Bob Fitzsimmons

Bob Fitzsimmons

Fitzsimmons in 1891.
Statistics
Real name Robert James Fitzsimmons
Nickname(s) Ruby
The Freckled Wonder
Cornishman
Rated at Middleweight
Light Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Height 5 ft 11 12 in (1.82 m)
Reach 71.5 in (182 cm)
Nationality British
Born 26 May 1863
Helston, Cornwall, UK
Died 22 October 1917 (aged 54)
Chicago, Illinois, US
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 99
Wins 68
Wins by KO 59
Losses 8
Draws 4
No contests 19

Robert James "Bob" Fitzsimmons (26 May 1863 – 22 October 1917) was a British born New Zealand professional boxer who made boxing history as the sport's first three-division world champion.[1] He also achieved fame for beating Gentleman Jim Corbett, the man who beat John L. Sullivan and is in The Guinness Book of World Records as the lightest Heavyweight Champion.[2] Nicknamed "Ruby Robert" and "The Freckled Wonder", he took pride in his lack of scars and appeared in the ring wearing heavy woollen underwear to conceal the disparity between his trunk and leg-development. He was also known for his pure fighting skills due to dislike of training for fights, which would ultimately cost him at times in his career.

Fitzsimmons is ranked as No. 8 on Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

Biography

Oceanian era

Fitzsimmons, the youngest of 12 children, was born in Helston, Cornwall. His father was James Fitzsimmons, born in County Armagh, Ireland and his mother was Jane Strongman, born in St Clement, Cornwall.

The birthplace of Bob Fitzsimmons in Helston, Cornwall

Bob emigrated to New Zealand at the age of nine along with his parents, brothers and sisters. His family settled in Timaru, among many other English settlers, and Bob became a blacksmith in his brother Jarrett's smithy.[3] He was a practising blacksmith most of his life [The Village Blacksmith written by Roland Webber]

Between 1880 and 1881, Fitzsimmons reigned as champion of the Jem Mace tournament in New Zealand. Some say he officially began his career as a professional boxer in New Zealand later in 1881. Records remain unclear whether he received payment for a bout in which he knocked out Herbert Slade in two rounds.

Fitzsimmons had six fights in New Zealand, two of them bare-knuckle events. He won one and lost five. It remains unclear whether any of those bouts involved payment.

Boxing record books show Fitzsimmons officially began boxing professionally in 1883, in Australia. He beat Jim Crawford there by getting a knockout in three rounds. Fitzsimmons had his first 28 definite professional fights in Australia, where he lost for the Australian Middleweight title to Mick Dooley (rumours spoke of a fixed bout) and where he also won a fight by knockout while on the floor: when Edward Starlight Robins dropped Fitzsimmons to the canvas in round nine of their fight, he also broke his hand and could not continue, therefore the referee declared Fitzsimmons the winner by a knockout.

By this stage, Fitzsimmons had established his own style. He developed a certain movement and caginess from one of the greatest bare-knuckle fighters, Jem Mace. Mace had encouraged Bob to develop his punching technique and he revolutionised this, drawing on the enormous power he had gained from blacksmithing. Fitzsimmons delivered short, accurate and usually conclusive punches. He soon built up a reputation as by far the hardest puncher in boxing.

Winning the Middleweight title

Moving on to the United States, Fitzsimmons fought four more times in 1890, winning three and drawing one.

Fitzsimmons knocks down Dempsey in New Orleans, 1891

Then, on 14 January 1891, in New Orleans, he won his first world title from Jack (Nonpareil) Dempsey.[4] Fitzsimmons knocked out Dempsey (from whom the later Jack Dempsey would take his name) in the 13th round to become the World Middleweight Champion. Fitzsimmons knocked Dempsey down at least 13 times and by the finish left him in such a pitiable condition that he begged him to quit. Since Dempsey would not do so, Fitzsimmons knocked him out and then carried him to his corner. On 22 July, police broke off his fight with Jim Hall after he had knocked Hall down several times.

