The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-02-04
Jimmy Fruzetti Is Now
New England Lightweight
Title Holder
FIGHTS TIPLITZ IN
BOSTON TONIGHT
Fruzetti Began Fighting
About AS Soon AS
He Could Stand


Barre once more has won a place in
the sporting world. Already it has sent
men to the big leagues in baseball, and
has produced men who have made a
name for them in intercollegiate foot
ball and basketball; even on the mat
this Vermont city has sent out its
share, but for long time the city has
been at loss for real live actor in the
fistic circles But, "all comes to him
who waits" and since Barre has been
a waiter, this fighter has at last made
his appearance in the person of Jimmy
Fruzzetti, one time holder of the ma
tional amateur lightweight champion
ship, and at present, at the. age OF 20
wears, holder of the New England light
weight championship. This Jimmy is
some scrapper, and he has had to show
some zeal class to gain the crown which
he now wears. The road has not al
ways been rosy as it now appears
Jimmy has not always won: he is not
the unbeaten wonder, but he has been
coming right along in the fighting
game and now holds the New England
honors in the lightweight class.
Yes, Jimmy once lived in Barre. He
says so himself. 1t was not for very
long, and only when the present cham
pion was boy of four or whereabouts
He has many friends and supporters in
the city now, who are keeping an eye
on him, backing him, win or lose.
Through personal communication
with Jimmy Fruzzetti, he has favored
a Times reporter with few of the
main facts on his connection with
Barre and his entrance to the ring.
Lived in Barre As a Youngster.
Jimmy came to Barre with his par
ents. Charles and Adele F. Fruzzetti
when he was only four years of age
If anyone asked him then what his
name was he might reply, james Y,
Fruzzetti, but it was not long before
Jimmy dropped that popular buffers
name, and became just Jimmy; and
Jimmy he is to-day when he battles be-
fore thousands to protect his title. But
this champion had grandfather, too,
Peter Fruzzetti, one of the oldest res
idents of Barre, and who died about
10 years ago.
There were rumors to the effect that
jimmy, during his short stay in Barre
was a Times "newsie," and quite nat
urally the reporter asked Jimmy for ar
explanation. But Jimmy is skeptical
on the point. He says he can't remem.
Der selling papers, and he thinks that
he was probably too young.
But there in no doubt connected with
the fact that Jimmy used TO live in
Barre. He says that his family, while
in Barre, lived on the Sibley farm on
Wiley street. Several residential ad.
ditions as well as the addition of many
granite plants have been made to the
Wiley street section since Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles Fruzzetti and family made
their home there A house, that was
once landmark on the Wiley street
fiat, is now almost obscure in the mass
of sheds and other houses which have
sprung up around it. II was here that
Charles Fruzzetti lived when he went
into the granite business with his
brother. They operated plant in
BurnhGm's meadow, called "Fruzzetti
Bros" easily within the memory OF
many granite manufacturers and gran
ite-cutters.
Went Away With Parents.
At the age Of FIVE Jimmy was taken
to Westwinfeld, Pa, and later to But
Ter, Pa, where both his parents died
That was about eight years ago. He
then went to Quincy, Mass, 10 live
with his uncle, with whom he has lived
ever since, later going to Bridgewater
Mass, and then to Brockton, Mass
where he now lives at l476 Main street
In telling how he happened to enter
the ring, Barre's champion brings to
an end rather interesting story. He
says that he always liked to fight. II
seems that he was not happy until he
got into a fight, quite often humping
into. other lads much larger than him.
self. Perhaps Jimmy wasn't born with
n silver spoon in his mouth, but he car
ried the word eight in both mitts, for
most of the time he came out Just one
better than his adversary. This word
fight" has felt like a brick to several
of Jimmy's recent opponents.
AS he grew older, Jimmy donned the
gloves and did little sparring with a
few Of his friends. He proved so deft
with the mitts that he was urged to 20
into the amateurs. So Jimmy went TO
see q few Of the amateur scraps, and
get the idea into his head that he
could trim few of the boys that were
making a hit in the ring. He first took
on Willie Corbett, amateur champion
and lost the bout on foul This didn I
feaze Jimmy one bit, oh. no! He just