Terry McGovern on Fitzsimmons, Jeffries, Sharkey, McCoy, Corbett and Ryan

The Butte inter mountain., October 25, 1902, Evening, Page 8, Image 8
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...mmons&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

 

The Police Gazzette, Saturday, April 25, 1903
If it wasn't for Bob Fitzsimmons I don't know what a lot of third-rate pugilists would do for the notoriety and advertising which is so essential to success. Slinging bluff challenges at the "old man," and engaging in controversies regarding their comparative fighting qualities, is their stepping-stone to fame, although they know they have as much chance of whipping him as a snowball in Hades. Tommy Ryan, a good man in his class, was the first to try it, but his bluff was short-lived. He believed Fitz couldn't scale under 160 pounds, and when he found out his mistake he took to the tall uncut with the speed of a gazelle. Then came Philadelphia Jack O'Brien. He was a little more serious, but there was never any doubt but that O'Brien was glad to find a loophole for the argument. Fitzsimmons asked for a side bet of $5,000 and O'Brien would not post the amount. So Robert's forfeit is not covered, Gus Ruhlin, about whom little if anything has been recently heard, decided the other day to get under the glare of the calcium and, of course, he picked out Bob Fitzsimmons as the most desirable candidate for his consideration. He challenged, and moreover, intimated that the chance to wager $5,000 at evens, according to Robert's demands, was precisely the thing he most desired. Ruhlin is a heavyweight and has tried to meet all in his class. He made a poor showing with Jeffries and when his work is contrasted with that of Fitzsimmons there seems to be little chance of him being dangerous. The chances are that Ruhlin will find that his challenge is accepted long before he has an idea that Robert has heard anything about it. In fact Ruhlin is about the only heavyweight outside of Jeffries who has a chance with Fitzsimmons. The latter whipped Ruhlin in their last meeting and it is claimed that it was two months before he recovered from the effects of the beating he received. However. Ruhlin is one of the few fighters who are game enough to try again where they failed before, and he appears to be the only big fellow now eligible for another fight with Fitzsimmons