Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-23
WHEN F|TzS|MM0NS
STOPPED SHARKEY
Sailors Quick Finish Caused
Jeffries to Sidestep Match
With Red Robert.

In all the great prise ring battles
fought during the closing days Of the
Horton law, the most remarkable feat
was that of Bob Fitzsimmons In knock
ing out big Gus Rubin and Tom Shar-
| KEY in bouts that took place only two
weeks apart. On August 4, 1899, Fitz
stoned Rubin In six rounds and ION
August a. he rocked the rugged flor
to sleep in two sessions In all PROB
ability he would have gone even further
and reeained the title that he lost to
Jim Jeffries had not the latter, after
watching sharksy's finish, backed out
of a proposition that he had made him.
self to meet Fitzsimmons on the Slst
of that same month.
After Fitz had knocked out Rubin.
Jef,riss, who was peeved BY the faos
that Fitz was attracting 90 maen a,-
eust 81. which was the last day OF the
Horton law. Fitxsimmons quickly ae-
copied and 1t was agreed that the purse
should be split rs and Is. with Jeffries.
as champion. taking dSwn ., the long Sngs enr
wanted Fitz to cali of his match with
Sharkey. This Fits refused to do.
Three days before the date Tor the
Sharkey mill. while the men were con-
ferrine over the details. Jeffrfss and bis
manager, Billy Brady, appeared and de-
manded that Fitzsimmons post a forfei.
of 81, GOO to guarantee that he would
be able to go through with the match
with Jeffries. AS this meant that II
Fitz should break an arm or inture a
hand he would lose that sum. ne very
9 Ss%Dssa. refused to agree to the unfair
The seton taken BY Jeffriss aroused
much uffavorable comment and 1t was
taken for granted that he wanted an
At that time jeffries insisted that he
was tfaining steadily and would be In
good condition to defend his title. but
as a matter of fact he had been Afling
through with the match he probably
would have been beaten.
Jeffries Backed Out.
Fitzsimmons. who had watched JET
fries take a beating from Corbett for
over twenty rounds, was well aware
that Jeffries was not In the best OF
into the match BY pretending that he
s wss Ss. poish " shsrk.y II two
rounds he refused point blank to fight
on the date agreed upon. and. as the 70.
peal Of the Horton law went into effsct
on September /, 1t was not until long
afterwar that they came together for
their second battle.
Fitasimmons was never better IN his
life than he was that sweltering Au-
gust He had built himself up since
losing his title to Jeffries and weighed
about Ito pounds. He had lost the
eaunt look that he had when he went
Into the ring with the big boilermaker
and he was as fast as a streak. while
his hitting was almost uncanny.
The battle with Sharkey took place
before the Sea Side Sporting Club at
Coney Island. The men agreed to fight
twenty five rounds for purse of $685.
600, to be split evenly between the two.
The night was unusually hot and the
fans ala not turn out in the numbers
expected, SO that 1t soon became APP
parent that the management was fac
ing q deficit. There was long wrangle
over money matters. both Fit1 and Ref
cree Charley White holding out until
the money promised them was placed
in, the hands of stakeholder. White
demanded $500 for his services. while
the club wished to settle for 5000 After
this matter was Strengthened out by the
fighters offering to make up the differ
ence, Fftz still held up the fight until
his share of the purse was posted, and
1t was not until 1880 that the battle
began.
The crowd was angry over the delay
end hooted Fftzeimmons as he made his
way to the ring, bit when he stripped
Off his bath robe his splendid condition
caused the fans to forget their troubles
and the boots changed to cheers.
Knocks F}tz Down.
Although sharkey had stood off JEFF
fries for twenty-five rounds, ring follow