Interesting quote from Bob regarding the state of his hands in their second bout and his belief that nefarious actions were afoot in the first bout. He believed that a fit, healed and focussed version of himself would beat Jeffries every time. "I fought in the way I did because both my hands were gone when I entered the ring. I injured them Wednesday boxing with Hank Griffin. My right hand in particular was almost useless. I am confident now, even more so than ever, that in my first battle with Jeffries I was doped. His showing tonight proved to me conclusively that my defeat at his hands in our previous battle was unwarranted."
From an interview with Bob the week after the first fight... "I wanted to win my 320th (!) fight, but Bob Fitzsimmons didn't fight that night. I can't account for it. I wasn't myself. I just stood there and let him hit me. I didn't come any of my duckings or my footworks... In the whole fight I was never tired or winded. I just couldn't fight; that's all. My feet were like lead. I don't know what was the matter."
Idk Seamus, maybe he was, or maybe English Bob was just making excuses, all we know for sure here is he put up a great fight but ended up getting curb stomped by a much bigger much stronger fighter
"Curb Stomp" would make a great nickname for an up & coming fighter. Good job in putting the concept out there.
Claiming you were drugged when you lost seems to have been the done thing back then. Munroe claimed he was drugged, and Jeffries claimed he was against Johnson
Fitzsimmons asked his brother in law if he was drugged and he said," yes by Jeffries right fist,now stop being a baby about it!" I never knew Munroe claimed to have been drugged, frightened to death yes!
It seems to be the done thing in every era! The number of fighters that have claimed to be drugged over the years, you wonder that they will eat or drink anything before a fight!
i am pretty sure i read that Fitzsimmons was out drunk the night before the first fight. He has also said he didnt really train properly because he underestimated Jeffries.
Fitz apparently was on the whisky the night before and he couldn't handle drink.Wiiliam Muldoon half carried him home.Or so I have read.
