Daniel Cann

Bob Fitzsimmons was without a doubt one of the greatest boxers these isles ever produced. In this modern age of multi governing bodies and weight divisions he would have arguably been in his element. A Bob Fitzsimmons with the advantages of modern training and nutrition would be a frightening prospect indeed. At 5 feet 11 1/2 inches tall and weighing around twelve stone (168 pounds) for most of his boxing career he would by modern standards be suited to the super middleweight division, yet he fought mainly in the heavyweight division often giving away big advantages in height and weight.

When he fought in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century there were only eight weight divisions, that Fitzsimmons won undisputed World titles in three different weight divisions is a remarkable achievement. He was Britain’s first World Heavyweight Champion and it would be over a hundred years later that Britain would have a World Heavyweight Champion in Lennox Lewis. Also, it was not until the 1990s when Duke McKenzie became a World Champion at three different weights that Fitzsimmons’ record was matched (by a British boxer). This puts Fitzsimmons into perspective, he was a special talent and it took nearly a century before his lofty achievements were matched.

Robert James Fitzsimmons was born on 26th May 1863 in Helston, Cornwall. When only a child Fitzsimmons’ father decided to take his family to Timaru, New Zealand tempted by the opportunity to work as a policeman. As things transpired he continued to work as a blacksmith. As young Bob grew into manhood he built his shoulders and arms up at the blacksmith’s anvil. Of slight frame with spindly legs, receding red hair and covered in freckles he looked a most unlikely boxer. But appearances can be deceiving. Thanks to the power in his shoulders and arms Fitzsimmons possessed frightening, almost freakish power that would see him easily knock out men much larger than himself.

He began boxing at the young age of just fifteen in 1878. He first gained attention by winning the Jem Mace tournament in Tirura in 1880. Mace of course was an excellent and noted pugilist himself and he took the young Fitzsimmons under his wing. In 1882 he knocked out the huge Maori Herbert Slade who would later have mixed success in America. Fitzsimmons officially began to box professionally in 1883 in Australia. Thanks to Mace’s tutelage Fitzsimmons developed a more cagey style and learned to deliver short, accurate and devastating knockout blows. He soon earned the reputation as one of the hardest hitting men in the World.

Fighting at middleweight in Australia he won the fans over with displays of skill and power, earning the affectionate nickname of ‘Lanky Bob.’ He would earn several other nicknames during his ring career some flattering, some unkind. Among them were: ‘The Freckled Freak’, ‘The Freckled Wonder’, ‘Freckled Bob’, ‘The Fighting Blacksmith’ and most famously of all as ‘Ruby Robert.’ Thanks to his appearance, barnstorming, outspoken personality and his knockout feats in the ring he soon garnered World attention.

Moving to America in 1890 Team Fitzsimmons were serious about winning a World title. They did not have to wait long as he received his chance against ‘The Nonpareil’ (meaning a person without equal) Jack Dempsey (real name John Kelly). The hugely popular and adored World Middleweight Champion from County Kildare, Ireland was a daunting prospect for anyone but Fitzsimmons took it all in his stride.

In a punishing and one-sided battle held in New Orleans in 1891 Fitzsimmons knocked Dempsey down at least thirteen times. Fitzsimmons pleaded with Dempsey to quit but the proud Champion refused to. Eventually after taking much punishment Dempsey was knocked out in the thirteenth round. His supporters were devastated. After the knockout legend has it that Fitzsimmons carried the stricken fighter back to his corner. The two men became friends after the bout right up to Dempsey’s tragic and untimely death at the age of only 33 three years later.

Now a World Champion Fitzsimmons had several exhibition bouts cashing in on his newfound fame. He defended his middleweight title successfully before setting his sights on the World Heavyweight crown held by Irish-American James J Corbett or ‘Gentleman Jim’ as he was more popularly known. Most sportswriters poured scorn on Fitzsimmons heavyweight aspirations claiming that he would never be able to concede natural advantages in height and weight. Dogged and determined as ever Fitzsimmons set about proving them all wrong.

Distinguishing himself against the likes of top contenders such as Peter Maher and Joe Choynski (Fitzsimmons was well on top when the police intervened in the fifth round) it looked as if the prospect of the Cornishman fighting for the World Heavyweight title soon was not so outlandish after all. Then came the controversial fight with Tom Sharkey in 1896 held at San Francisco and refereed by non other than ex lawman Wyatt Earp of ‘Gunfight at the OK Corral’ fame. Allegedly Earp carried a gun with him at this event (no one was going to argue with his decision!)

