The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-13
Fitzsirran1onsAnd Sharkey Fought
 Grueling Battle
By JAMES J. CORBETgr

It is nearly 25 years since Bob Fritz simmons and Tom Sharkey put on their
 famous bout in Frisco-but it is well re-
 membered among the most sensational in fight history.
 The battle date was December 2, 1S96 When Fritz signed articles for that fight a warning was sent to him to watch
 out for Sharkey and his rough tactics
 and possible job5ing by represen tatives of a gambling fraternity out there. l had gone against Sharkey only a few
 months before in what was supposed to be an exhibition bout-and what hap
 pened then caused me to anticipate al most anything in connection with the fight.
 Martin Julian, manager of Fitzsimmo ons kept the warning in mind and made a strenuous fight on the referee question A dozen names were suggested but those which were favored by Julian were re- jected by Dan Lynch, who was rnanag- ing Sharkey at the time. Lynch wanted Wyatt Earp to referee the contest. Julian and Fitzsimmons opposed Earp. QUICK ON THE DRAW Earp had the reputation of being quicker with the trigger than any man who ever came out of Arizona. Earp could reach for a gun, pull it. fire and hit a target in half a second.
 Julian and Eitz did not want such a man to referee. Furthermore, there were rumors around Frisco at the time that Earp was to be put in and that a "job'' was to be pulled Fitz. The wrangle over the referee question carried on right up to the fight time. It wasn't settled when Fitz went into the ring because Julian was left in the dressing room still battling on the question. At last Julian came out and announced that there wouldn't be any fight if Sharkey couldn't have Earp referee. E'itz, rather
 than have the fight called off, then said l don't care now who they put in to
 referee. I can lick that Irishman with
 anybody refereeing."
 FITZ A TITLE CONTENDER Fitz, at the time was the outstanding contender for my title. Sharkey was
 practically unknown. The betting fav- ored> Fitz at to 1 at the outset. But
 as the fight began, there was a terrific I play on Sharkey and so much money was put on the novice heavyweight that
 the odds were broken down to I F to i. 1 Sharkey, as usual, started out using his famous rough-house tactics. He got | tftz in an early clinch and nearly snapped his arm off. The freckled war
 rior broke loose, shot a. left to Sharl<ey' S l body and a right to the jaw Tom went down, but bounced right to his feet ] again whereupon Fitz landed a right to i the heart and once more Tom hit the 1 canvas. Then the gong rang
 | TERRIFIC FIGHTING
 The men fought like wildcats in the | setond round In the third Sharxey | practically rushed Fitzsinm ous off his feet and when he had Bob off balanced, | landed left to the head. It seemed to stagger Fftzsimmons The sailor figured he had Bob in bad way, and sought tc follow up his advantage. He fairly
 hurled himself at F'itz and therein he
 made blunder. For Fitz wasn't beaten
 TOT was Fitz in the bad way thai
 Shsrkey had expected. F'itz just lashe
 out with righthander to the face whicf
 almost broke Sharkey's nose
 The Ccrnishman closed Sharxeyfs righ
 eye in the fourth and Sharkey retalatet
 in the fifth with a. rush that knocke, F'itz off his feet F'itz jumped up an,
 sent in a vicious uppercut. It lifte,
 Sharkey off the floor, whereupon Fit
 flashed two righthanders to the head Sharkey sagged and dropped to the can
 vaa He got up on count seven an