New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1926-01-12
tBY JOE WILLIAMS)

EIOpdDIy no single punch mas
ever been designed and executed
that has changed the aspect of more
ring battles than the famed solar
| peXus" blow with which Bob Fitz-
simmons knocked ont Jim Corbett
for the heavyweight championship
at Carson City, New. March II, 1891
The wallop, developed after
months of painstaking practice by
Ruby Robert" for the sole purpose
Of putting the champion on the can
vas, has come down through the
years, leaving its trail of wrecked
hopes and vanished titles. AS a
| history making sleep producer, the
solar plexus punch has never had
an equal.
For years Dan Hickey. Bob's man
/ ager, had been drilling him in the
! mysteries Of a new body blow.
Hickey was familiar with Corbctt's
great left hand. When the cham
pion delivered this punch he turned
| his body slightly TO add to the
leverage. For a fraction Of
second his body was open for left,
Hour after hour Hickey used Cor
belts punch on Bob, the Australian
meeting it by shifting, pulling his
right side back and driving in his
left. It was the one punch Bob
meant to Use 10 take the title from
Corbett.
The fight began cautiously. Cor
bctt, The master boxer, was reaching
the lanky Australian repeatedly with
Jabs to the nose and mouth. Once,
in the sixth, l'itz slipped to his
knees and took the count of nine
while he cleared his nose and
mouth Of blood. But he was not
seriously hurt. Corbett knew it
and was cautions in his approach.
They are still debating whether
fftzsimmons was really groggy or
merely shamming when he sprawled
Imply on his seat at the end of the
round. The champion must have
thought his distress real He
chatted confidently with his han
dlers.
The bell rang and Bob ieaped
from his seat as if shot from a
gun, caught Corbett before he had
hardly risen from his scat ana
forced him along the ropes. Fitz
had just begun to fight.
Corbett, the champion, the great
est boxer the ring had known,
called upon all his skill. lie I'D
percutted and Bob pulled his head
back laughing and let the blows
die away in the empty air above.
He had Corbetts measure in every
punch the champion started. And
Gentleman Jim was weakening
under the pace.
The end came in the fourteenth,
Bob deliberately worked Corbett into
corner, coolly making arrange
ments to put over the stomach
punch he had already announced tn
neWspapermen he would use to end
the fight.
Corbett, pressed against the
ropes, started a left swing. Fitz
lighting in his peculiar style, with
feet we'll forward and shoulders
pulled back, that made him an
pear farther away to one side and
the blow rippled harmlessly by his
car.
His left hand already poised, Fitz
shifted his left foot forward and
ripped his fist squarcly into Cor
belts stomach. Without CHANGING
his position he swung the left with
Iightning-like speed to the cham
pion's jaw.
Corbetts mouth flew open. he
doubled forward, sank to his knees
and slowly slumpcd forward on his |
face. He was not unconscious
Reaching for the ropes he tried 10 |
pull himself up, but his left hing
limp, as sea-wced. seemingly nara.
lyzed. He fell back again and was |
counted out by Referee George
Siler,
In his dressing room a little later
Coroett was examined by pby-
sician. When the doctor came ONT
he was asked for a description of
the blow.
1T was a punch to the solar
pleXus,' said the doctor.
And thus was born, as most every.
one knows. the celebrated solar
plexus punch"