A FIGHTING HEART

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20722, 8 May 1937, Page 16 (Supplement)

A FIGHTING HEART

WHEN FITZ TRIED TO REGAIN CROWN

How Jeffries Title

Fighting to get back a championship that he lost to James J. Jeffries on June 9, 1899, in 11 rounds at Coney Island, Bob Fitsimmons, now 40 years of age, a little disfigured but still in the ring, is now battling Jim Jeffries, Los Angeles boilermaker, and world’s champion, a strong and vigorous youth of 29 summers, endeavouring to prove that size, weight, and age make no difference in the fighting game (runs a reprinted account in a American paper of the fight that took place in San Francisco on July 25, 1902).

San Francisco has been “hog wild” for days. This battle is being held in a temporary arena erected as the Mechanics’ Pavilion has been gobbled up by rival promoters who asked a big rental fee which the club refused to give up. Jeff has been training near Lake Merritt in Oakland, while Fitzsimmons did his work near Golden Gate Park. Big crowds fought their way into the arena. men who paid 15dol for seats are trying to trade them for scats in the gallery, as the gallery seats are far better than the ringside seats. Five

hundred fans from Los Angeles are on hand and have plenty of money, and are betting all they can get at 2 to 1 that Jeff wins.

It looks like a 30,000d0l house —the fighters are getting 75 per cent, of the receipts—the winner gets 60 per cent, and the loser 40 per cent. Probably a dozen heavily veiled women are in the crowd. Every policeman in San Francisco wants to crash the gatethings in a turmoil. Fitz just gave out a statement to the effect that he was in great shape and that he would win back the championship and then retire. Jeff sent out word that he was right and would wear the Cornishman down and then knock him out. Jeff felt elated over the fact that his father, a Los Angeles clergyman, had come up to wish him good luck, even though he did not approve of fights.

Jeff is quartered across the street from the arena and will not leave the hotel until time to enter the ring. Mrs Fitzsimmons will not see the fight—preferring to stay at the hotel and getting the returns by telephone. Fitz is the first to enter the ring—a roaring cry goes up as he comes down the aisle, with his bald head, freckled shoulders, and spindle legs. He got a huge ovation. Jeff comes down- the aisle with an overcoat and wears a straw hat. Eddie Graney will referee the bout—he is attired in full dress.

Fitz does not know what corner to take—he moves from one to another. Jeff does not like the ring—says it is built to cause his defeat. He is pawing the canvas and is mad as a hornet. Someone placed a bouquet of roses in Jeff’s corner—he discovers the flowers and kicks them into the crowd. They are ready for action. Jeff stands with his arms folded and gives Fitz the once-over.

Fitzsimmons is introduced as the “grand old man of many a ring encounter.” Jeffries is introduced as “the champ of all champions.” Fitzsimmons jabbed all the way through the first round—Jeff rushed and Fitz would sidestep—he had Jeff baffled by his fast footwork.

The second and third rounds were much the same. Jeff crouched and rushed, but Fritz jabbed his head off and had Jeffries worried as he went to his comer at the end of these rounds. The fourth round found Jeff crouchtog so as to avoid Fitz’s tantalising left jab. Fitz scored three times as many blows as Jeff did, and Jeffries looked like a beaten man. The fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds were all of the same order, Jeff rushing and putting in solid body punches while Fitz kept jabbing and now and then using a hard right that seemed to fock the boilermaker, who would lower his head and come rushing in. The crowd is yelling for Fitz to knock Jeff out. Eighth round: Fitz jabs—Jeff rushes him to the ropes. Jeff lands several body punches; Fitz doubles up with a hard right to the body. Jeff left hooks him, and as Fitz turns to step out of the corner Jeff smacks him with a hard right and knocks Fitz flat on his back and he is counted out. Fitz takes off his gloves and tosses them to a friend in the crowd. Fritz says he was beaten by the best man in the world. Jeff got 13,500d01. Fitz 9,000d01.