Robert Fitzsimmons Underrated three division world champion

He hardly resembled a future heavyweight champion, standing six feet tall with skinny pins that looked like they might break and a barrel chest that could have been dropped on him by mistake.

Balding since his teen years, all that was left on his dome was a small patch of red hair sitting near the peak like a nest. His complexion was white, with freckles massed on his face. Nicknames were plentiful, but none as memorable as “Gentlemen Jim” or “The Great John L.” Check out the latest boxing news!

One sportswriter dubbed him a knock-kneed crane, another a bald kangaroo. Former champion Sullivan called him, “A fighting machine on stilts.” His opponents, due to his funky looks, would underestimate him.

Robert Fitzsimmons, AKA “Bob” or “Ruby Robert,” was strong and rugged, with fierce determination and a fighter’s heart. Fitzsimmons had power, knocking out 57 opponents in 61 wins over a career that began in 1885.

Fitzsimmons was born June 4, 1862, in Elston, a town in southwest England. The family relocated to New Zealand a few years later. Fighting came naturally. Picked on due to his frail appearance, Fitzsimmons was forced to fight and soon realized he liked it.

He was good at it. His other vocation was as an apprentice blacksmith. Fitzsimmons excelled, building up his shoulders and biceps and impressing customers with his ability with the hammer.

Fitzsimmons debuted in the boxing ring at 18. He competed in a boxing tournament hosted by former bare-knuckle champion Jim Mace in New Zealand. Fitzsimmons, weighing 140 pounds, knocked out four opponents (some reports say three) to win the tournament. He returned a year later and reportedly knocked out five consecutive opponents in one night.

In 1883, Fitzsimmons moved to Australia. He paid his dues – fighting local boys and toughs for the next seven years. Fitzsimmons had a difficult time with Nicholas “Mick” Dooley. They met four times between 1886 and 1889. Dooley stopped Fitzsimmons in their first encounter and was judged the “newspaper” winner in two others. Their last fight was a no-contest. Fitzsimmons was learning and improving.

In 1890, he had saved enough money to travel to America. In his debut in San Francisco, he knocked out local fighter Frank Allen. A Fitzsimmons right floored Allan so hard the latter broke his wrist. Fitzsimmons won two more fights by knockout – and then faced middleweight champion  Jack Dempsey (The Nonpareil) at the Olympic Club in New Orleans, La.

Dempsey had engaged in over 60 fights, losing one. He was more boxer than puncher and considered by many a great fighter. Dempsey didn’t consider the virtually unknown Fitzsimmons much of a challenge. He trained sparingly.

Fitzsimmons weighed 153 pounds for his first championship fight. He was in tip-top shape. His body shape confused the gamblers. Welterweight legs attached to the upper body of a heavyweight. Dempsey thought he could outbox Fitzsimmons. He tried, but Fitzsimmons chased him down and stopped him in round 13.

The heavyweights beckoned. So did the need for more money. Fitzsimmons was ready to gamble on his ability. His team, which included manager Martin Julian and his wife Rose, supported his ambition.

Fitzsimmons tangled with Irishman Peter Maher at the Olympic Club in March 1892. Maher had captured the Irish light heavyweight title three years before. He was a rough fighter and well-respected. Fitzsimmons reportedly weighed 170 pounds on fight day. Maher was perhaps ten pounds heavier.

He expected Fitzsimmons to box but instead found himself in a firefight. Fitzsimmons was sharper and on point, knocking out Maher in round 12 with a left hook to the jaw. Fitzsimmons stayed busy, boxing 23 times in the next 16 months without a loss. His next big fight was against Joe Choynski in Boston.

The fight was supposed to be a friendly six-rounder. It started that way until Choynski nailed Fitzsimmons with a sneaky right, which floored him. He got up wobbly, with a surprised look on his face. The match was no longer friendly. Fitzsimmons went to work, tattooing Choynski with blows to the head and body. A knockout was coming until the police intervened.

Fitzsimmons and heavyweight champion James J. Corbett hurled insults at each other. Both fighters signed a contract, but a date never materialized. Corbett chided Fitzsimmons – suggesting he couldn’t sign his name. Fitzsimmons replied that Corbett had only beaten over-the-hill fighters. Fitzsimmons stayed busy, winning four fights in succession (including knocking out Maher quickly in a rematch) before being disqualified against Tom Sharkey. Rumors circulated the fight was fixed.

No matter. Fitzsimmons would finally meet Corbett on March 17, 1897, at The Race Track Arena in Carson City, NV.

