Bob Fitzsimmons Appreciation Thread

I think its just a fancy name for that left uppercut Zarate used to shank guys with. Of course its possible your just keeping the legend alive...

 

"Solar Plexus" just sounded all mysterious and other worldly to out brethren back then. Like Fitz came from outer space with that new-fangled left hook that he had. We, of course are so much more sophisticated in this day and time.

 

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/112188247?searchTerm=bob fitzsimmons dooley&searchLimits=

Here is a good one showing just how great Fitz was in his own time. When the New York papers ran a referendum to find the ten Greatest American's of all time, Fitz admittedly didnt make the top 10 like guys like Mark Twain and Thomas Edison. But he did get a ton of votes and sounds like he placed ahead of guys like Winstone Churchill.

Not a bad effort, considering he wasnt even an American!

 

Fitz was interviewed by a reporter from the San Fran call. He was asked specifically concerning the color line and he steadfastly denied having any issues fighting any man of color. He stated that no black man ever challenged him but he would have had no issues accepting the challenge.

 

Not widely known but Arcel taught Duran the Fitzsimmons shift for his first bout with Leonard. Worked like a charm.

 

Now that's Appreciation!

 

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/120651803?searchTerm=bill farnan&searchLimits=


here is a brief mention of an unrecorded fight with Australian heavyweight, Charles Stern which ended in a quick KO for Fitzsimmons, by the sounds of it.

 

And here is some more information about the Fitzsimmons Dooley fights. Although not day after reporting, i think the fact that dates do gel, gives this more credibility.

It seems that Fitzsimmons was beaten not once, but twice by Mick Dooley. And the first time, he was knocked out in the second round of a 4 round fight. there is some really good info on Dooley in this article.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/128106885?searchTerm=foley white horse&searchLimits=

 

Good stuff! Nice find!

 

It seems to me that Corbett-Fitzsimmons yields some evidence that, if movement troubled Fitzsimmons, Bob also had some aptitude at gradually slowing his opponent down.

 

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/127574084?searchTerm=mick dooley&searchLimits=

Here is confirmation from Mick Dooley about two victories over Bob Fitzsimmons. Dooley tries to point out that fitzsimmons did become a much better fighter, after this. Still, it is clear that Dooley does deserve some credit for these wins.

 

I discuss the Mick Dooley - Bob Fitzsimmons bouts in my book, In the Ring With Bob Fitzsimmons, using local primary sources. See pages 17 - 19. Folks tend to exaggerate a bit when talking bout something which happened 30-40 years prior.

 

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/art...tt&searchLimits=l-title=499|||sortby=dateDesc

This is just an interesting tidbit about Fitzsimmons and Sharkey. It also suggests Fitzsimmons didnt have much of an opinion of Willard and would have loved to have had a bout with him.