1957-10-19 — Page 5

ZANIES OF THE RING ·

Bob

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1957.

..........

2

Fitzsimmons

matchmaker the California matched with

Dorperately When his wife confirmed this gasping while they counted him

he swung hin state of affairs the Oghter took out..

broken knucider at the ivan- Jestyles things very philosophically.

challenger, but Filz was 35 then. But a man cina

and sud- "Hallright. Hi'd better give is as old as he feels and Bob came an relentlessly

londed hugo right you a divorce. Hif we're going felt like a two-year-old. Now denty to live together Ict's be 'appy he could cut capere to his awing that amote, pour Bab on about it."

heart's content.

the chin and laid him low for So Mrs Fitz was set free and Ho dressed like a dandy, he the full count, when she and Martin departed gave greal parties, he bought a Rose begged him to relire, but on their honeymoon Bob turned huge house. A creus proprietor fighting was life to Fitzsimmons Dempsey, to Rose and said: "What about sold ancient Ilan and

inter he em

ling into bars and me get married,"

restaurants paign, winning five fights by "I'll marry

with his pet, to the consterna- the knockout route in short time, tion of everyone.

ONE morning the matching tip and Curie the Nonpacelt for the world's aving our own boek; let you and Fitzsimmons delighted in slot and four months bac

was a tall, bony, thin man with balding head, freckled face and keen blue eyes. He looked anything but a fighter.

"I've

"So you're Bob Fitzsimmons?" he said. heard about you from Australia. Have you come from there?

"HI 'ave," replied Bob. He always dropped his ultches when they were wanted and picked them up when they

weren't,

She's gone

fight."

and

"Me and the missus got off the Zealandła this morning. ablity, strength

stamina, in bis to see a theatrical almost a stupid beller hagent i've come 'ere for a physical powera.

Yet rven such unbounded confidence as this would not have led him to prophesy that in the next thirteen years be would win three world's cham- pinnships, including the heavy- weight title.

"You're older than I thought," repiled the matchmaker, "You got licked In four rounds by Jem Hall before you left. You can have a trial bout, but you'll get nothing for 1." "That's hokay answered Fitzsimmons. "You'll

لادا

me"

be wanting to pay me before opponent's wikt long."

he couldn't

He knew

mand much Francisco

rom-

middleweight title.

Dempsey had been champion for seven years. He was a great fighter who commanded respect throughout Amerela. Few gave Bob any chance of winning,

They fought with three-ounce moves and were weighed in the before the contest of 11,000 started. The purse

you. 15ob," re- piled Rase. "And I'll make you a good wife," She had secretly

with the prize been in love fighter for a long time.

ring, just dollars to the winner and 1,000 boy.

dollars to the loser was the birgest In boxing fatory to date.

Fitz

like a man in- fought spired, 1 put the champion down in the third ruund, blooded Bath and Anally be the

out in the thir- knocked him teenth.

A

*

four

clind When Dempsey Bob won his trial bout at the years later he told his wife 10 Callfornia Club, breaking his back Fitzsimmons whenever he Then he fought. She must have won a McCarthy, fought Hilly

San lot of money. Franelsen favourite, for a purse Being champion was

right Bob's street, San of 1.250 dollars and won in nine down

He set of with his wife on a vaudeville was round

tour. She actent, he gave ex- bibitions and they also played together in a melodrama en- titled "The Fight for Love,”

in respect

H just yet. elmont 23, iad been fighting for ten years in New Zealand and Australia, whore his Cornish him as a parents had taken child.

Ile won eager to make a new start in this land of promise. To show thems he was good enough to fight the best in the world.

An easy-going, likeable chap, Bob had been persuaded by his actress wife to try tor for- tunes in America, The unex- pected defeat by Holl helped him in his decision.

At Arst the members roared with laughter when Fitz ducked To hide his through the ropes.

he wore white spindly legs fights, parided at the calves and

highs with cotton wool.

Although standing 5ft 11in. he weighed only 11 st., and the sight of his bald head and freckled skin had them in its But not for long.

Filzimmons soon proved that he knew a thing or two about fighting, alue that he carried a Tremendous dig in either hand.

Soon the other clubs in the city wanted Bob's services, He tucked, ou Arthur Upham in then WES

Irrespective of his age, tho lanky Cornishman still felt he could reach the top. He had the utmost faith in his 6ghting dve rounds AT!!

