FAMOUS FIGHT

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1927, Page 3

FAMOUS FIGHT

JEFFRIES v. FITZSIMMONS. James J. JeffrJes, the son of a Nonconformist minister, wsa a product of California. Born in Los Angeles; he was at the age of 20 indeed a worthy representative of the Golden West (writes Jeffery Farnol, in the “Weekly Dispatch”). £ix foot two inches in height and approximately 15st. in weight, a splendid body of classic mould, a handsome face, and a heart and courage of a lion — SU eh was James Jeffries, and, being of prodigious strength and hitting power, with a record of having disposed of the majority of his opponents in a very few rounds, it naturally followed that he should challenge Bob Fitzsimmons for the World’s Championship, and the fight took place at Coney Island, near New York, on June 9. 1899.

Fitzsimmons at this time was aged 36. Who of that time does not remember “Old Bob,” with his red hair, freckles, and bald front, knock knees, shambling gate and spindle legs? Old Bob, who, when defeat came at last, as come it must, met it undaunted like the courageous soul he was. It was before an immense audience that the -men faced each other that June day. . .. The gong sounds and a silence falls as the combatants step lightly from their corners to the middle of the ring. Jim crouches, left leg advanced, left arm held high, right arm bent in readiness for rapid delivery, but with his head no higher than Bob’s freckled shoulder. An awkward-looking guard, yet one that covered those danger points —stomach and chin —and,, moreover, one very difficult to break. Suddenly Fitz steps in and drives a vicious left at the big man’s jaw, but Jim ducks the blow with such amazing and unexpected quickness that the crowd roars acclaim. Here is a man quick as the wonderful Corbett, but stronger and bigger. They fight, clinch fiercely, then break, with Jim hitting right and left while Fitz sidles and retreats time and again, and is forced to duck and dodge. But Jim, though aggressive, is cautious, treating the wily veteran with -watchful respect, while they spar at long range.

Then in goes Jim with his left, misses, tries again, and just , raps Fitz’s nose. He smiles—but Fitz sidles up and swings a terrible right for Jim’s chin. He ducks only jtist in time, is driven back but rallies and then—the gong sounds.

For the second round both were up promptly; they sparred a moment, then Jeffries shot his left to the champion’s nose, but Fitzsimmons countered with a heavy punch in the ribs. Again Jim led but the wary Fitz had dodged out of reach. Then his long left took Fitz on the mouth; and leaping in he smacked his right warily to Fitzsimmon’s body and a moment later reached his nose again. Fitz stood away as though puzzled. But back he comes with a terrific swing for Jim’s chin, a sure knock-out if it lands —but Jim ducks with marvellous nimbleness. Then they rush together; they break away and Jim let y his left, a flush blow on Bob’s mouth that draws blood. And now, roused by the cheers of his backers, Jeffries fights the champion all over the ring, landing heavily more than once despite Fitz’s ringcraft and desperate efforts to fend him off. Indeed, the young giant fights like a madman, butting, ducking, countering, round and round the arena — until with a tremendous blow straight from the shoulder he knocks the champion headlong, to lie there while the mighty concourse rocks and sways roaring with excitement. .... Then Fitz is on his feet again, and has lept into fierce action, swinging fiercely with,both hands all in a moment. But the gong sounds and Fitz, visibly shaken, walks unsteadily to his corner.

Fast and furious is the third round, for Fitzsimmons must score. So to it he goes like a thunder-bolt, right and left and left again. Heavy counters on the jaw shake both then, but calling upon x his phenomenal strength, Fitzsimmons, fighting desperately, forces his gigantic opponent to the ropes, pounding him . fiercely, landing a swinging left to the head and a drive to the body. < And now it is all Bob Fitzsimmons. The crowd roars his name until, ducking beneath that merciless storm of blows, Jim is away and gets a breath ing spell. But Fitz is at him again, driving him hither and thither. The big man ducks and side-steps, until, espying an opening up comes a mighty left followed next moment by a right to the body; resounding blows that check Bob’s onslaught. But only momentarily, for, strong and determined, he is attacking furiously as ever when the round ends. In the next round, Fitzsimmons proves himself the truly great fighter he is, for in he goes with whirlwind attack, threatening his man at all points, keeping him for ever on the move with jabbing left and threatening right, that world-renowned, finishing right that swings ever at some vital spot.

But Jim is fighting for fame and fortune; also he is young and confident in his strength. He checks his retreat, rocks Bob with a left to the face, and falls to a clinch. Then they break and fight at close quarters, and at this work Jeffries is a super-man. His short jolts and back-handers are rib-bending punches delivered by his mighty arms.

And thus with head bowed they batter each otljer until the crowd roars again and Fitzsimmons, spent and breathless, from those terrible fists, dodges out of range and is on the retreat when the bell goes. Nevertheless at the fifth round he leapt from his corner, and, feinting with the left, drove his right to Jim’s eye (a blow that split the eyebrow and half-clouded Jim’s face with blood), following with a staggering blow on the jaw. Jeffries rallied and dashed in blindly, to be checked by a stiff jabbing left. Then Fitz battered him to the ropes and, swinging with left and right, caught him twice on the face. Jeffries clinched.

They broke away, but Fitzsimmons fierce as ever, rushed again, seeking desperately to get in a finishing blow; but Jim avoided him, and with wonhim with a straight left. For a moderful nerve and quickness, checked ment they sparred, eyeing each other closely, then Fitz was at him again with'left and right, and Jim was hard put to it to meet that hurricane attack, until Fitz over-reached himself, stumbled, and in that instant Jim’s smashing right thudded loud above the champion’s heart, dropping him heavily. Fitz lay inert and all was uproar. The referee began to count, his voice high-pitched, his arm flashing up and

down, but still Fitz the veteran stirred not “Four! Five! Six!” The raving multitude grew mute for Fitz was up and fighting, fast and furious as ever. Jim met him foot to foot, and a wild-mix-up followed, and when the gong went they were at desperate give- and take in Jim’s corner. And as Fitzsimmons crossed the ring there was no sportsman in that great congregation but hailed him for the masterly fighter and courageoushearted champion he was. But when they meet for this next round, young Jim seems strong as ever; not so Fitz. Age must tell, and the champion,’ though cool and purposeful, fights on the retreat. Comes the ninth round, and ’Fitz, very tired, does all that skill and courage may. The tenth round is much the same, save that youth scores oftener. A dreadful right-hander on the stomach knocked th’e breath out of Ftz’s battered body, a cracking blow on the jaw knocked him down. Veteran-like, he took full time, then rose only to bo felled again. Once more he stayed down, until the referee had all but counted the last second. Then (and all honour to thee, old Fitz, wherever thou art in spirit!) up sprang he and fought on with heroic courage and endurance to the gong.

It is the eleventh round, and young Jeffries leads and they clinch, and Jim’s mighty fists are hurting desperately, but “Old Fitz,” like the true champion he is, endures in the desperate hope of getting in his solarplexus punch, or his right to the chin. He tries, but gets Jim on the ear, tries again with right and left. Then Jeffries drives in a blow that shakes him from head to heel. But with heroic effort Fitz steadies himself and swings up a might upper cut that staggers mighty Jim and all but finishes him. .... But Jim has the inestimable blessing of youth, the spirit of a lion, and thus, shaken though he is, he recovers, watches his chance ... a scurry of leaping feet .... the thudding impact of terrific blow, and Bob Fitzsimmons goes down to rise and fight no more. So Middle Age lies at the feet of Conquering Youth. For age will tell. Youth must be served. And handsome Jim Jeffries is Heavyweight Champion of the World.