Fitzsimmons in his prime was a monster fighter. One of the hardest punchers of all time. The likes of Bill Lang wouldn't have lived with Bob in his heyday, that's for sure. Having said that, Lang was no bum, as only the year before this fight Lang had challenged Tommy Burns for the heavyweight championship (which was his only defeat in a 15 fight streak prior to fighting Bob). In this fight Fitzsimmons was a shot 46 years old has-been. This was his last defeat in his pro career.
Hollywood should make a biopic of Bob Fitzsimmons a bare knuckle fighter, world champion in 3 weight divisions, youngest of 12 kids, marriied 4 times, lost most of his money to con men and finally floored by pneumonia, what a life what a story. what a superstar of the ring.
Fitz had that style ala Archie Moore, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Lennox Lewis, Virgil Hill and Bernard Hopkins. All fighters who, no matter how old they get, always seem to be able to hang in there at the upper echelon of the sport because of their tricky styles.
I think you meant to respond to the poster who states he looks like he is 95 . I guessed closely he was 45. I knew he is old but not because of the baldness. i was looking at the time line. he won the heavyweight championship in 1897 at 37 or 38. Anyways he was pretty damn good for a guy who weighed 160 LBs.
@617AV86892 i can see why youd think that but he's always been bald as an adult i think. ive never seen a picture of him with hair but i know a couple people that went bald in their teens, one of them was horse shoe bald by the age of 19 so i guess poor o'l bob was in that catagory lol
What a shame only this is available of the 12 rounds that took place. It's good quality and would surely have given us an even better gauge of Fitzs style
But in 1909 Jeffries was still whale fat. Jeffries didn't have much steam anymore in his punches by this time as evident by the 1910 fight with Johnson.
Haa bob Fitzimmons one of the best and first boxers in the start of the 19th centurary, Actually I Lived in the same town that he lived in Helston, his house still stands there to this very day! aswell I know quite a few cornish folk related to Good Ol' Bob aswell another fact Wayne rooney is related to Bob Fitzimons!!!
Fitzsimmons was 46 ( THAT'S FOURTY-SIX ) ... Think about how slow Foreman was when he beat Moorer for the Championship at age 45. They would of carried this Lang nobody off on a stretcher dead if Fitzsimmons was 36. Imagine if Fitzsimmons was 26.
We have better technology and science now, while back then they relied on things natural. But then despite our technology and science, we are proven weaker. There are so many things we paid for our technology and science-- pollutions, stress, modified food, etc. That said we are not much better than the people of yesteryears.
We have better technology and science now, while back then they relied on things natural. But then despite our technology and science, we are proven weaker. There are so many things we paid for our technology and science-- pollutions, stress, modified food, etc. That said we are not much better than the people of yesteryears.
This much confirms what I have posted elsewhere regarding Fitzsimmons. He is just too upright and lacking in body movement. Highly vunerable to big punches. Its good to see these films though, I just wish there was better quality film of Jeffries fighting.
fitz was 46 years old in this fight.he obviously didn't have the reflexes and movement of old of.i tell you what though lang had to unload a hell of a lot of power shots before the old man fell.
Everybody was upright back then. The crouching and bobbing and weaving techniques weren't used as much if any back then. and Bob is over the hill here. Even still, he's ranked as an all time great at light heavyweight.
Not everyone but yes a lot.The boxers had just moved out of the era were wrestling was still used a lot, and a crouching guy is too easily controlled just by pulling on the head.
True Allrite, but as has been said, that was typical of the style back then. Fitz was certainly one of history's greatest punchers and pretty clever as well. However, I think Corbett would have beaten him in a rematch -- which Fitz would not agree to.
he is old firstly. secondly the upright style he was used to worked fine when you can clinch a lot more, pull on the head etc. which the early guys were used to doing more of.
Fitzsimmons was nearly 50 years old when this bout took place. Lang was at best
an average fighter. Burns Ko'd him, Mcvey took him out in 1 round. Johnson played with him before putting him away. In his prime Fitz would have had no problem with Lang.