Again it was a one-sided contest where Fitzsimmons toyed with his much larger opponent, mercilessly battering him until the eighth round when finally Sharkey went down for the count after a devastating body and head shot combination put him out of his misery. It looked like Fitzsimmons had proved beyond doubt that he was worthy of a title shot beating every contender comfortably. Earp then shocked everyone at ringside and disgusted Fitzsimmons by awarding the decision to Sharkey on a foul alleging that the Cornishman had hit his opponent whilst he was on the floor. It was later alleged that Earp was involved with a group of high rolling gamblers who had bet heavily on a Sharkey win. It was not the first time that corruption was alleged in a boxing match and it was certainly not the last.

Thanks to popular and sympathetic opinion in favour of Fitzsimmons he was finally awarded his shot at the World title. He trained in the Nevada desert with his entourage like never before. He would need to be in top physical condition. Entering the ring in the afternoon desert sun on 17th March 1897, St Patrick’s Day fighting an Irish-American in front of thousands of vocal Irish-Americans must have been intimidating. There were a few Cornish miners in the audience as well but most of the support was with the Champion, the cocky and super confident slick craftsman James J Corbett. The Champion had wasted no opportunity in belittling or humiliating his opponent in the lead up to the contest and it was no secret that by the time of the fight both men despised each other.

So at The Race Track Arena, Carson City, Nevada, USA British boxing history was about to be made, but not after one of the most hardest and punishing contests of all time. Corbett outweighed the 34-year-old Cornishman by 16 pounds; he was also the younger man by 3 years. He had taken the title just over four and a half years earlier against the legendary John L Sullivan in an excellent display of boxing skill. To say he was brimming with confidence was an understatement.

The first few rounds of the contest bore this out as although Fitzsimmons took the fight to the Champion Corbett easily outboxed the Cornishman. In the sixth round Fitzsimmons was sent to the canvas for a count on one knee. In the succeeding rounds the American piled up the points and the misery as Fitzsimmons face badly marked up courtesy of jabs and precision combinations from Corbett. It all looked hopeless but he did not stop trying. From the ringside Fitzsimmons’ wife Rose (holding a tiny Stars and Stripes flag) kept shouting ‘Hit him in the slats Bob!’ Meaning the Champion’s ribs.

Thanks to the advice of his wife Britain would soon have its first World Heavyweight Champion as Fitzsimmons unleashed the famous ‘solar plexus’ punch, a vicious body blow that turned the Champion’s complexion an ashen colour and had him staggering and reeling backwards as unnecessary hooks crashed against his head sending him to his knees and to the canvas. As the referee completed the ten count Corbett struggled to get his breath back, badly winded and in agony he had no chance of beating the count and the World had a new unlikely World Champion.

It was a huge victory for Fitzsimmons even more so in British boxing as it would be another century before they would witness another British Word Heavyweight Champion. He had been kept waiting for his shot and had spent years beating all of the top contenders, now he felt like he deserved a rest. Fighting exhibitions and appearing on the stage Fitzsimmons enjoyed a two-year tour of America cashing in on his fame.

It was not until 6th June 1899 that he would defend his title against the top contender James J Jeffries ‘The Boilermaker.’ Jeffries at 24 years old was 12 years younger than the Champion. He was taller at 6 feet and at 206 pounds outweighed Fitzsimmons by 39 pounds (nearly three stone). While Fitzsimmons had been enjoying the limelight outside of a boxing ring Jeffries had beaten all the top contenders showing frightening determination, durability and power. He was in the shape of his life and determined to win the richest prize in sport.

The fight took place at Coney Island, New York City and was a thriller. It was all Fitzsimmons from the opening bell as he inflicted shocking punishment on the younger man. After ten rounds of boxing Jeffries face was a mess and it looked like he was booked for defeat. However the exertions of fighting a man much larger and younger than himself took its toll on the Champion who must have wondered what he had to do to put Jeffries away. In the eleventh round Jeffries caught a tiring Fitzsimmons flush on the jaw sending him crashing to the canvas for the full count. The title was gone.