Fitzsimmons spent the next two years fighting non-title bouts and exhibitions until giving Hall a chance at the title in 1893. He retained the crown by a knockout in round four. He spent the rest of that year doing exhibitions, and on 2 June, he had scheduled a two-way exhibition where he would demonstrate in public how to hit the boxing bag and then how to box against a real opponent. Reportedly, two freak accidents happened that day: Fitzsimmons hit the bag so hard that it broke, and then his opponent of that day allegedly slipped, getting hit in the head and the boxing exhibition was cancelled.

After vacating the Middleweight title, Fitzsimmons began campaigning among heavyweight (the light heavyweight division did not exist at that time). On 2 December 1896, the San Francisco Athletic Club sponsored a fight at the Mechanics' Pavilion in San Francisco between Fitzsimmons and Tom Sharkey. Unable to find a referee, they called on former lawman Wyatt Earp. He had officiated 30 or so matches in earlier days, though not under the Marquis of Queensbury rules.[5] The fight may have been the most anticipated fight on American soil that year. Fitzsimmons was favoured to win, and bets flowed heavily his way. Earp entered the ring still armed with his customary Colt .45 and drew a lot of attention when he had to be disarmed. He later said he forgot he was wearing it. Fitzsimmons was taller and quicker than Sharkey and dominated the fight from the opening bell. In the eighth round, Fitzsimmons hit Sharkey with his famed "solar plexus punch," an uppercut under the heart that could render a man temporarily helpless. The punch caught Sharkey, Earp, and most of the crowd by surprise, and Sharkey dropped, clutched his groin, and rolled on the canvas, screamed foul.[6]

Earp stopped the bout, ruling that Fitzsimmons had hit Sharkey when he was down. His ruling was greeted with loud boos and catcalls.[7] Earp based his decision on the Marquis of Queensbury rules, which state in part, "A man on one knee is considered down and if struck is entitled to the stakes." Very few witnessed the foul Earp ruled on. He awarded the decision to Sharkey, who attendants carried out as "...limp as a rag.".[8]

Winning the Heavyweight title

In 1896, Fitzsimmons won a disputed version of the World Heavyweight Championship in a fight in Langtry, Texas, against the Irish fighter Peter Maher.[9] On 17 March 1897, in Carson City, Nevada, he knocked out American Jim Corbett, generally recognised as the legitimate World Heavyweight Champion (having won the title from John L. Sullivan in 1892) in round 14.[4] This constituted a remarkable achievement, as Jim Corbett, a skilled boxer, weighed a stone (14 lb) more than Fitzsimmons. He out-boxed Fitzsimmons for several rounds, knocked him down in the sixth round and badly damaged his face with his jab, left hook and right hand, but Fitzsimmons kept coming and Corbett began to tire. In the 14th round, Fitzsimmons won the title with his "solar plexus" punch. Corbett collapsed in agony. Fitzsimmons' "solar plexus" punch became legendary, although he himself may never have used the phrase. The entire fight was filmed by Enoch J. Rector and released to cinemas as The Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight, the longest film ever released at the time. Using her maiden name, it was covered by Nellie Verrill Mighels Davis, the first woman to report a prize fight.[10]

Fitzsimmons spent the rest of 1897 doing paper runs. In 1899, Fitzsimmons and James J. Jeffries succeeded in boxing in New York City without the police intervening, probably at an underground club. Most people gave Jeffries little chance, even though at 15 stones (95 kg) he massively outweighed his opponent and was far younger, but Jeffries lifted the World Heavyweight Champion from Fitzsimmons with an 11th-round knockout.

In June 1901 Fitzsimmons took part in a wrestling match against Gus Ruhlin. He lost and went back to boxing. He then enjoyed legitimate boxing knockouts of both Ruhlin and Sharkey.