I was under the mistaken impression that this was the Fitzsimmons-Jeffries fight. The correct title for this video now reads: Bob Fitzsimmons VS Bill Lang 1909
That's not Jim Jeffires. He's too small to be Jeffries. That's Fitzsimmons fighting Bill Lag in 1909 for the Australian heavyweight title. cadorbolin mislead everyone.
That's not Jim Jeffires. He's too small to be Jeffries. That's Fitzsimmons fighting Bill Lag in 1909 for the Australian heavyweight title. cadorbolin mislead everyone.
I really dont know why Jeffries had such an awesome reputation when he was champion. Most of his opponents were, while being very big names, over the hill. I think it was mostly wishfull-thinking cause he was the white hope. But when he was champ he drew the color line to avoid Johnson, claiming he wouldnt fight him for racial reasons, not that he was scared. People were so desperate they bought that. Fitzsimmons was A 3 time champ, from Middlewt on up. Legendary!
Jeffries dominated his era. He defeated all in in his prime who was put in front of
him. The great Tom Sharkey was in the absolute prime of his career as was Gus Ruhlin. Johnson was not considered a serious contender when Jeffries retired. Johnson lost to the very average Marvin Hart, and was ko'd by the way over the hill Joe Choyinski and an none entity Klonkdike Haynes. No promoter
Hart-Johnson was a biased decision typical of the era. However, lasting the distance with Johnson did bolster Hart's claim to the championship. He was defeated by Burns, who in turn Johnson completely outclassed. When Johnson faced Choyinski, Johnson had fewer than 10 fights. Choyinski was hardest puncher Jeffries ever faced, according to Jeffries. After losing to Johnson, Jeffries remarked, "He's better than I ever was." Maybe the public wasn't ready for Johnson-Jeffries, but Johnson was,
Sam Langford destroyed this guy
MrBumboclart 3 months ago
Fitzsimmons in his prime was a monster fighter. One of the hardest punchers of all time. The likes of Bill Lang wouldn't have lived with Bob in his heyday, that's for sure. Having said that, Lang was no bum, as only the year before this fight Lang had challenged Tommy Burns for the heavyweight championship (which was his only defeat in a 15 fight streak prior to fighting Bob). In this fight Fitzsimmons was a shot 46 years old has-been. This was his last defeat in his pro career.
togjuice 4 months ago
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Hollywood should make a biopic of Bob Fitzsimmons a bare knuckle fighter, world champion in 3 weight divisions, youngest of 12 kids, marriied 4 times, lost most of his money to con men and finally floored by pneumonia, what a life what a story. what a superstar of the ring.
RIP BOB
mrfista123 6 months ago
Outside of this & the Corbett fight, are there any more films of Bob?
g55coffia 7 months ago
man 46 y o ....
Alltimeboxing 11 months ago
Fitz had that style ala Archie Moore, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Lennox Lewis, Virgil Hill and Bernard Hopkins. All fighters who, no matter how old they get, always seem to be able to hang in there at the upper echelon of the sport because of their tricky styles.
nextmovebestmove 1 year ago
The boxing people who saw them all from Sullivan to Louis compared a younger Bob to Dempsey. Bob would be hell at middleweight.
1899sharkey 1 year ago
I think you meant to respond to the poster who states he looks like he is 95 . I guessed closely he was 45. I knew he is old but not because of the baldness. i was looking at the time line. he won the heavyweight championship in 1897 at 37 or 38. Anyways he was pretty damn good for a guy who weighed 160 LBs.
617AV86892 1 year ago
@617AV86892
he was 33 or 34 when he beat Corbett
jakenconor 5 months ago
Fitzsimmons had to be about 45 years old in this fight .