Bob wasn't a great selor, but he thought he was terrific. He put all he knew Into his part and enjoyed bnself to the full. The rasy-to-picaso audiences loved it.

their During

travels the Fitzsimmons met up with an Australian brother and sister,

Martin and Rose were trapeze artists.

Jullan, who

They became very friendly and hally shared a house in New Orleans, Martia eventually persuaded Bob to let him be his manager, then amazed him by saying he had fallen in love with Mrs Fitzsimmons,

☆

cam-

But the public didn't think Fitzsimmons carned a fortune, Bob could ever liek Jeffrica so both from the ring and the what did the freckled Cornich- theatre, but it did him very man do? He teamed up with filte good. He was so easy the champ and they toured the going that everyone awindled States giving exhibitions, in- cluding a replica of the fund lim.

championship Blages of their battle,

For over

two

Fitz was as happy as a sand-

years here. Rose not only kept her moined champion without de- word and made him a good fending his title, Anolly agree- wite, she also mothered three ing

Jim to meet

Jeffries, a children for him-Robert, Mar- husky boilermaker from Olilo, tin and Rozalic. What's more, who was as strong as a bull end she became the best second à unbeaten in his 12 professional

Oghts. boxer cault have.

She kept same sort of control over her happy-go-lucky hus- hand and with her encourage

contender after another until only James champion re-

ment he beat

J. Corbett, the inained,

опс

He helped Big Jef defend his title, against Tom Sharkep, Jim Corbett and Gua Ruhlin and Bob was giving away over never lost an opportunity to tell 4 stone in weight and 13 the Press that if and when the Yeara age, yet he went into champlon would meet him again the Coney Island ring in fine hu would beat him for sure.

It wasn't just braggadocio, nor Physical condition and gave his

was it sheer vanity. Fitz really challenger a boxing lesson,

Then he made the hig mistake did think he could win back hia of trying to knock Big Jim out, title, even though he was now right to the heart in his 40th year and his hands caused Jeffries to drop his guard, still useless. Over flashed another right, this time to the jaw, and the crack as Fitz's knuckles broke could be heard around the ringside.

Gentleman A mighty Fiz. wasn't In Jim's class us a boxer and in the eerty rounds of their Car- con City Aght the Cornishman came in for considerable purish- ment,

by GILBERT ODD

Roso

Scated at the ringside.

The challenger tottered. Fitz kept giving Bob advice, some whipped up a left and shattered bad, some unnecessary, but one his other hand on the boiler

fourteenth maker's good piece in the

iron jaw. From that round when Corbett looked to moment the championship was be in a winning position.

"Go for the body, Bob," she tried, and Filz feinted with his left, rapidly changed his feet and sunk a ferriñe right into the champion's mid-section,

The vicious blow drove every ounce of breath out of Corbett, His face went while, he sank to his knees and there he remained

lost.

The return took place in San

The spectators Francisco, the scene of Bob's) earliest success, were astonished at his remark- able tries and confidence. They watched in awe as he made the champion look like a novice.

Fitz cut the blg man to rib- bons. He had him bleeding in half-a-dozen places and did everything but knock him out, although he tried hard enough, Time after time he tossed those battered fisis at Jettries' chin, grimacing with the agonis- But more rounds Bob ing pain as they landed. fought gamely but could no he might have been punching a Jeffries ut bay. stone pillar and when by the longer keep Gradually his stamina was eighth round Big Jim, got home solid jaw punch the game old sapped as the challenger drova his maarive fists into the cham- warrior went down and stayed plon's ribs and by the eleventh there. he was tattering,

For seven

It was a bitter blow, but one far more crushing was to follow a few montha later. His be- loved Rose was taken ill und die before he could hurry buck from an exhibition tour with Jeffries.

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Fitzsimmons was stunned. For months he mourned her loss and touhd solace, in drink, Is whole interest in life seemed to havovanished and his friends #rew anxious about him.

Before the year was cut he had stuggered them all by win- ning the world's light-heavy- weight title from George Gard- ner, a feat that induced him to challenge Jeffries to yet another championship battle.

Bob didn't get it and two years later he lost his remaining laurels to Jack O'Brien, a man 16 усага his junior; a fast- moving skilful boxer who ran the old man off his feet.

Jer

At the end the thirteenth round Fitz collapsed in his cor-

They called over the re- ; feree. "I'm beat, Hi can't go on," muttered Bob, "My legs ave give oul. E wins."

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