Corbett was favored and looked it, flooring Fitzsimmons in round six and building up a substantial lead. But as always, there was no quit in Fitzsimmons. He recovered quickly, throwing right hands at Corbett’s head. They missed, but they brought up Corbett’s guard. The dancing master was growing weary as the fight progressed. In something resembling foreshadowing, Fitzsimmons landed a cracking left to the belly that hurt Corbett.

Fitzsimmons face was a mask of red, but he worked away. Finally, in round 14, he fired more head shows. Corbett blocked them with his upraised left, but his body was again open. Fitzsimmons shot a stiff left to Corbett’s gut, paralyzing him. Corbett went down on all fours. He attempted to get up but could not.

Mocked for years, Robert Fitzsimmons, who weighed around 160 pounds for the title fight, was the new heavyweight champion of the world. Fitzsimmons announced his retirement. Corbett wanted a rematch. Fitzsimmons despised the Californian. No rematch.

In 1898, a heavier Fitzsimmons toured the country, boxing exhibitions and appearing in a play.

Burly Californian James J. Jeffries was now the leading contender for heavyweight honors. Jeffries had cut his boxing teeth as Corbett’s sparring partner. By 1899, he was ready to fight for the title.

Fitzsimmons was 36. He hadn’t fought in two years. Jeffries was 12 years younger and active. The fight happened on June 9, 1899, in Coney Island, New York.

Jeffries employed a crouch, a new move in the boxing stratosphere. Fitzsimmons cracked Jeffries with solid headshots. Jeffries looked at him.  In round two, Fitzsimmons was down courtesy of a short jolting left. He got up quickly and fought back. Jeffries was playing a waiting game. He wanted Fitzsimmons to lead. When he did, he countered with heavy shots. Fitzsimmons landed a wicked punch in round six. He expected Jeffries to topple to the canvas. He did not. It was the beginning of the end.

Fitzsimmons hit the deck twice in round 10 and was out on his feet. His corner worked feverishly on him before round 11. Fitzsimmons made one last stand. He threw everything he had into his punches.

Many landed but didn’t have the same force from the earlier rounds. Jeffries hurt him again with a straight left. Fitzsimmons staggered and ran into a right uppercut. He crashed to the canvas and hardly moved as the referee counted over him.

Retirement seemed likely, but Fitzsimmons had other ideas.

He earned a rematch with Jeffries by knocking out rugged Tom Sharkey in two rounds. The sequel happened in San Francisco on July 25, 1902. Instead of a standard arena, the venue was a circus tent filled with seats. Fitzsimmons sliced up Jeffries face (rumored to be because of plaster of Paris incorporated with his hand wraps) for seven rounds.

In the 8th, Jeffries cut up and, with blood pouring into his eyes, forced Fitzsimmons into a corner and let fly with a vicious body shot. The blow took the wind and fight out of Fitzsimmons. He sank to the floor in pain.

A year later, at 40, the resilient Fitzsimmons captured the light heavyweight title by outpointing defending champion George Gardner over 20 rounds. Fitzsimmons, the first fighter to win titles in three weight divisions, held onto the title for two years before losing to Philadelphia Jack O’Brien.

Fitzsimmons was devastated when his supportive wife, Rose, died. Rose had wanted him to retire for several years. He could not. The passion was still there. He fought future heavyweight champion Jack Johnson in 1907. Fitzsimmons entered the ring with torn ligaments in his right elbow. Johnson knocked him out in two heats. Money was still a problem, as was his gambling.

He fought again in 1909 against Bill Lang in Australia. Lang knocked him cold in round 12. The last round had been near for years, but Fitzsimmons ignored it.

Fitzsimmons boxed for the last time at 51. His opponent was one Jersey Bellow, a local boy. The fight went six rounds. Most observers felt Fitzsimmons had the edge.

Fitzsimmons was very high on his son Robert Jr, who had power like his father. They toured and fought exhibitions, but their time together was short. Fitzsimmons caught double pneumonia in 1917. The prognosis was not good. He fought, but the illness claimed him after five days.

His fourth wife said, “Bob was a great fighter and good husband.”

I visited Fitzsimmons grave several years ago in Chicago. While former opponent Jack Johnson’s white granite headstone was easy to spot, the only way to locate Fitzsimmons simple stone was to ask one of the maintenance workers. Sadly, it seemed fitting that Fitzsimmons grave is covered and hidden.

In death, as in life, his exploits didn’t get their proper due.