617AV86892 1 year ago 3
@617AV86892 He looks more like 95 lol
viglen4 1 year ago
@617AV86892 i can see why youd think that but he's always been bald as an adult i think. ive never seen a picture of him with hair but i know a couple people that went bald in their teens, one of them was horse shoe bald by the age of 19 so i guess poor o'l bob was in that catagory lol
anselmochevelle 1 year ago
@617AV86892 ..46
bobbya16 1 year ago
A game but ancient Bob does his best,in his prime Fitz would have iced Lang early.
havisham3 2 years ago 7
What a shame only this is available of the 12 rounds that took place. It's good quality and would surely have given us an even better gauge of Fitzs style
thelaughingduck2001 2 years ago
yeah bob should have retired. This would be like a 70 year man fighting today if you consider average lifespan throughout history.
snide95 2 years ago
Bob is lucky that wasnt jem jeffries he was fighting. If he had let jeffries hit him like that he may have died in the ring.
plaswer 2 years ago
But in 1909 Jeffries was still whale fat. Jeffries didn't have much steam anymore in his punches by this time as evident by the 1910 fight with Johnson.
andrewr62 1 year ago
Fitz has that static, upright style so he looks taller. He was a natural fighter, hated to train, went on too long and paid for it
eslubin 2 years ago
Bob looks taller than 5'11. I guess his long arms, broad back, spindly legs make him look taller.
RockDempsey 2 years ago
Actually, he was 46 years old.
rchunah 3 years ago
Bob was 43 years old at this time.
tumbalatalla 3 years ago
Bob Fitzsimmons was past his prime at the time of this fight.
PREZ150 3 years ago
btw, anyone knows the name of this song?
KMarx20 3 years ago
flight of the valykries..by richard wagner...
gqmighty 3 years ago
thank you.
KMarx20 3 years ago
Haa bob Fitzimmons one of the best and first boxers in the start of the 19th centurary, Actually I Lived in the same town that he lived in Helston, his house still stands there to this very day! aswell I know quite a few cornish folk related to Good Ol' Bob aswell another fact Wayne rooney is related to Bob Fitzimons!!!
calumarthur1989 3 years ago
He is my great great great uncle my names kyle fitzsimmons!!!!My grandad found out that it was my great great great uncle cool aye!
kylefitzy99 3 years ago
you have any autographs or memorabiliA ON HIM
androsh1935 3 years ago
proof?
KMarx20 3 years ago
Then you are also related to Wayne Rooney, who is a direct decendant of Fitzsimmons too! He even looks very similar.
popemalevolent 3 years ago
I am a direct decendant of Bob Fitzsimmons he is my Great great uncle! We all look the same except some of us have our hair!! For now anyway!!
AmericanMadeFellar 2 years ago
man love
pdfp24 3 years ago
Fitzsimmons was 46 ( THAT'S FOURTY-SIX ) ... Think about how slow Foreman was when he beat Moorer for the Championship at age 45. They would of carried this Lang nobody off on a stretcher dead if Fitzsimmons was 36. Imagine if Fitzsimmons was 26.
CiNeR666 4 years ago
Well Foreman was much heavier than Fitzsimmons. Bob was a real beast though for his size.
pugilistofpower 3 years ago
We have better technology and science now, while back then they relied on things natural. But then despite our technology and science, we are proven weaker. There are so many things we paid for our technology and science-- pollutions, stress, modified food, etc. That said we are not much better than the people of yesteryears.
obalajadia 3 years ago
We have better technology and science now, while back then they relied on things natural. But then despite our technology and science, we are proven weaker. There are so many things we paid for our technology and science-- pollutions, stress, modified food, etc. That said we are not much better than the people of yesteryears.
obalajadia 3 years ago
This much confirms what I have posted elsewhere regarding Fitzsimmons. He is just too upright and lacking in body movement. Highly vunerable to big punches. Its good to see these films though, I just wish there was better quality film of Jeffries fighting.
