“RUBY ROBERT”

Evening Star, Issue 21508, 5 September 1933, Page 10

“RUBY ROBERT”

NEW) ZEALAND'S GREATEST CHAMPION PUT TIMARU ON THE MAP Among some old clippings the other day, a ‘ Star ’ contributor came across one from lire Timaru ‘ Herald ’ of a few years ago, dealing with the career of the famous Robert Fitzsimmons. It is reprinted below. While Few Zealand footballers have done much to advertise their country, and the Rugby nations of tbe two hemispheres aro watching with keen interest th6 > contests bein'* waged in South Africa for the world’s premiership, it is safe to say that the man from this country who is most in the limelight at tlw? moment is not Maurice Brownlie or any of his colleagues, but the Gisborne plumber, Tom Heeney, whose challenge for Gene Tunney’s heavyweight boxing crown, is being discussed in lands where Rugby football is unknown, and where the All Blacks are probably regarded as a race of negroes. Heeney’s meteoric rise from obscurity to the championship arena, from penury to affluence, reads like:a romance, and temporarily at least, the champion is overshadowed in the publicity stunts of the promoter by the New Zealander. Billy Murphy was the first boxer from these islands to win the distinction of world boxing champion, but the Aucklander was only one of the “ little men ” of the ring, and it is the “ heavies ” who draw the big crowds and pull down the big purses. Heeney was the second man from Maoriland who was fortunate enough to be matched for the world’s title. This being the case tbe time is opportune to remember that the first was Timaru’s own Bob Fitzsimmons, the fighting marvel of all time. Although born in Cornwall, auburn-topped Robert fought his way to manhood in Timaru fields and streets, and practically all his blood relations areresident in South Canterbury. Fitzsimmons, although only a middle-weight, went out of his class and knocked out the ' world’s _ greatest heavies. _ His career in America, where ho beat into submission such artists as Australian Jack Hall, Nonpareil Jack Dempsey, Ruhlin, Sharkey, Maher, and Jim Corbett, is well known, but not much is known to the present generation of Fitz’s beginnings as a boxer. Among Robert’s companions and workmates was Mr R. Mahoney, who relates some interesting episodes in the early career of Reily Robert. Timaru, says Mr Mahoney, has never recognised in any substantial manner the splendid achievement of Robert Fitzsimmons, and it is fitting at this juncture to remind ourselves that Timaru was placed upon the map of the world of sport by this champion of champions, who climbed to the highest place upon tho pugilistic ladder through sheer pluck and gameness. Ruddy Bob’s boyhood, youth, and early manhood were spent in Timaru, and we can justly claim him a New Zealander. Bob went to work as a lad at the firm of Parsons and Henderson, in the foundry that stood where the Grand Theatre now is, and worked there for a good while, working later for Mr Peter Sinclair and Reid and Gray, at that time big shoeing smiths of Timaru He worked later for his brother, Garrett, and by that time was proclaimed a finished farrier. From boyhood Bob was always to be found in boxing schools and places where there was any chance of engaging in that pastime. At that time Dan Lee and Whitley kept a boxing school, and tried out any of tbe likely lads available with Bob. Jim Burgess, Jack Murphy, Tom Fergusson, and Jack Laurie had many a tough and willing go, and probably these stalwarts moulded his fighting spirit. Professor Miller, touring with Jem Mace—the world’s cleverest boxer —came to Timaru, and it was then that tho ability of Bob Fitzsimmons as a fighter was recognised by Jem Mace. Fitz was awarded the Jem Mace silver medal after winning the final bout. Timaru was a second time visited by Mace, who invited all comers to try their luck with Frank Slade, a Maori athlete whom Mace_ was hoping to furnish. into a champion—and ho looked a world beater, being physically a magnificent specimen of manhood. Fitz and Slade had a good try out, both men showing considerable skill. Slade, though fully two atone heavier, had nothing the best of the go. Shortly after Bob decided to try Australia and worked his passage across on the Ganymede, with Captain Morgan. He landed in Sydney to find that work of any sort was not to be had. He was glad to take a job kangaroo hunting for three months, only to find that he could not get any wages out of his boss when the job was through. Finding his way back to Sydney, he managed to secure a job at Messrs Lapraik’s in Dixon street, and eventually became foreman of this large _ farriery establishment. For a long time Bob slept in a hammock swung in tho shoeing shop, and cooked his food on the forge. He became a regular attender at Larry Foley’s boxing saloon, and took on all and sundry who wanted a spar. Larry Foley soon became aware of tbe fact that be had something out of the ordinary in Fitz, ancl_ gave him all the preliminary spars, which carried the remuneration of £1 per bout. Sydney at that period had some promising colts, and Bob, who was now being tutored by Larry Foley in all the fine points of the game, made a good showing with the best of them. Amongst Foley’s pupils were such men ns Peter Jackson, Mick Dooley, Jack Fuller, Jack Molloy, Tom Taylor, Jack Groentrce; and other lesser lights sparred in the saloon. Fitz had a few battles with second-raters, and was then pitted against Jim Hall for tho middleweight championship of Australia. This battle was Fitzsimmons’s one and only mistake in a brilliant career as a fighter. He lost the fight for a fivepound note. Larry Foley offered to put up £SOU that Bob Fitzsimmons could stop any middle-weight in Australia, but by this time Jim Hall had made his departure for America. Fitzsimmons also decided to seek fresh fields, and through the kindness of Captain Morse, of the Alameda, he was given a passage. The ‘ Referee,’ on his departure, said: “ Bob Fitzsimmons, the best middle-weight in Australia, and I think in the world, is sailing for America in the Alameda. Wo wish him luck.” Landing in America, Fitz found that Jim Hall had been saying that Fitz was a melon for him. Meeting Hall, they bad “ words,” Fitz wanting to take him on in the room. Later they fought, and Fitz outed Hall, putting him to sleep for nine minutes. After being matched with lesser lights, Fitz was matched with Jack Dempsey, tho Nonpariel, who was the greatest star of tho Amox-ican boxing world. Fitz, seeing ho had Dempsey beaten, asked him to give in, but Dempsey was game to the limit, and Fitz bad to knock him out. Later, before Jack Dempsey died, be told his wife that Fitz was the greatest fighter in tho world. This tip she followed in the Fitzsimnions-James Corbett fight, and came out a handsome winner. Fitzsimmons was now; tho

holder of the middle and heavy-weight championships of the world, a title which he later lost to the big boilermaker, Jim Jeffries, giving away many years, and about three stone in weight. Bob Fitzsimmons had all the trying experiences of fighting his way through the world, but his pluck carried him on to victory. The records of the ring proved him to courage and confidence, a fighting spirit, and a generous heart.