In 1901 he published a book Physical Culture and Self-Defense (Philadelphia: D. Biddle). In 1902, he and Jeffries had a rematch, once again with the World Heavyweight Champion at stake. Fitzsimmons battered Jeffries, who suffered horrible punishment. With his nose and cheek bones broken, most would have sympathised with Jeffries had he quit, but he kept going until his enormous weight advantage and youth told and Bob suffered a knockout in round eight.

Winning the Light Heavyweight title

September 1903 proved a tragic month for Fitzsimmons, as his rival, Con Coughlin, died the day after suffering a one-round knockout at the hands of Fitzsimmons. But less than two months later, Fitzsimmons made history by defeating World Light Heavyweight Champion George Gardiner by a decision in 20 rounds,[4] thus becoming the first boxer to win titles in three weight-divisions.[1]

Soon afterward, he went back to the Heavyweights, where he kept fighting until 1914, with mixed results. Fitzsimmons fought Jack Johnson in 1907, during the time period in which reigning champion James J. Jeffries refused to fight Johnson. The bout between Johnson and Fitzsimmons ended in a second round knockout.[11]

Retirement

Although Fitzsimmons became a world champion in each of the Middleweight, Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions, historians do not consider him the first world Light Heavyweight Champion to become World Heavyweight Champion, because he won the Heavyweight title before winning the Light Heavyweight belt. Michael Spinks counts as the first Light Heavyweight World Champion to win the Heavyweight belt as well. However, Fitzsimmons was the first Middleweight Champion to win the Heavyweight title and the only Heavyweight Champion to drop down and win the Light Heavyweight title. In 2003, Roy Jones Jr. joined Fitzsimmons, Michael Moorer and Spinks as the only men to have won world championships at both light heavyweight and heavyweight.

Fitzsimmons had a final professional record of 66 wins with 59 by knockout, 8 losses, 4 draws, 19 no contests and 2 no decisions (Newspaper Decisions: 2–0–0).

Fitzsimmons's exact record remains unknown, as the boxing world often kept records poorly during his era, but Fitzsimmons said he had had more than 350 fights (which could have involved exaggeration on his part).

The statue Peace on the Dewey Arch was modelled on Fitsimmons by the sculptor Daniel Chester French.[3]

He died in Chicago of pneumonia in 1917, survived by his fourth wife. His grave lies in the Graceland Cemetery, Chicago. Having four wives, a gambling habit and a susceptibility to confidence tricksters, he did not hold on to the money he made.

The International Boxing Hall of Fame has made Bob Fitzsimmons a member in its "Old Timer" category.

In 2003 Ring Magazine named Fitzsimmons number eight of all time among boxing's best punchers.

