
away sent in a left and right blow to
the body AS they came out of the
clinch, Fitz landed terrific right on
Jeff's jaw and then sent left to Jeff's
face. jeff caught Bob's right cheek
with left. Fitz Immediately sent a
right to Jeff's face. bringing more
blood. Jeff was bleeding freely and was
tired; Fitz seemed tired but was fight
ing a COOL calculating battle. The
only mark on him was a slight abra-
sion on the right cheek.
Jeff sent a left for the head but
missed. He then rushed but Bob
blocked every blow and got out of the
way. Fitz put right on Jeff's head.
They exchanged left-handers, Fitz do
ing the most damage. Jeff rushed again
but his blows were smoth cred. and
took three lefts and a right on the
face. Jeff rushed Fitz to the ropes but
got right and left in the face which
started the blood afresh. Fitz showed
remarkable cleverness In getting out
of the way from rushes. His left iabs
were hurting and just as the gong
sounded he put another on Jeff's sore
mouth and nose.
Jeff came out, rushing, landed a left
to the body but took left and right on
the head. jeff then sent home two ter
rifle swings on the head and body. JEFF
turned his head to spit and while he
was off guard F'itz jabbed him three
times in the mouth and forced jeff 70
the ropes. Jeff came back like an en-
ragged bull, bleeding from nose, mouth
and cheek. He rushed Bob to the ropes,
putting a left Oh the body and a RICH t
over the ear. Bob stood him off send
ing left jabs to the face. Jeff sent a
left to the head. AS the round ended
Fitz was smiling!y good natured while
JEFF was bleeding end presented g ter
rible appearance
"Eob stod UP straight, feinting with
q left and drawing jeff on. jeff smiled
through his bloody features. He ducked
a left swing and landed a hard left en-
the ribs. Fitz landed q left on the fa ce
and took one on the head Fitz missed