For the most part, people largely seem to rate Bob Fitzsimmons off of his fights as a heavyweight, against much larger men, and to some extent as a Light Heavyweight as an old man. His early record is pretty shakey, perhaps unmotivated, perhaps just green. Only including fights in America (where he seemed to find his form), and only against notable fighters when he was a middleweight, his wins come down to: Billy McCarthy Jack Dempsey Black Pearl Peter Maher Jim Hall Joe Choynski Dan Creedon Billy McCarthy I can't find any contempory reports of this. But Fitz seems to have been pretty dominant from the various accounts, possibly choosing to put on an exhibition rather than go for the stoppage. Accounts conflict. I see either a police stoppage, or McCarthy quit at the end of the 9th (possibly to avoid police intervention). Hard to find much info, but regarded as a top middleweight, Middleweight champion of Australia. I saw one article refer to him as a former champion of the world. [edit] Found a report Los Angeles herald., May 30, 1890, Image 1 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...mons&y=16&x=5&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 [/edit] Jack Dempsey Not really a boxing match so much as a 13 round demolition job with as many knockdowns. https://news.google.com/newspapers?...AAIBAJ&sjid=wfMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6887,492247&hl=en He was a bit small, but also legendary, probably the top P4P fighter of his day http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/Article-Nonpareil.htm Harris Martin AKA Black Pearl Lasted the four rounds as agreed, but was overmatched https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SFC18910502.2.117.8&txq=fitzsimmons+black+pearl Not quite the top tier, but a solid fighter. Claimed the black middleweight title in his career, as well as middleweight champion of the northwest. http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/blackpearl.htm Peter Maher Of course Fitz would go onto KO in a round for heavyweight honours, however this is his first first. A cagey start from Fitz on the defensive for the first 5 rounds. Fitz then landed heavilly and gave out a one sided beating, wearing out Maher he couldn't get up for the next round after the 12th. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/236055290?searchTerm=fitzsimmons peter maher&searchLimits=l-decade=189|||l-year=1892 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/229592071?searchTerm=fitzsimmons peter maher&searchLimits=l-decade=189|||l-year=1892 I don't feel I need to say anything about Peter Maher. Jim Hall Jim Hall had some moments, but was never on top and always on the back foot, and was taking a beating for much of it, especially the final round, clinched a lot, before quiting on his stool after the 5th. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127596923?searchTerm=fitzsimmons jim hall&searchLimits= [edit]Lol just noticed that was the 1889 fight, heres the 1893 fight, Hall KOed in the 4th https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/112610652?searchTerm=fitzsimmons+jim+hall [/edit] Fitzsimmons had a loss to Hall in Aus, but Hall achieved more than that. A notable win over Ted Pritchard, the British middleweight and heavyweight champion. Also had the better of Choynski, albeit in a light 4 round exhibition https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/229594376?searchTerm=choynski jim hall&searchLimits=l-decade=189 Joe Choynski Officially a draw, but really a stoppage, and occasionally listed as such. Fitz dropped him 3 times, then police interveened. http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Bob_Fitzsimmons_vs._Joe_Choynski Fought as a Heavyweight or L.Heavyweight, but weighed little more than a middleweight. Most famous for KOing a young Jack Johnson, by which point Joe was probably past his best. Also lasted the full 20 rounds with Jeffries. Massive puncher, sometimes rated even higher than Fitz by contempories. Dan Creedon Can't find any detail beyond Creedon being KOed in the second round, presumably one sided. [edit]Found it https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/108885379?searchTerm=fitzsimmons+creedon [/edit] Would later make a claim to the world Middlweight title, and was the Middleweight Champion of Australia. Possibly most notable for beating Jem Smith who had been considered a top heavyweight, and was Heavyweight champion of England. Creedon was dominant and KOed him 2 rounds https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/227722510?searchTerm=dan creedon jem smith&searchLimits=
As a 160lber -175lb I think he has to be top because he wasnt much more than that. Fitz is a freak but fits in with the Bob Fosters & the Hearns, Sandy Sadler type freak
I've heard it was when Dempsey was champ, and Fitzwas a reason it went up to 158. But I've seen stuff listed from that period as "160Ib middleweight", and with the final fight with Fitz and Halll, both were over 160. I'm not sure if it was that standard, or kind of agreed on fight to fight.
