It seems like the 41 year old Fitzsimmons got the better of this No decision. OBrien was down, and in the opinion of many saved from a knockout when the bout was halted by the police. Here's the report [url]http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C06E1DB1F3AE733A25757C2A9619C946597D6CF[/url]
Another report (The Frederick News); I wouldnt read too much into this as Jack was easily downed(Fred Cooley, Jeffords, even ancient Peter Maher come to mind as decking him) it nicely teed up a rematch. FITZ AND O'BRIEN MIX IT UP Fought Six Fast Rounds, With Last Cut Short After a Knockdown. Philadelphia, July 23.—Bob Fltzsimmons, the grand old man of the prize ring, and Jack O'Brien fought six rounds at the Philadelphia National League ball park. The bout was fast and furious from start to finish, and was stopped in the sixth round by the police after O'Brien had been knocked down. The flght still had a minute to go, and O'Brien might not have walked to his corner, for he had just been knocked down to a sitting position by one of Bob's left-hand jolts and had not fully recovered when the bell sounded, ending the contest, in obedienco to a motion of command from the police official. One smash on the jaw from Fitz's terrible right might have sent Jack to dreamland, and Bob was steadying himself for the blow when the gong rang. But while worsted, O'Brien was not disgraced. In fact he made friends by the flght he put up. Jack carried the flght to Fltzsimmons in the earlier rounds and did comparatively little running away throughout the contest He was down four times all told—once In the first, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds—but was dazed but once, and that was the last time, in the sixth. O'Brien hit Fitzslmmons even more often than Bob hit him, and had Bob's face bleeding from the first round, but the Philadelphia boxer was never able to shake the old-timer, who stands very firmly on his feet.
I agree. I have also read several other reports mostly of the same type but some give O'Brien 50/50. One point to remember,in those days a knockdown did not carry the same weight(figuratively!) as to-day-perhaps a relic of London Prize Rules?
Think at that time, Fitz may have been over his head vs Tommy Burns. Burns was in his prime and on top of the world as champ. Fitz was on the way out. Prime vs Prime is other matter though.
It depends if Fitz was in shape. The article claims he was. Burns was not hard to find on film. The time was May 1906. Burns had just beaten Hart for the title, but lost in 1905 to Jack T. Sullivan. He also had some draws in 1905 to Kelly, and lsot to the same O'Brien Fitz did well agaisnt in 1904. My point is Bruns was not at his best yet in 1906. Imagime if the fight went off, and Fitz reclaimed the heavyweight title. WOW. Here is the read. [url]http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9904E2D9143DE733A25753C3A9639C946797D6CF&oref=slogin[/url]