Bob Fitzsimmons KO6 Gus Ruhlin

This is an interesting fight for Fitz. Plenty of folks seem to see Fitz as past it by the time he matched Jeffries boxing as he was into his late thirties. I was thinking earlier to day about Juan Manuel Marquez. What amazes me about Marquez is not only that he's been busy and fighting into his late 30's, but that he's doing so against pressure fighters, tough, younger fighters who have an automatic style advantage by virtue of their style and age. Diaz and Kastidis are not great fighters, but they are contenders, and his taking them out in his late 30's is pretty special IMO.

That got me thinking about Fitz. Marquez is amazing to me - look at Fitz. Fighting at the same age and older against world class opponents with a size advantage in an era where fighters supposedly didn't have that longevity (debatable). What he did was flat out incredible. So I thought i'd have a wee look at one of the fights that took place between the Jeffries fights, his mad bout with Gus Ruhlin. Fitz had something like 65 fights of record at this time and was 37 years of age with two serious beatings under his belt against Jeffries and Corbett. As for Ruhlin, he was in his physical prime at 28 years of age and was in the form of his career, coming into the fight off nine straight knockouts including a victory over Tom Sharkey. He also outweighed Fitzsimmons by a serious amount. Boxrec has it at 37lbs, most of the sources i've seen have it closer to 30, but that's Fitz giving up weight and years to a punching, aggressive opponent on a knock out streak. How's he winning that fight?

By the time of the first bell, this was a pick 'em fight according to the oddsmakers, the two were joint favourites.

Fitzsimmons did seem to show good defense, described as "shifty" and dodging blows "in the cleverest manner". But this was an insane fight. Described as "unusually fast", the first three rounds sound like absolutely splendid chaos with the two men exchanging sustained attacks and swapping big punches. In these exchanges, Fitzsimmons consistently came off best, inspite of Ruhlin landing the left hand consistently to head and right to the body (seemed to be his money punch). "Fitzsimmons forced Ruhlin to break ground and in the hot exchanges [Ruhlin] was always the first to ease up and take refuge in a clinch."

Marquez is loved for his technical boxing by the hardcore, his combination punching and deft footwork, but in his later years it's his aggressive style, newly adoppted, that's brought him the adoration of the wider audience and his success. In this month's Ring, Ronnie Shields talked about his despair upon seeing Marquez outfight Diaz - he knew that if his younger, stronger pressure fighter couldn't out-fight Marquez his title challenge was over. Here, Fitz seems to have taken the shortest route to his opponents destruction his own self. Fitz too, changed his style just when it seemed the most dangerous - moving up to HW as an older fighter. Although he clearly has the skill to out-box his much larger foes, including Ruhlin (he out-boxed Demspey after all) he instead is looking to mix up and break down his bigger foe. So far we've seen one part defence, two part guts and three parts power, but Fitz did also utilise his smarts - like Marquez he just isn't using them to keep him out of trouble any more.

"Fitz's handlers kept urging him to [throw body punches] but Fitz only tried it occasionally...whenever it landed it shook Ruhlin from head to toe...he would wince in pain."

Hard, as always, to pick it apart completely based upon text, but Fitz seems to respond to a "somtimes wild" swarming pressure attack with precision punching. He doesn't waste punches, although the pace of the fight over the first three was insane, he's throwing precision blows, and he's not selling the weapon that would bring him the victory, bodyshots. His attack is mixed. Again, this is something he has in common with Marquez. Another Marquez miracle is his stamina, he seems to outlast his younger pressure-fighting foes. It's basically impossible on the surface, but again, it's a matter of economy. Marquez, who I think has a lot in common with Joe Louis, also (no ****) doesn't waste moves - punches or moves. Fitz is the same. Because of this, Ruhlin, a veteran of five 20 round fights, is the first of the two to show the affects of the red-hot pace, which should be wilting the younger fighter. Right?

"Ruhlin showed the worst of the two [in round four]. Fitzsimmons was always the faster of the two, but now and then during the rounds he would stop and glare at his opponent. Ruhlin also would stand still at these times, grateful of the chance he was afforded at breathing that Fitzsimmons was giving him."