Professional boxing record

63 Wins (59 Knockouts), 8 Defeats (7 Knockouts), 4 Draws, 7 No Contests[12]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
NC - Jersey Bellew ND 6 1914-02-20 United States South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A United States KO Sweeney NWS 6 1914-01-29 United States Athletic Club, Williamsport, Pennsylvania Newspaper Decision
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 63–8–4 Australia Bill Lang KO 12 (20) 1909-12-27 Australia Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales
Draw 63–7–4 Canada Jim Paul PTS 3 1908-09-22 United States Benson Mines, New York
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 63–7–3 United States Jack Johnson KO 2 (6) 1907-07-17 United States Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 63–6–3 United States Charlie Haghey KO 4 (6) 1906-01-31 United States Recreation Park, Webster, Massachusetts
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 62–6–3 United States Philadelphia Jack O'Brien RTD 13 (20) 1905-12-20 United States Mechanic's Pavilion, California, San Francisco Lost World Light Heavyweight Title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 62–5–3 United States Philadelphia Jack O'Brien TKO 6 (6), 1:22 1904-07-23 United States Baker Bowl, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 61–5–3 Republic of Ireland George Gardner PTS 20 1903-11-25 United States Mechanic's Pavilion, California, San Francisco Won World Light Heavyweight Title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A United States Joe Grim NWS 6 1903-11-25 United States Southern A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Newspaper Decision
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 60–5–3 Republic of Ireland Con Coughlin TKO 1 (6), 2:52 1903-09-30 United States Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 59–5–3 Mike Ranke KO 2 (4), 0:15 1902-12-27 United States Bozeman, Montana
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 58–5–3 ? Steward KO 1 (4) 1902-12-19 United States Butte, Montana
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 57–5–3 United States James J. Jeffries KO 8 (20) 1902-07-25 United States The Arena, California, San Francisco For World Heavyweight Title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 57–4–3 Republic of Ireland Tom Sharkey KO 2 (25), 2:06 1900-08-24 United States Coney Island A.C., Brooklyn, New York
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 56–4–3 United States Gus Ruhlin KO 6 (25) 1900-08-10 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 55–4–3 United States Ed Dunkhorst KO 2 (25), 2:25 1900-04-30 United States Hercules A.C., Brooklyn, New York
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 54–4–3 United States Jim Daly TKO 1 (6) 1900-03-27 United States First Regiment Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 53–4–3 United Kingdom Geoff Thorne KO 1 (6) 1899-10-28 United States Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 52–4–3 United States James J. Jeffries KO 11 (20) 1899-06-09 United States Coney Island A.C., Brooklyn, New York Lost World Heavyweight Title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 52–3–3 United States Lew Joslin KO 2 (4) 1897-06-05 United States Leadville, Colorado
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 51–3–3 United States James J. Corbett KO 14 1897-03-17 United States The Race Track Arena, Carson City, Nevada Won World Heavyweight Title
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 50–3–3 Republic of Ireland Tom Sharkey DQ 8 (10) 1896-12-02 United States Mechanic's Pavilion, California, San Francisco
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 50–2–3 Republic of Ireland Peter Maher KO 1, 1:35 1896-02-21 Mexico Coahuila de Zaragoza
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 49–2–3 United States Mike Connors KO 1 (4) 1895-04-19 United States New York City
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 48–2–3 Al Allich KO 3 (4) 1895-04-16 United States New York City
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 47–2–3 New Zealand Dan Creedon KO 2 (20) 1894-09-26 United States Olympic A.C., New Orleans, Louisiana Retained World Middleweight Title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 46–2–3 United States Frank Kellar KO 2 (4) 1894-07-28 United States Driving Park, Buffalo, New York
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 45–2–3 United States Joe Choynski TKO 5 (5) 1894-06-18 United States Boston Theater, Boston, Massachusetts
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 44–2–3 Republic of Ireland Jack Hickey TKO 3 (4) 1893-09-05 United States Caledonian Park, Newark, New Jersey
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 43–2–3 United States Dan Coner KO 1 (4) 1893-05-30 United States Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 42–2–3 United States Mike Brennan KO 4 (4) 1893-05-06 United States Boston, Massachusetts
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 41–2–3 United States Joe Godfrey KO 1 (4) 1893-04-21 United States Academy of Music, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 40–2–3 United States Mike Monoghan KO 1 (4) 1893-04-21 United States Academy of Music, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 39–2–3 United States Alexander Kilpatrick KO 4 (4) 1893-04-21 United States Academy of Music, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 38–2–3 Jack Sheridan TKO 1 (4) 1893-04-15 United States Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 37–2–3 United States Dan Curry KO 2 (4) 1893-04-12 United States Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 36–2–3 United States Hank Smith KO 2 (4) 1893-04-12 United States Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 35–2–3 United States Alexander Kilpatrick KO 3 (4) 1893-04-12 United States Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 34–2–3 United States Jack Warner TKO 1 (4) 1893-03-31 United States Baltimore, Maryland
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 33–2–3 Phil Mayo KO 2 (4) 1893-03-25 United States 2nd Regiment Armory, Chicago, Illinois
Draw 32–2–3 United States Dan Bayliff PTS 4 1893-03-15 United States Indianapolis, Indiana
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 32–2–2 Australia Jim Hall KO 4 1893-03-08 United States Crescent City Club, New Orleans, Louisiana
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 31–2–2 United States Jack Britton RTD 2 (4) 1892-12-10 United States Newark, New Jersey
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 30–2–2 Millard Zender KO 1 (4) 1892-09-03 United States Anniston, Alabama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 29–2–2 United States Jerry Slattery KO 2 (4) 1892-05-11 United States Miners 8th St Theater, New York City