Lesser men would have retired then and there. No one would have blamed him if Fitzsimmons had retired. He had had a distinguished career proving the naysayers and doubters wrong, amassing a fortune in some of the most exciting fights seen scoring knockouts over plenty of big men. But he was not finished yet. He came back scoring wins over the giant fighter ‘The Human Freight Car’ Ed Dunkhorst who at six feet four and 260 pounds was huge for boxers of that era. It was in this fight that when asked how did he expect to defeat such a huge opponent Fitzsimmons replied ‘The bigger they are the harder they fall’ coining the famous saying. This he duly did dispatching Dunkhorst by a knockout in the second round.

Wins over top contenders Gus Ruhlin (KO 6) and Tom Sharkey (KO 2) proved that Fitzsimmons was far from finished, serving notice that he had not lost his touted power. The rematch with James J Jeffries for the World Heavyweight title took place on 25th July 1902 at the imaginatively named ‘The Arena’ in San Francisco. By now he was aged 39 and at 172 pounds was giving away 47 pounds to his 27-year-old opponent who had filled out and was undoubtedly in his prime.

Most felt that Fitzsimmons was now a little ‘past it’ and Jeffries would win easily. How wrong they were! In another thrilling contest Fitzsimmons dished out an even fiercer beating than in their first contest. After seven rounds Jeffries looked as if he had been run over by a train. His face was a mess with his nose and cheekbones broken and blood flowing freely from cuts. Had the bout been fought today it would have been stopped. But this was 1902 and in the eighth round Jeffries again showed the courage and durability that had marked him out as the outstanding heavyweight boxer of the era. He found the punch he so badly needed to stop his tormentor, knocking Fitzsimmons out.

Amazingly Fitzsimmons was not finished yet and in 1903 he won the World Light Heavyweight title beating George Gardner on points over 20 rounds. He was 40 years old; the oldest man to win a World title in any weight division up until George Foreman regained the World Heavyweight title aged 45 in 1994. A World Champion at three different weights he had nothing left to prove and in 1905 at Mechanic’s Pavilion San Francisco he lost his title to Philadelphia Jack O’Brien by a technical knockout in the thirteenth round. His opponent was nearly fifteen years younger than him.

Now well into his forties and in the hardest profession in the World there were calls from family, friends and the public at large for Fitzsimmons to retire. Like many boxers after him quitting was the hardest thing for him to do. He would fight on even facing the fearsome Jack Johnson at the age of 44 in 1907. Johnson at 29 years old was in his prime and would become World Champion the following year. Fitzsimmons had no business being in the same ring as Johnson by this stage and it was no surprise when Johnson easily and contemptuously knocked out the much older man in two one-sided rounds.

But still he would not quit. Fitzsimmons would unsuccessfully challenge Bill Lang for the Australian Heavyweight title at Sydney Australia in 1909 losing by a knockout in the twelfth round. He fought on in legitimate fights and exhibitions until 1914 aged 51! By then it was clear even to him that the magic was not there anymore. It had been a rollercoaster ride of a career. He had fought all-comers all over the World and had earned the reputation as one of the most exciting and hardest hitting boxers of all time.

Sadly he died at the relatively young age of 54 of pneumonia. He is buried at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago. To put him in perspective his ring earnings if adjusted to today’s money would be equivalent to over £20 million. He lived in an opulent Bath Beach home in New York in his prime, owned a pet lion called Nero who he would often playfully wrestle (shades of Mike Tyson?) He could count among his many fans as none other than US President Theodore Roosevelt and over three thousand people attended his funeral. Many of his boxing contemporaries among them John L Sullivan and James J Cornett paid their respects.

Bob Fitzsimmons was simply one of the greatest boxers of all time and not just one of the greatest from the British Isles. He was the Thomas ‘The Hit Man’ Hearns of his day with his lanky physique coupled with phenomenal hitting power. His courage and stubborn willpower could also be his undoing but there is no doubt in my mind that had he boxed today he would be a superstar. His legendary status is not in doubt and young fight fans today should take time out to learn about this remarkable man.

World Middleweight Champion 1891

World Heavyweight Champion 1897 – 1899

World Light Heavyweight Champion 1903 – 1905

*Fights 99 Wins 67 KO’s 60 Lost 8 Drew 5 No Contest/No Decision 9

* Fitzsimmons claimed to have had over 350 fights and some credit him with 369 contests in his 31-year career. I have used the record on Boxrec as my source.