AGAINST HUGE ODDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7019, 6 January 1910, Page 3

AGAINST HUGE ODDS

HOW FITZSIMMONS WENT UNDER

A GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT, ("Sydney Refeiee.”) . "Well, it has come home to me to day in a manner that - there is nfi questioning,” said Bob Fitzsimmons as Budie Unholz put new vigour into tlie great old fighter's frame by means of a thorough massaging after Boxing Day’s big battle at the Stadium. “Yes, 1 thought there was another good fight in me, and I gave the impression a chance to prove itself. lam satisfied now.” But Bob has nothing to kick himself over; he went out a great man indeed, for ho made a remarkable showing against the huge odds of over 2st more weight, and a difference of close upon twenty years of age. Only when the excessive heat, the fierce rays of a very hot sun beating down upon his i almost thatchloss briun-box, the forcing and harrying generally of a strong, vigorous youngster, comparatively, who let Fitz. know time alter time in every round that he had fully 331 b more flesh and bone to bear up against, than he carried himself, did the man who 1 sports the scalos of Jim Corbett, Gus Ruhlin, 'Toon Sbarkey, Peter Maher and Co., at his belt, succumb,'' and then it was -.the triumph of youth over mature years—not skill over skill, or grit over grit. Bob Fitzsimmons did his beat insofar as Nature would allow him. Bill Lang certainly did no more. , < The fight was timed to begin at halfpast 10 in the morning, and from 7 o’clock the crowd began to roll up, till at 10.45 the moment the two boxers shaped—there were, Mr . Mclntosh averred, fully 12,000 neople within, tho enclosure—possibly more, but that number certainly. Over 7000 had paid for admission to the 5s seats alone. A fair amount of betting was indulged in, with Lang a 5 to 2 on favourite till the day of the battle, when 2 to_ 1 was the best procurable, and, nearing the moment of starting, tho | Lang party were only offering 6 to 4, this because it became known' that there was a fairly big commission . in the market for Fitzsimmons, and of £2OO all that could be placed was £37 10s. ,

Irrespective of the fact that he was forty-seven years of ago to Bill Bang’s twenty-eight or twenty-nine, Fitzsimmons only pulled the beam at list 21b, while Lang confessed to 13st s}lb. Bill stripped- better - than ever I saw him before, and looked a bigger man than when he faced Tommy Bums in Melbourne over 15 months since.

Lang was always aggressive, and that fact, more than any other, brought about the older man’s undoing, for though Bob did bang a few hard punches in, they hadn’t the power looked for by his friends, nor did they, equal in effect many blows landed by him in training. Only once in a way (three times altogether, perwas that right crossed over to the jaw, and all who have followed the game must have noted what a right-cross handed out by Boh Fitzsimmons meant.

It was agreed that the breaks should bo clean, and though clinches were frequent, the conditions mentioned were often completely ignored, and only by one man. None could have fought fairer than Fitzsimmons. Lang was so anxious to go in and fight, and get where those long lefts and right jolts of Fitz.’s could do him least harm,

that I am satisfied he frequently offended unintentionally’, but tho offence was so palpable that Tommy Burns, in Fitzsimmons’ corner, felt constrained to call the referee’s attention during one of tho minute spells between rounds to tho difference between what the boxers agreed to and what was going on. An outstanding feature of tho battle right through was the manner in which Hob bewildered Bill by T his clever head-stalling, ducking, and side-step-ping. Time after time Fitzsimmons would have Lang’s weapons whirling through space as so 'many flails, and Bill would often whirl with them, much to his disgust, especially as tho crowd roared laughing at the fool appearance ho cut. Then Lang would clench his teeth and go after Fitz. with a wicked glint in his eye, to got or give more punishment until the inevitable embrace occurred. Poor Arthur Soott had a warm time indeed, tearing those big follows asunder, and they- needed some pulling. It was a great hour for those who- talk oldtimers and how much better they wore than the present-day boxer, for one could hear on-, all sides expressions of admiration for Fitzsimmons’ skill, and tho remark; “What a wonder he must havo been!” But Bob was not such a wonder as an exponent of the chill of the game as he was as a weighty puncher and an absolute glutton for punishment. Fitz. did not shape quite up to the expectations of those who watched his training; ho could deliver heavier blows in practice, and seemed to have more vigour and zest for the work, but there is always a difference on the wrong side between tlho manner in which a man shapes while training and his display in actual combat—-the importance of tho occasion ,affects him, or the anxiety .as to. what the end will bo is something .of a handicap, and a man need not experience the. suggestion of fear to'feel that way. Taken all througjh, the contest was a gallant one, and proved a hard knock to those wise guys who predicted a short shrift for tho “old man,” and blamed the management for, matching the pair. .