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 28–2–2 United States Joe Godfrey RTD 2 (4) 1892-05-06 United States Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 27–2–2 United States James Farrell PTS 2 (4) 1892-04-29 United States Newark, New Jersey
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 26–2–2 United States Thomas Robbins RTD 3 (4) 1892-04-28 United States Newark, New Jersey
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 25–2–2 United States Tom Burns RTD 3 (4) 1892-04-28 United States Newark, New Jersey
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 24–2–2 United States James Malone RTD 2 (4) 1892-04-27 United States Newark, New Jersey
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 23–2–2 United States Charles Puff KO 2 (4) 1892-04-26 United States Newark, New Jersey
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 22–2–2 Republic of Ireland Peter Maher RTD 12 1892-03-02 United States Olympic Club, New Orleans, Louisiana
NC - United States Harris Martin ND 4 1891-05-01 United States Washington Rink, Minneapolis, Minnesota
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 21–2–2 Abe Coughle TKO 2 (3) 1891-04-27 United States Battery D Armory, Chicago, Illinois
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20–2–2 Republic of Ireland Nonpareil Jack Dempsey RTD 13 1891-01-14 United States Olympic Club, New Orleans, Louisiana Won World Middleweight Title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 19–2–2 United States Arthur Upham KO 9 1890-07-28 United States Audubon Club, New Orleans, Louisiana
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18–2–2 Australia Billy McCarthy KO 5 1890-05-29 United States California A.C., California, San Francisco
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17–2–2 United States Frank Allen RTD 1 (3) 1890-05-17 United States California A.C., California, San Francisco
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16–2–2 New Zealand Professor Jack West KO 1 (4) 1890-03-01 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15–2–2 Australia Edward Starlight Rollins TKO 9 1890-02-22 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 14–2–2 Australia Jim Hall KO 4 (20) 1890-02-11 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
Draw style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia Edward Starlight Rollins NWS 4 1890-02-10 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14–1–2 Dave Conway KO 4 (15) 1890-02-01 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13–1–2 New Zealand Dick Ellis RTD 3 (20) 1889-12-16 Australia Royal Standard Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12–1–2 New Zealand Professor Jack West KO 1 (8) 1889-11-30 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
Draw style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia Pat Kiely NWS 4 1889-11-26 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11–1–2 Australia Jim Hall RTD 5 (8) 1889-01-19 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia McEwan NWS 3 1888-12-01 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
Draw style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia Jim Hall NWS 4 1888-11-24 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia Jim Hall NWS 4 1888-11-10 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
NC - Australia Mick Dooley ND 4 1888-05-08 Australia Amateur Athletic Club, Sydney, New South Wales
Draw style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia Bill Slavin NWS 4 1888-11-24 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
Draw style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia Bill Slavin NWS 4 1888-03-17 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10–1–2 Australia Bill Slavin TKO 7 (8) 1888-03-05 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
Draw style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia Billy McCarthy NWS 4 1888-02-11 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
Draw style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia Tom Taylor NWS 4 1888-01-26 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
Draw 9–1–2 Australia Dan Hickey PTS 4 1888-01-23 Australia Athletic Ground, Sydney, New South Wales
NC - Australia Frank Slavin ND 4 1888-01-01 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–1–1 Australia Dave Travers KO 3 1887-09-24 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia Jim Hall NWS 4 1887-05-28 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–1–1 George Eager KO 2 (4) 1887-04-04 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–1–1 Australia Bill Slavin TKO 5 (8) 1887-03-21 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–1–1 New Zealand Dick Sandall RTD 4 (4) 1887-03-01 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–1–1 Australia George Seale PTS 4 1887-02-15 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia Jack Bonner NWS 4 1887-02-12 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
Draw style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia Frank Slavin NWS 4 1887-01-01 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
Draw 4–1–1 Australia Jack Malloy PTS 4 1886-11-01 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
NC - Australia McArdle ND 4 1886-10-09 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
NC - Australia Australian Billy Smith ND 4 1886-10-07 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia Tom Lees NWS 4 1886-08-25 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia McArdle NWS 4 1886-08-07 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia Mick Dooley NWS 4 1886-06-05 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia Mick Dooley NWS 4 1886-06-02 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
NC - Australia Steve O'Donnell ND 4 1886-10-07 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 4–1 Australia Mick Dooley RTD 3 (4) 1886-05-15 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales
Draw style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A Australia Brinsley NWS 4 1886-05-08 Australia Foley's Hall, Sydney, New South Wales Newspaper Decision
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–0 Australia Pablo Fanque KO 2 (4) 1886-02-02 Australia The Green, Sydney, New South Wales
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–0 Jack Greentree KO 3 (4) 1885-05-01 Australia Sydney, New South Wales
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 Australia Alf Brinsmead KO 2 (4) 1885-04-01 Australia Sydney, New South Wales
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Australia Joe Riddle PTS 4 1885-03-01 Australia Sydney, New South Wales

