Bob Fitzsimmons Appreciation Thread

Fitzsimmons was probably the greatest middleweight ever.

From accounts of the people who were there, he hit just as hard as Dempsey and Louis. I think people overlook that now. He was a genuine power puncher compared with heavyweights, not just another hard-punching middle.

 

Fitz was a 165 pound marvel Fitzimmons was best described by John L Sullivan,as a " Fighting Machine On Stilts ".

 

probably number 1.
Maybe Langford and Armstrong challenge him for that position.

 

Fitzy v Grebby???
What gwan?

 

Here is another interesting tidbit. In the very early stages of his career, and as a virtual lightweight, Fitz came within an inch of going one on one with the legendary heavyweight champion Jem Mace, but Jem backed down, supposedly because he was worried what the crowd might do. This article (admittedly seems to be written a fair few years later) covers this. It also has a bit of a decent description of the fight where the same Fitz KOd future world heavyweight title challenger Herbert Slade.

http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/22914476?searchTerm=bob+fitzsimmons+boxing+lightweight

 

BUT!!!
Did the speckled one ever satisfy the requirement of a bona fide top fiver?
Did he KO an equine warrior?

 

I read a quote from Fitzsimmons last night, that he when he was KOd by Bill Lang, it was only the second time, that he had lost a fight that he had trained properly for, with the other being Jeffries II. Interesting, if true and quite possibly it was.

Incidentally, Fitz was ahead in the Lang fight, according to the reports i read, before the extraordinary heat and old age caught up to him in the last two rounds. Fitz almost certainly would have won a fight under modern conditions (a 10 rnd fight). Quite amazing given the quality of opponent and his age.

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5clfV1gZV0A[/ame]
I just watched this drunk, and I have to say this looked hilarious. OMG :rofl both these guys looked horrendous. Poor Grandpa, it looked like he fell off his rock chair! Lang is pathetic. :rofl

 

I think Lang looks pretty good there. He finished it well.

 

That's not Fitz ,it's Mills Lane .
Bill" The Dragon" Lang, today he would be fighting Vitali.

 

That is perhaps the ultimate middleweight "what if".

The battle of the freaks.

 

Lang was pretty good. Not an all time great, but a good solid world class fighter.

It was as hot or hotter that day, than when Sugar Ray was stopped due to heat exhaustion, or when Jack Johnson lost to Willard. Fitz dominated the early rounds and was ahead on points, according to reports, but the heat and old age eventually caught him. Fitz had came within an inch of KOing Lang in earlier rounds.

 

Lang World Class?

I doubt he was top 10 material

 

In 1909 when Fitz fought Bill Lang Bob Fitzimmons was FORTY SIX years of age...
Let it be known!