Bob Fitzsimmons 158 lbs knocks out Gus Ruhlin 195 lbs, the reaction at the time.

Bob had unusually large hands for a Man his size. He possesed freakish power as well. I've read that he KOd a Man who weighed 300 Lbs. in 10 seconds. He dosn't get the credit he deserves as a Middleweight or Light Heavyweight.

 

They say the same things about Marciano as well Jan. To short, to light, to slow etc.

 

Fitz vs Ruhlin was flimed. I read a film review once. The clarity was excellent for the time.

 

I remember seeing a review to the effect that Bob would have to be better if he hoped to beat Sailor Sharkey. (Bob KO2'd Sharkey a few weeks later).

I'd always woundered about Ruhlin 195 for this fight, as I'd thought he was a tad bigger than that.

 

For whatever reason, I think all of these guys underreported their weights. Back then, you did not need to weigh in officially for a heavyweight bout, because your weight didn't matter. Thus, most of the time these guys self reported. Fitz was probably about 170. Ruhlin was probably around 200. But we can't know for sure. My Jeffries book will come out early 2009, and will have discussions and descriptions of meaningful fights from Jeff's era, including Fitz-Ruhlin, Sharkey II, and other Fitz bouts, as well as Corbett-Sharkey II, McCoy, etc. Stay tuned.

 

Thanks. I've done Sullivan, Corbett, and Fitz. I'm editing Jeff right now. It's a doosy. It will likely be even longer than the others, and have more photos.

 

I remember some pictures of Fitz from a fight he had with Jeffries. Fitz, at least in his upper body, did not really look as thin as one might expect next to the more massive Jeffries, who was perhaps 50 or more pounds heavier than Fitz. Some say Fitz was a heavy from the waist up and a middle below the waist.

 

Fitz's pure physical abilitily was clearly off the chart! On nearly every great sports figure you can find some bits of information that indicates perhaps this iconic person's ability was overstated, not so with Bob Fitzsimmons and he fought on two continents.