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Robert Fitzsimmons". Encyclopædia Britannica. British-born boxer of Irish descent, the first fighter to hold the world boxing championship in three weight divisions.
  2. McWhirter, Norris. The Guinness Book of World Records 1997. p.467. " Lightest heavyweight champion Robert James "Bob" Fitzsimmons of Great Britain, weighed 165 pounds when he won the title by knocking out James J. Corbett". Random House Publishing Group, 1997
  3. 3.0 3.1 Anne Pimlott Baker, 'Fitzsimmons, Robert Prometheus [Bob] (1862–1917)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2005 accessed 25 March 2010
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Box rec.com. boxer: Bob Fitzsimmons
  5. Reilly, Joe. "Born To Uphold The Law: Frank Sulloway’s Principles Applied to the Earp-Clanton Feud of 1879–1882". Drexel E-Repository and Archive. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  6. Barra, Alan (26 November 1995). "BACKTALK;When Referee Wyatt Earp Laid Down the Law". New York Times. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  7. Rasmussen, Cecilia (4 June 2000). "LA Then and Now: Mrs. Wyatt Earp Packed Her Own Punch". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  8. Shillingberg, William B. (Summer 1976). "Wyatt Earp and the Buntline Special Myth". Kansas Historical Quarterly 42 (2): 113–154.
  9. Sonnichsen, C.L. (1968). Pass of the North: Four Centuries on the Rio Grande. Texas Western Press. pp. 358–362.
  10. "Nellie Mighels Davis". Nevada Women's History Project. University of Nevada, Reno. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  11. Ken Burns, Unforgivable Blackness
  12. Bob Fitzsimmons' Professional Boxing Record. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 3 May 2014.

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Bob Fitzsimmons
Achievements
Preceded by
Nonpareil Jack Dempsey
World Middleweight Champion
14 January 1891 – 26 September 1894
Vacated
Succeeded by
Kid McCoy
Preceded by
James J. Corbett
World Heavyweight Champion
17 March 1897 – 9 June 1899
Succeeded by
James J. Jeffries
Preceded by
George Gardiner
World Light Heavyweight Champion
25 September 1903 – 20 December 1905
Succeeded by
Philadelphia Jack O'Brien
Titles in pretence
Preceded by
Peter Maher
World Heavyweight Champion
21 February 1896 – 2 December 1896
Succeeded by
Tom Sharkey