CORBETT V. FITZSIMMONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10407, 3 April 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

CORBETT V. FITZSIMMONS.

THE OPINIONS OF THEIR WIVES.

J. L SULLIVAN FAVOURS CORBETT.

The great fight between the American champion, J. J. Corbett, and Bob Fitslimmons, the Australian, has terminated jn favour of Fitzsimmons, as we have been informed by cable. The latest American papers are full of the coming contest. Portraits are given of the wives of the two men, who are interviewed a3 to kheir opinion of the chances of their husbands. Mrs. Corbett, who was at San Francisco, eaid:—" I think the rumours respecting my husband's condition must surely have been set at rest during his brief stay in this city," eho said. "He has never been in such eupero condition as at this time. With his wonderful physique and the amount of daily exercise which he has taken for a long time this is not strange. You know what a splendid specimen of manhood Jim is, all muscle and strength. Added to this the training to which he has subjected himself for the last few months has greatly improved him. It is said that he is nervous and irasciblo, DUO this, like the other rumours, is unfounded. Anyone who is highly trained in athletics is necessarily full of Hie and spirit, and this is true in my husband's case. He's at the acme of physical condition, in the prime of his pertection. This, I think, covera the whole case, and more or less than this no one can say. It is very easy for those who do not know to speak disparagingly of an athlete's condition, but the iacta are as I have stated.

"There never was a dearer fellow or a better husband in the wide, wide world than Jnmes J. Corbett, He is generous, kind, and considerate, and seems to anticipate my every wish. Our married life has been one continued round of happiness. What more could any woman wish for, I would aek? He is handsome, tho world admits that. He loves me; I am sure of this, because I get fresh proofs every d.y; and, do you know, there are few husbaacjs who really master the art of making their wives understand that they still occupy the delicious position of sweetheart. Mow, I don't want to appear egotistical, and I know you will consider me so, but when I get started on this subject I never know when to stop. I can't say too many nice things about my husband. Do I think he is going to win ? Why, of coarse, I am sure of it. What would you expect of a wife? He is everything to me, and I can't imagine anything else. Did you ever bear Of James J. Uorbett as a loser? Then why should he fail now ? As I said before, he never was in better condition m Ilia life; everything is in his favour. He likes his new training quarters, and is not in the least affected by the altitude way up there in the mountains. Why of course ho will win."

Mrs. Fitziimmons was also interviewed. She said:—" I am terribly disappointed at my inability to be with Bob," said Mrs. FitzsimmoM, " but a doubt as to the result of the coming battle never enters my head. Hβ will surely win. Men will probably laugh at the positiveneas of my convictions, but in doing so they will be wrong. I love my husband, but at the same time I am not blind to all the cold facts in the case. My confidence iu his coining success is based upon my knowledge of his condition and courage. Bjb was never in such splendid shape for a battle. •Hβ is strong, and full of courage; alike anxious for cbe fight and confident of victory. Let me Bf.y a word to those who pretend to think that Bob is afraid to meet Mr. Corbett in the ring,' , and her eyes fairly sparkled. " There never was a more untruthful supposition. Tho coming fight is the direct result of my husband's efforts. He w«i" simply determined to meet U)rbett, feeling perfect con6dence in hie ability to win. Trust a wife to fathom the real feelings of her husband. No one in this world knows Bob so well as I do, and what I say of his eagerness for thie fight is strictly true." Then Mrs. Fitz3iramona gathered up a heap of letters and telegrams received from her husband eitice his departure for the West, and proudly explained : " This shows his love for me—a letter and a telegram every day. He is a good man and a splendid husband. If all his manly traits were known to the world there would be no more popuhfl man than my Bob. If you could just read this last letter you would understand jusc how eure he feels that the coming battle will end in victory," continued the loyal little wife. " Why ! he has planned our future—all based upon hie triumph over Corbett. If he wins ic will be his last fight, and you don't knuw how happy the"thought makes me. Bob ie a great fighter in point of courage, skill, and strength, but his heart is in hia home. There never lived a more domestic raau. And what a happy life it means for me and the baby if the battle goes as Wβ hope!" There were womanly tears in little Mrs. Fitzsimmons' eyes as die told of Bob's great affection for his tiny eon, and of hia kindness iind good nature. "I don't like this prize fighting," eho said, in taking leave of the reporter. " Bob doesn't like it any better than I do. But he does want to meet and conquer Corbett, and he will do it to a certainty. I never felt such confidence before."

Philadelphia, Pa., February 16, 1897.— John L Sullivan arrived in Philadelphia to-day. When asked for his opinion on the coming fight between Corbett and Fitzsimmons, he said:-"I certainly think Corbett will win, for ho is a level-headed chap, and has had lots of experience. He has improved a lot since lie fought me in New Orleans, and even at, that time he was a wonder. Then he coald not hit very hard, but he has eince developed his hitting powers, until now he is able to hold up his end with any of them. Then, again, Bob Fitzsiiainons is notable to hold his end up with a man who is so long-headed as Corbett, and the Australian is liable to go to pieces at any stage of the game. If you have noticed, Corbett has always shown great clevernese in making matches, and I will say that this one is no exception to his general rule. Nowadays the public will stand far more from a tighter than in my day. When I was champion the public demanded that I should fisrht whenever a candidate made his appearance; but times have changed, and theee two fellows have had two years' cheap advertising before getting down to business. To my mind, Corbett was willing to fight at any time, but Fitzsimmons seems to have had great trouble in screwing up his courage to the sticking point. He could easily have eluded the authorities at Hot Springs, but instead of that he purposely had himself arrested, so as to have the fight stopped. Holms never made any efforts to get on a fight with Corbett, and I don't believe that he would go on with the present match it he had not been forced to by the public."