Newspaper Article States Fitz Was Out Partying Night Before Jeffries Defence

This article states Champion Fitzsimmons was out on the drink the night before he defended against Jim Jeffries,that he conceded 13years to him and, at 158lbs to his 206lbs, 48lbs. It also casts doubt on the accepted version of Jeffries injuring his hand against Bob Armstrong ,and being unable to continue against his other opponent.[Steve O Donnell] that night in August 1898.

The arrangement was for 2 x10rd bouts with a half hours rest between them

According to the paper
Jeffries cried off the second fight, citing a shattered thumb, yet he fought Fitz for the title 10 months later.:think

The article appears sceptical as to the authenticity of the injury.

The paper says that Armstrong badly hurt Jeffries with a left to the body in the 6th rd.
It goes on to give William Muldoon, the famous trainer's , opinion of the then , still up and coming Jeffries,,[ he was less than ecstatic] .

Now it may well be that Jeffries handlers were overly ambitious pitting him against two seasoned pros back to back on the same night. I would say so myself.

But it does cast some doubt as to the real reason Jeffries failed to fulfill his nights work.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...gmouAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rNkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6054,392515


P.S. I hope this does not offend any Jeffries supporters.

 

Have you read Adam's book on Fitz?

 

I'm interested in the Fitz book because I've been told that it contains an extract that says Corbett dropped Jeffries when Jeff was a sparring partner for him. I don't attach a great deal of importance to this,Jeffries was a green youngster but ,as Mendoza insists on trumpeting on about Smith allegedly flooring Johnson, I thought it might be amusing to know if the comparatively light hitting Corbett had floored the man with the rock of Gibraltar chin.