When James J Corbett retired, did he present the title to O'Donnell,Maher or neither?

I guess that lil Fitz just helped himself to it!

 

The O Donnell v Maher contest was originally going to be the supporting bout for the proposed Fitz v Corbett championship fight.
What happened was Fitz sparred with Con Riordan on Oct 19th 1894, Riordan had been drinking heavily prior to the spar.
Riordan came out throwing big shots and Fitz enthusiastically joined him.
Fitz dodged a round house right and banged a left into Riordan's stomach Riordan had the wind knocked out of him , he dropped his hands and Fitz finished him with a right hook.
Riordan crumpled out to the world.
Fitz helped the seconds carry him to his corner, then he was helped out of the ring and was placed on a ringside chair.
Fitz began sparring with his next opponent ,Joe Dunfee when out of the corner of his eye Fitz spotted Riordan slide off his chair and onto the floor.
Concerned Fitz took his eyes off of Dunfee who took the opportunity to let a hay maker go that dropped Fitz, he arose and waved Dunfee away and went to the ropes to look at Riordan.
Riordan was taken to hospital and Fitz was arrested.
In the morning Fitz was told Riordan had died.
Fitz was charged with manslaughter and bailed. A jury brought in a verdict of accidental death from exhaustion due to alcohol, Fitz was acquitted.

Both Fitz and Corbett went on theatrical tours,a Texas promoter offered the men $41,000 which they accepted and both agreed to put up$10,000 as a guarantee.

The erection of a stadium was started in Dallas but the Riordan tragedy caused the banning of the match and legislation was brought in making it a criminal offence to stage a prize fight in Texas.
Arkansas was now tried , but the governor was pressurised into banning the fight. Local officials ,seeing $$$ signs overuled him and the date was set for the fight at Oct 31 1895 .both parties met and the Sherrif told Fitz and Julian ,"if you want to fight Corbett come with me.If you dont want to fight walk into the arms of the governor and his waiting posse. "
Fitz and his manager decided not to ignore the governor and went with the posse to Little Rock to be placed under arrest. Both champion and challenger were required to pay a bond to ensure their good behaviour and released.
Angry at being branded a common pugilist Corbett decided to retire.
The Maher O Donnell fight now became elevated to a championship contest for the vacant title and Corbett announced his retirement on the day of their fight. He was present at the fight to add legitimacy to their claim.Corbett was rooting for O Donnell because the Australian was now under the same management as himself ie, W Brady.Corbett and Brady used O Donnell as a buffer, and for delaying tactics, he had insisted earlier that Fitz fight O Donnell prior to getting a title shot offering a side stake of $1000 but on the understanding that "you will have to win decisively to qualify as a title contender" Fitz refused.
When Maher kod O Donnell ,Corbett had no choice but to climb into the ring and congratulate him.Maher ,fired up was on the verge of taking a swing at Corbett and even Corbett's congrats did not pacify him as he shouted that he could ko Corbett just as easily.Corbet quickly left the ring in disgust.

So yes Corbett wanted O Donnell to win ,and yes he anointed Maher as his successor. Fitz having no difficuly securing another fight with Maher which he won, dragged Corbett back into the ring.

 

Corbett gave his blessing to Maher but would have preferred O Donnell as they were in the same stable whether he had any financial interest in the Aussie I don't know. Maher wanted to fight Corbett to cement his claim.
I can't understand why Corbett didnt accept ,unless he knew that inevitably he would then have to face Fitz. Fitz refusing to fight O Donnell is another strange one ,then again he may have thought of himself as Wills did when told to fight Tunney/Godfrey for the right to face Dempsey, ie that he had already unquestionably earned his shot. Yesterday I had been worshipping Bachus, hence the convoluted reply

 

That's correct , the promoter announced it as for the title but,Corbett did not say so, I believe he raised Maher's hand after the fight and claimed him as champ.
This is all from Batchelor's " Bob Fitzsimmons The Fighting Blacksmith".

 

I thought O'Donnell as he was his sparring partner. That's what I remember from what I've read and Pollacks Fitzsimmons book.

 

Dammit, Flea. Get an English user title. We're not in...Canada(?).

 

From Corbett's autobiography "The roar of the crowd":

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