Pueblo chieftain., 1921-03-05
BY KAYO.

1t took tho fighting committee OF
the Olympic club of New Orleans
from June, 1890, until January, lS9l,
to find an antagonist worthy to fight
Bob Fitzsimmons. They knew I'anky
Bob was a real fighter after he de-
feated Arthur Upham. They knew
the claims of Jimmy Carroll had
not been exaggerated. and in match
ing Jack Dempsey against HIM the
thought was uppermost that the ar
fair would attract "a representative
crowd.
Fitz' circle of fame was not large
because the outside followers of fis-
tiana had not heard of him, they
had not heard of him as a likely
champion and they paid little attcn-
ton to second raters. To them 1t
looked as II Fitz would be easy pick
ing for Dempsey, and wherever
fish" was found willing to take the
covered. Dempsey believed that the
purse of $4,000 was the easiest mon
ey that he had ever found.
The contest took place Jan. IA.
1891. ana long before that time many
noted sporting men arrived In New
orleans. Let us relate an incident
showing the feeling among ring fol-
lowers and how confident they were
in the ability of Dempsey to win
over Fitz. There arc many who VIII
remember Col. Jack Haverly, of min
strel fame. He came from the west
and runlor had 1t that ho brought
one of his gold mines with him TO
bet on Dempsey. In a conversation
several days before tho fight took
place. he asked tho writer what he
thought of Dempscy's chances. Know
ing F'itz the information was Nouch- :
safed that the Cornishman would
win. There was n look of scorn on
the face of the minstrel man as he
answered: why you're crazy. That
tall awkward looking guy beat Demp-
sey. Not in n thousand years. III
bet you a thousand he don't"
1t seemed certain from the size
of the roll that he could make good
his bluff. | answered that l did not
bet: that he had asked me ques-
tion and that 1 had answered him
to the best of my judgment. IN go
still further with you, Colonel, l u
say that | conscientiously believe that
Fitz could beat Dempsey with his
right arm tied behind him. The
colonel left. l bclieve, with the firm
impression that / was crazy.
1t has been claimed by many writ
crs that Dempsey had gone back. and
that he was not physically fit 10
fight Fitzsimmons. Such flimsy eN-
cuses were not borne out by facts
was outclassed. In justice to this
clever fighter. however, it is proper
to say that no was as game as any
man that ever lived. Those who were
at tho rincsidc will bear me out In
this; and they knew how desperate
ly he fought tho Cornishman and how
hopclcSsly.
The perfectly arranged auditorium
of the Olympic club was packed win
representative fight followers and IA
nous sport writer's from all over the
world. II was the best managed ftSnI
that had ever been given anywhere
in America up to that time. 1t wa
fortified by law and protected IRON
the least semblanco of rowdyism 10y
ample squads OF police
1t will not be easy TO forget th'
many expressions OF the spectator
as they gazei for tho first timo OF
the tall. lanky figure OF the Cornish
man; and how he appeared laughinE
and Joking before that vast audience
Those who knew him saw the SAINT
tactics as at the Upham fight.
John Duffy. tho prince of referees
called tho mon to tho center OF IN
ring. AMI then II was seen how Bol
lowered over his opponent The!
had weighed in at tho prescribed
middlewcight limit Both mon weigh
cd exactly the same. The closes
student OF human nature would dc
cry the wonderful and peculiar mug
cular development of this man. Tn,
abnormal quality of the blacksmith
was strength where 1t was the mos
needed. In that mighty right arm