This is a function of generalship, I bet. Fitz has taught Ruhlin, by the fifth round, to respond to his signals as to the pace. When Fitz wants to fight fast, he does so. When he wants to rest, they both do. He's assumed complete control of a fight even though the style should favour the other man.


Some observations:

1) Fitzsimmons fights the opposite to the fight that he might be expected to win

2) Fitzsimmons has more reserves of stamina for technical reasons by the end of the fight

3) Fitzsimmons is the better puncher inspite of being 30lbs smaller

4) Fitzsimmons is in control of the action, even during those spells where the opponent is allowed to do what he needs to do, get distance and rest.

Fitz wins the mental fight by allowing his opponent to do exactly what he wants to do (1), then proves himself better equipped to win that fight (2), uses his physical advantages to beat back his opponent (3), then prevents his opponent re-taking control of the fight once he has established his dominance (4).


The coup de grace was a two-parter in round 6:

"With a volley of lefts and rights to the head and neck, and with a fearful left to the solar plexus Fitzsimmons sent Ruhlin in a heap to the floor."

Fitz has been teaching Ruhlin that he has to protect both head and body, and it is the switch that finally sees his man ditched. A reminder that Ruhlin had 30lbs on Fitz and was looking for his tenth consecutive KO.

"Ruhlin, after taking nine seconds got to his feet...Fitzsimmons knew he had his man... he [rushed] in sending two lefts to the face and then a right with fearful force to the point of Ruhlin's Jaw. Ruhlin pitched forwards as though struck by an axe and fell face forwards to the floor where he was counted out and had to be carried back to his corner."

Fitzsimmons knocked a near 200lb man totally unconcsious with that punch.

I have a round by round and some other ****, I will post it in a minute.

 

Some post fight comments from Fitz:

"Well, I'm an old fellow and a has-been, eh? Well I guess I was good enough for Mr.Ruhlin and that is not so bad. That was as tough a battle as I ever went through, but I am still good for a few more. Ruhlin is good. With a little more experience he will about do. He hit me with some corking wallops, and I can tell you that he can punch a bit. I am very tired, but the further fight went the more certain I felt I could finish him, [But] I knew I had to steady myself. I give him nothing but praise."

Also, questions would later be raised about Ruhlin's heart (Jeffries fight), Fitz didn't see it that way at this time:

"He fought a great battle and only stopped when he was knocked senseless. I give him all the credit in the world for the showing he gave. I think he knew he was beaten after the second round when I hit him with a tremendous body punch but he continued fighting until he was absolutely senseless. His dispaly of pluck astonished me. His ability to keep up a fast pace and slug was also a revelation. I am open to fight any man in the world.

 

Round 1: Ruhlin bored in, putting a left across the chest, sending Bob back to the ropes. Fitz broke ground and came to the centre quickly. He fell short with a left and a right to the body. Fitz then hooked a left to the chin and Guys came back with a left and right to the chin. Fitz bored in, but in the mix up Gus beat him off to the ropes with left and rights to the face. Ruhlin went at Bob with both hands to the head, cutting Fitz's left eye and Bob slipped to the flor. As he got up Ruhlin, who did not hear the bell, swung on Fitz. Bo's second claimed a foul, but it was not allowed."

Rulin round.


Round 2

Gus was the agressor. Bob ducked a left and they exchanged rights. Rattling exchanges followed. Fitz hooked his left bringing blood [from Ruhlin's nose]. Bob bored in, but Gus met him, both fighting wildly. Fitz sent a hard left to the body and followed with a right-left to the body which made Ruhlin wobble and clinch. A left put Gus off his feet. Ruhlin took the count. Neither men heard the bell, and each was so rattled that he did not know his corner.

Fitz round.


Round 3

Gus came out very slowly, but saile din and they exchanged lefts to the body. Fitz missed a left to the head but follwed up with a right to the jaw. Gus kept jabbing until Fitz sidestepped and swung his right to the head. Both men were wild, missing several swings. Fitz was the steadier and drove a right hand to the body, but Ruhlin coutnered with a left to the face.

