Bob Fitzsimmons boxer

Bob Fitzsimmons boxer
bouts
80
won
61
lost
8
draw
4
Status
inactive
Division
light heavyweight
Debut
1885-03-01
Height
5′ 11½″/182cm
Reach
71½″/182cm
Age
54
Born
1863-05-26
Death
1917-10-22
Nationality
United Kingdom

Robert James Fitzsimmons (26 May 1863 – 22 October 1917) was a British professional boxer who was the sport's first three-division world champion. He also achieved fame for beating Gentleman Jim Corbett (the man who beat John L. Sullivan), and he is in The Guinness Book of World Records as the lightest heavyweight champion, weighing just 165 pounds when he won the title. 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.Considered one of the hardest punchers in boxing history, Fitzsimmons is ranked as No. 8 on The Ring magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.Robert James Fitzsimmons was born on 26 May 1863 in Helston, Cornwall, England, the youngest of seven boys and five girls born to James and Jane (née Strongman) Fitzsimmons. Not long before his birth, his parents had moved from his father's native Ireland to Cornwall, where his mother came from, in order for his father to find work as a policeman. Fitzsimmons received his early education at the National school in Helston. In 1873, the family moved again; James, Jane and their youngest five children sailed on the Adamant for the 93 day journey to Lyttelton, New Zealand.They settled in Timaru, a town 147 km (91 miles) south-west of Lyttelton populated mainly by Cornish immigrants, and James Fitzsimmons established a blacksmith's forge in the town. Once Fitzsimmons had completed his education at the Timaru Main School, he took on a range of jobs. He wanted to join the crew of the Isabella Ridley, and do some service as a sailor, hoping that it would toughen him up for a career in boxing, but the ship was badly damaged in storms while still docked in Timaru. Instead, he took on a range of jobs; as a butcher's delivery boy, a carriage painter, striker at an iron foundry, and a decorator, before becoming an apprentice at his family's blacksmith's forge with his brother Jarrett. His time working in the blacksmith's forge helped to develop his upper body, particularly his arms and shoulders. During his time working in the blacksmith's forge, there are stories that Fitzsimmons was not averse to fighting quarrelsome, often drunk, customers, and it was suggested that this even boosted business, as customers returned to the forge, hoping to see a fight.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
1914-02-20 Jersey Bellew debut Municipal Hall, South Bethlehem NC
1914-01-29 Dan Sweeney LLL Athletic Club, Williamsport WIN
1909-12-27 Bill Lang WWLWWW Sydney Stadium, Sydney LOST
KO
1907-07-17 Jack Johnson DWWDWW Washington S.C., Philadelphia LOST
KO
1906-01-31 Charlie Haghey LWLWLL Webster WIN
KO
1905-12-20 Philadelphia Jack O'Brien WLDWWW Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco LOST
Corner retirement
1904-07-23 Philadelphia Jack O'Brien WWWWDW Baker Bowl, Philadelphia WIN
1903-11-25 George Gardner WWWWW Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco WIN
Points
1903-10-14 Joe Grim LLLLLL Southern A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1903-09-30 Con Coughlin LLWLL Washington S.C., Philadelphia WIN
Technical knockout
1902-12-27 Mike Ranke debut Bozeman WIN
KO
1902-12-19 Steward debut Butte WIN
KO
1902-07-25 James J. Jeffries WWWWW The Arena, San Francisco LOST
KO
1900-08-24 Tom Sharkey WWWWWL Coney Island A.C., Brooklyn WIN
KO
1900-08-10 Gus Ruhlin WWWWWW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
KO
1900-04-30 Ed Dunkhorst LWWDW Hercules A.C., Brooklyn WIN
KO
1900-03-27 Jim Daly LWLLWL First Regiment Armory, Philadelphia WIN
Technical knockout
1899-10-28 Geoff Thorne WLW Tattersall's, Chicago WIN
KO
1899-06-09 James J. Jeffries DWWWWW Coney Island A.C., Brooklyn LOST
KO
1897-06-05 Lew Joslin debut Leadville WIN
KO
1897-03-17 James J. Corbett WWWWD The Race Track Arena, Carson City WIN
KO
1896-12-02 Tom Sharkey DWWWDL Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco LOST
1896-02-21 Peter Maher WWW near Langtry, TX WIN
KO
1895-04-19 Mike Connors debut New York WIN
KO
