The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-28

@Nh&FkR NEtMNA&F Ut ~ H#NA~& Oh MANSCA&N
by Jim Covbssf which deal with tA@
career Of Rob Fttgaim mons, Fsw
men knew Fitx an Corh~tt knew him
and 70 these stories reveal soms in
eidsnts IN the life of F1tzaimmons
that never before have been printed
Tho next chapter Win appear tomor-
rou)
The defeat of Jim JoTries by Jack
Johnson wasn't 20 the liking Of Bob
-Fitsimnons The passing Of the
puEilistic crown which once ne wore
80 gracefully. TO the head OF a negro
was something that ne hoped wouid
not endure for long And so. Bob at
once Joined in the hunt for a white
gladi1tor who would dethroue Jack
Johnson.
All through the years that Johnson
remained as the real champion Of
the heavyweight division Bob Fltzsim-
mons ever was on the outlook for
some f[nter who could beat John
son. Fob through the first four years
was doomed to disappointment. He
saw many Of the white hopes in ae-
lion and watched each and every one
closely, He hoped that he might md
among the group at least one man
who had the natural qualifications of
"a tighter. Bob stood ready and will
ing at all times to teach to any
promising asprant all that he knew
n bout the ring game. It was his hope
that he might assist In the develop
mont OF one man who could hammer
Jack Johnson into oblivion.
But Bob never realized his ambi-
ton. He saw scores Of men I'm action
who posed as fighters. Every one
knows what an awful collection Of al
legged fighters climbed through the
ropes during the first three or four
years Of JaCkson's reign. Each and
every time that Bob saw those fell
lows In action he became more and
more dlsgusted, And. IN the end. he
announced:
Il nave seen I'll these alleged white
fghters-and they arc tDe worst look
ing Jokes that ever drew on boxing
gloves. ] can lick the whole bunch
Of them myself"
Right Their and there, fire famed
aRain I'm the battIe-sCarred heart Of
Rob Fitzsimmons and 10 the sur
prise Of the pugilistic world he insist
ed upon re-eutering the ring, Many
persons tried to dissuade him. telling
him hat he was too old. But Bob
forgot the handicap Of age, forgot
everything except his ambition to re
store to the white race the crown he
felt belonged to that race alone. SO,
on January %. 1919. Bob F}tzsimmons.
who began his career in 1859. went
back into the ring again taking on
Knockout Sweeney In q six-round bout
in Wi1lia1nsport. IA.
At that time Bob was ffty-one years
old. To some It seemed amazing that
a man NJ such an axe would venture
into the ring against so tough q
youngster as was Sweeney. But to
those who knew Bob and knew his
love for battling, it wasn't much Of
a surprise. Bob never was happy un-
less he was waging battle. OF course.
Sweeney wasn't a hrst-class fighter
but. just the same. he was a tough
customer. He could take a lot of
punishment and could hit some ter
rifle wallops. Up 10 that time he had
made quite a reputation and, IN some
quarters, was looked upon as a bright
pugilistic prospect.
Bob made a good showing against
Sweeney. Tho youngster attempted
rushing tactics in the hope hat his
youth and superior speed would wear
down the veteran. But in this he
failed. Rob met each AND every at
tack and frequently drove back
Sweeney. but the oI' power was
gone from the Fit punches;
the legs no longer .H.} md jump
ed away as in the as-t and the best
Bob got was the popular decision al
ter SIX rounds of fighting
After the battle Bob reluctantly ad
[mitted that he guessed" he wac a lit
tie too old to go up against r crowd
Of youngsters but figured that he was
stiil good enough TO try conclusions