Bob Fitzsimmons Appreciation Thread

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/art...memories of the ring bill lang&searchLimits=

here is a good account of the Lang vs Fitzsimmons fight, by Bill lang. Interesting to note that Lang also makes mention of Fitzsimmons beating Tommy Burns. This was a sparring exhibition and was always reported as a fast paced spar. But for Fitz to beat Burns is still a huge effort.

And note also that despite Fitz excellent showing against Lang, it is noted and admitted by Lang that Fitzsimmons not only came out of retirement, but he hardly even trained! And think of how great his reflexes and defensive dodging and ducking is described by Lang, particularly early on in the fight. If you remember that he was actualy 47 years old, you have to ask the question, is there another fighter alive who retained his reflexes for as long? Certainly not Roy Jones Jr, Tyson or Ali, who are three modern speedsters.


Also, note that Burns refers to Fitzsimmons as a former world cruiserweight champion. I know it is a play on words term for the Light heavy championship, but does this mean that Fitz was officially recognised as a champion of four different divisions?

 

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/l...ons+&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&index=0

Okay, believe this one if you can. For all those who champion the case of many paper champions. It seems from this article that at 51 years of age, Bob Fitzsimmons was reconised as the official undefeated World Middleweight champion by the New York State Boxing Commission. By my cound that gives Fitz an official 23 year reign! I wonder if his fight with his son 2 years after this, counts as a title defence?

 

Here is the second page of that article. It is interesting that Fitz, even at his age was gearing up to fight some of the white hopes.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1914-01-15/ed-1/seq-28/

And actually, now that i look at that photo of Fitz, here is one more startling thing that Fitz can do, even at 51 years of age. The article shows Fitz weighing in at 200lbs. The same size that many say he would need to be to compete with todays big modern super heavyweights. To be honest, he looks like he could carry the weight, if that is the way his training was to go. It seems that this photo would suggest that with modern training techniques and habit, Fitz would have no problem bulking up and carrying the 200 lbs.

I really have to wonder how his stock might go up if we ever unearth some footage of Fitz weighing 200 lbs.

 

I rate this man as the greatest fighter in history.

His legacy surpasses everyone else's who ever laced up the gloves. His resume isn't the greatest but it's strong enough that no detractions can be made.

Perhaps greb and langford would have beaten the champs of their day too but we'll never know. All we know is fitz did reach the accolade in devastating fashion.

This man truly amazes me with what he achieved.

I'm not going to argue anyone who thinks he isn't goat material but i'm happy to justify my ranking on the strength of his legacy and the support of his resume.

 

Nothing too ground shattering with this one, but it is interesting that Fitz was so great, when he talked about what a leader requires even this made the news. After reading the article, you have to wonder how disgusted Fitz would become at the obesity in todays society.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/60652073?searchTerm=bob fitzsimmons&searchLimits=

 

I am not so certain that this story is correct, as i always read that Fitzys pet lion died in a accident (although maybe this was his great dane. Either way, you have to admire his courage, even if his bravery might have been misplaced in this one. Technically, it sounds like a loss, but i still think it leaves Jeffries Deer story for dead.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/63434249?searchTerm=bob fitzsimmons&searchLimits=

 

There is the story that after he dropped Corbett with the solar plexus punch, Corbett after recovering , said to Ruby that he would be looking for him on the street, Fitz replied that if he was approached on the street he would kll Corbett.

 

This article is an account of some of Fitzsimmons earliest fights in Sydney. It is really amazing not just because it shows how Fitz was an amateur and some these guys were professionals, note the passages on how he was outweighted also, but unless i am mistaken, there is a few missing fights included in there. The Ellis fight in particular seems to be a pretty good quality fight for someone so inexperienced to win is very impressive. And it is also interesting that he beat Peter Jacksons no 1 protege.

Anyway, perhaps the biggest thing to learn is Starlight Rollins. Note that this article seems to suggest there was either another Rollins victory (as it seems to be a different fight at at a different time to the one on CBZ), and/or the one reported which talks of Rollins getting a knock down and breaking his hand did not occur the way it seems to be. Either way, this is a big win for Fitzsimmons and shows yet another astounding fitzsimmons fact. In fact, some of these fights really do seem to be building the career of Fitzsimmons the welterweight/lightweight, as he seems to have been outweighed by a stone by Middleweights.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/39387877?searchTerm=bob fitzsimmons&searchLimits=

 

Fitz was another amazing freak of boxing....Langford, Marciano, Qwawi, and Pac-Man and Mickey Walker being a few others

 

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/57590301?searchTerm=bob fitzsimmons&searchLimits=

And this is more from Fitz himself about the early days of his career. I think there is quite a couple of unreported KOs there. Although note that he says it took him 2 more rounds to KO Bill slavin, than Cyberboxingzone says.

This article is also interesting in that it settles the argument about Fitz winning the title of NZ twice, which i referred to (from Memory) early in this thread. Fitz actually won the first one in 1880, as a 17 year old kid! And it was the NZ Heavyweight title! Yet another one for Fitz to amaze everyone.

And dont forget that his win over Herbert Slade, who while probably overrated, was still good enough to earn a world title shot just 6 months later! And so as to further amaze, Fitz as a 19 yo lightweight disposed of Slade in exactly the same amount of time as it took the great John L Sullivan (in his prime) to dispose of him. That (yet again) is astonishing.

 

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/l...ant&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&index=11

This little article here has a claim by Fitz that he not only stopped Jim Hall in the 5th round in his public fight, but that he also won a private fight over the same distance. Not astonishing, but still a pretty good win to add to Fitz' record if it is true. And to be honest, i think it is almost certain that it probably did happen.

 

What's so funny about that? :think

 

Here is a little tidbit on George Seales, who went on to be a decent referee. It seems that George seales was the Australian Amateur heavyweight champion when he fought Fitz to his 4 round no decision. Presumably this may have been more an exhibition than a fight.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/52273670?searchTerm=george seale&searchLimits=l-decade=188

 

Pablo Frank, who was knocked out in two rounds seems to have been a journeyment at the very least. He had a fight with Tom Lees for the Victorian Title and seems to have fought in the Larry Foley gym (like most fighters of the time) every week as one of the fighters usually advertised towards the top end of the card.