Fitz round.


Round four

Fitz swung left and right to the head and they came to a clinch on the ropes. Gusy tried a left to the head but fell short. Gus clinched. When they broke away, Ruhlin put lef and right to the head and jabbed a left to the head. Fitz missed a left swing and Gus got a right to the body. Gus sent three lefts to the face and then sent a left and a right in that shook Fitz to the toes. Clihces were frequent, both men were tired. Fitz went back with a left to the body and forced Gus to the floor where he took the count. Gus came up very groggy but knew enough to hold out. Fitz missed a swing to the head. Gus was busy ducking at the clang of the bell.

Fitz round.

Round five.

Fitz came up the fresher. Gus tried aleft wing but Fitz dodged. Fitz sent a left swing to the face and they clinched. Fitz laned a stiff left over the heart. Fitz kept boring in. He whipped his left to the stomach and a right to the jaw. Gus jabbed. Fitz put a hard left of the body. Gus was reeling around the ring. Both men were bleeding from the mouth and nose. The round ended with Fitz smashing Gus on the face with both hands.

Fitz round.


Round 6

Gus was very slow coming out. Gus got his right inside, Fitz countered with a left on the eye. Gus broke ground with Fitz following. Ruhlin managed to stave off Bob's lead with a straight left. Fitz bored in sending a right to the body and Ruhlin clinched on the ropes. After they broke away Fitz followed Gus up with lefts and rights to the head. WIth lefts to the body and jaw, he dropped him to the floor. Gus took the count but when he arose Fitz gave him no time but landed a right swing to the jaw and put him out. Ruhlin was carried to his corner. Time of two minutes and ten seconds.

 

RUHLIN UNCONSCIOUS FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

Ruhlin was taken to this dressing room after the fight last night, was in very bad shape after almost immediatly becoming unconscious. A doctor in the building responded to a hurry call and found the case so serious that he administered strychnine. Ice bags were also applied to Ruhlin's head and he partially revived. He was removed to Everard's baths. He again collapsed on his arrival there, and as local means failed to restore him, Dr.Guy Lambard was hastily summoned.

...

Whilst physicians were examining himRuhlin opened his eyes and faintly asked for water. This was given as he again lapsed into a sort of stupour. This was given him as he again lapsed into a sort of stupor. Blood at this time was trickling from his ears and nose.

:yikes

 

No, Janitor, it wasn't like that. Moore was old, but he was a huge LHW, perfectly capable of holding 200lbs. Fitz weighed about 168 (ish) for this fight I reckon. Ruhlin was 195. I understand the comparison, but this is a whole different kind of crazy.

 

I've seen the pictures, but i've never read it. I think the comparisons to Louis are totally valid.

 

Speaking of Kid McCoy, here are his thoughts on the fight:

"I thought sure Ruhlin would win until I saw him in the ring. The first round showed both men to lack steam - they were loggy in their movements. Ruhlin seemed to have the best of it in the first and covered Bob's face with blood. The crowd thought sure that Fitz would lose. Ruhlin jabbed him in the face and body repeatedly. Robert's face was as ruby as his hair! But this only arounsed the Kangaroo's fighting proclivities...his mug was set pugnaciously and from that time he had Ruhlin on the defensive.

Those who expected to see ring science, a real boxing match, must have felt disappointed, but those who paid their money to witness a contest for blood, a real savage fight, were rewarded. Both men were in earnest, and there was enough gore spilled to suit the most brutal spectator. Fitz face was badly cut up but his injuries were triffling. Ruhlin seemed to suffer a good deal from the effects of the KO blow and was given stimulant.

From what I saw of Fitz to-night I think I can give him a good match for his money. I am ancious to meet him afte rmy affair with Corbett. As for the latter, I feel I can defeat this so-called fancy boxer."

 

Cheers chum.

I got what you meant, for sure. I just think that this is a whole new level of crazy.

Thanks!! I'll definitely read this. Cheers pal.