Allritemat 4 years ago
fitz was 46 years old in this fight.he obviously didn't have the reflexes and movement of old of.i tell you what though lang had to unload a hell of a lot of power shots before the old man fell.
fatcackie 4 years ago
Everybody was upright back then. The crouching and bobbing and weaving techniques weren't used as much if any back then. and Bob is over the hill here. Even still, he's ranked as an all time great at light heavyweight.
guitarbandit7498 4 years ago
Not everyone but yes a lot.The boxers had just moved out of the era were wrestling was still used a lot, and a crouching guy is too easily controlled just by pulling on the head.
vuxfeon 4 years ago
True Allrite, but as has been said, that was typical of the style back then. Fitz was certainly one of history's greatest punchers and pretty clever as well. However, I think Corbett would have beaten him in a rematch -- which Fitz would not agree to.
LorcanFilms 4 years ago
he is old firstly. secondly the upright style he was used to worked fine when you can clinch a lot more, pull on the head etc. which the early guys were used to doing more of.
vuxfeon 4 years ago
fantastic footage, thanks for posting it!
TheBoxingGuru 4 years ago
Outside of the Corbett & Lang fights, does fitzs have any other filmed fights?
g55coffia 4 years ago
damn, fitzsimmons went down out-cold
underbOssx 4 years ago
Fitzsimmons was nearly 50 years old when this bout took place. Lang was at best
an average fighter. Burns Ko'd him, Mcvey took him out in 1 round. Johnson played with him before putting him away. In his prime Fitz would have had no problem with Lang.
andrewr62 4 years ago
Great video clip. Too bad the great Fitzsimmons is so old at this time.
jhs1958 4 years ago
I was under the mistaken impression that this was the Fitzsimmons-Jeffries fight. The correct title for this video now reads: Bob Fitzsimmons VS Bill Lang 1909
cadorbolin 4 years ago
That's not Jim Jeffires. He's too small to be Jeffries. That's Fitzsimmons fighting Bill Lag in 1909 for the Australian heavyweight title. cadorbolin mislead everyone.
cassius66 5 years ago
That's not Jim Jeffires. He's too small to be Jeffries. That's Fitzsimmons fighting Bill Lag in 1909 for the Australian heavyweight title. cadorbolin mislead everyone.
Ennovia 5 years ago
I really dont know why Jeffries had such an awesome reputation when he was champion. Most of his opponents were, while being very big names, over the hill. I think it was mostly wishfull-thinking cause he was the white hope. But when he was champ he drew the color line to avoid Johnson, claiming he wouldnt fight him for racial reasons, not that he was scared. People were so desperate they bought that. Fitzsimmons was A 3 time champ, from Middlewt on up. Legendary!
benjaminBarr 5 years ago
As Jeffries would say, "HOGWASH"
jhs1958 5 years ago
Jeffries dominated his era. He defeated all in in his prime who was put in front of
him. The great Tom Sharkey was in the absolute prime of his career as was Gus Ruhlin. Johnson was not considered a serious contender when Jeffries retired. Johnson lost to the very average Marvin Hart, and was ko'd by the way over the hill Joe Choyinski and an none entity Klonkdike Haynes. No promoter
would have financed this bout in 1905.
andrewr62 4 years ago
Hart-Johnson was a biased decision typical of the era. However, lasting the distance with Johnson did bolster Hart's claim to the championship. He was defeated by Burns, who in turn Johnson completely outclassed. When Johnson faced Choyinski, Johnson had fewer than 10 fights. Choyinski was hardest puncher Jeffries ever faced, according to Jeffries. After losing to Johnson, Jeffries remarked, "He's better than I ever was." Maybe the public wasn't ready for Johnson-Jeffries, but Johnson was,
dissimulate666 2 years ago
Newspaper accounts differ as to the Hart-Johnson fight.
I few I've read generally have Johnson winning the first
half easily but tiring and the second half of the fight. Best punch of the fight happened at the end of the fight when
Johnson walked away thinking the round was over and washit in the back of the head as he walked away. Likely
a bad decision be closer than others claim. Also Choynski
was far past his best when he fought Johnson.
andrewr62 2 years ago