1895-04-16 Al Allich debut New York WIN
KO
1894-09-26 Dan Creedon WWWDWW Olympic A.C., New Orleans WIN
KO
1894-07-28 Frank Kellar DLWWLD Driving Park, Buffalo WIN
KO
1894-06-18 Joe Choynski WWWWWW Boston Theater, Boston DRAW
Points
1893-09-05 Jack Hickey DWL Caledonian Park, Newark WIN
Technical knockout
1893-05-30 Dan Coner debut Philadelphia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
KO
1893-05-06 Mike Brennan DWLLL Boston WIN
KO
1893-04-21 Joe Godfrey DLLL Academy of Music, Philadelphia WIN
KO
1893-04-15 Jack Sheridan debut Philadelphia WIN
Technical knockout
1893-04-12 Dan Curry debut Philadelphia WIN
KO
1893-03-31 Jack Warner debut Baltimore WIN
Technical knockout
1893-03-25 Phil Mayo debut 2nd Regiment Armory, Chicago WIN
KO
1893-03-15 Dan Bayliff W Indianapolis DRAW
Points
1893-03-08 Jim Hall WWWW Crescent City Club, New Orleans WIN
KO
1892-12-10 Jack Britton debut Newark WIN
Corner retirement
1892-09-03 Millard Zender debut Anniston WIN
KO
1892-05-11 Jerry Slattery LWWLL Miners 8th St Theater, New York WIN
KO
1892-05-06 Joe Godfrey WDLL Philadelphia WIN
Corner retirement
1892-04-29 James Farrell debut Newark WIN
Points
1892-04-28 Thomas Robbins debut Newark WIN
Corner retirement
1892-04-27 James Malone debut Newark WIN
Corner retirement
1892-04-26 Charles Puff debut Newark WIN
KO
1892-03-02 Peter Maher WWWWW Olympic Club, New Orleans WIN
Corner retirement
1891-05-01 Harris Martin WDWWWD Washington Rink, Minneapolis NC
1891-04-27 Abe Coughle debut Battery D Armory, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1891-01-14 Jack Dempsey WWDWLW Olympic Club, New Orleans WIN
Corner retirement
1890-07-28 Arthur Upham WWWDD Audubon Club, New Orleans WIN
KO
1890-05-29 Billy McCarthy DWL California A.C., San Francisco WIN
Corner retirement
1890-05-17 Frank Allen California A.C., San Francisco WIN
Corner retirement
1890-03-01 Professor Jack West LL Foley's Hall, Sydney WIN
KO
1890-02-22 Edward Starlight Rollins DDDLDD Foley's Hall, Sydney WIN
Technical knockout
1890-02-11 Jim Hall WWWWD Foley's Hall, Sydney LOST
KO
1890-02-10 Edward Starlight Rollins DLDDDL Foley's Hall, Sydney DRAW
1890-02-01 Dave Conway debut Foley's Hall, Sydney WIN
KO
1889-12-16 Dick Ellis LWWDLW Royal Standard Theatre, Sydney WIN
Corner retirement
1889-11-30 Professor Jack West L Foley's Hall, Sydney WIN
KO
1889-11-26 Pat Kiely DLLWLD Foley's Hall, Sydney DRAW
1889-01-19 Jim Hall WLWLD Foley's Hall, Sydney WIN
Corner retirement
1888-12-01 McEwan debut Foley's Hall, Sydney WIN
1888-11-24 Jim Hall WLWL Foley's Hall, Sydney DRAW
1888-11-10 Jim Hall WWLW Foley's Hall, Sydney WIN
1888-05-08 Mick Dooley WDDDD Amateur Athletic Club, Sydney NC
1888-04-17 Bill Slavin LLLLD Foley's Hall, Sydney DRAW
1888-03-17 Bill Slavin WLLLL Foley's Hall, Sydney DRAW
1888-03-05 Bill Slavin DWLLL Foley's Hall, Sydney WIN
Technical knockout
1888-02-11 Billy McCarthy DWWWDD Foley's Hall, Sydney DRAW
1888-01-26 Tom Taylor DDL Foley's Hall, Sydney DRAW
1888-01-23 Dan Hickey D Centennial Hall, Sydney DRAW
Points
1888-01-01 Frank Slavin WWD Foley's Hall, Sydney NC
1887-09-24 Dave Travers debut Foley's Hall, Sydney WIN
KO
1887-05-28 Jim Hall WDDW Foley's Hall, Sydney LOST
1887-04-04 George Eager debut Foley's Hall, Sydney WIN
KO
1887-03-21 Bill Slavin DW Foley's Hall, Sydney WIN
Technical knockout
1887-03-01 Dick Sandall DWWL Foley's Hall, Sydney WIN
Corner retirement
1887-02-15 George Seale DW Foley's Hall, Sydney WIN
Points
1887-02-12 Jack Bonner debut Foley's Hall, Sydney WIN
1887-01-01 Frank Slavin WWWWWW Foley's Hall, Sydney DRAW
1886-11-01 Jack Malloy WD Foley's Hall, Sydney DRAW
Points
1886-10-09 McArdle L Foley's Hall, Sydney NC
1886-10-07 Australian Billy Smith LLL Foley's Hall, Sydney NC
1886-08-25 Tom Lees WDW Foley's Hall, Sydney LOST
1886-08-07 McArdle debut Foley's Hall, Sydney WIN
1886-06-05 Mick Dooley LWWWWW Foley's Hall, Sydney LOST
1886-06-02 Mick Dooley LWWWW Foley's Hall, Sydney LOST
1886-05-22 Steve O'Donnell LW Foley's Hall, Sydney NC
1886-05-15 Mick Dooley LWW Foley's Hall, Sydney LOST
Corner retirement
1886-05-08 Brinsley debut Foley's Hall, Sydney DRAW
1886-02-02 Pablo Fanque debut The Green, Dawes Point, Sydney WIN
KO
1885-05-01 Jack Greentree debut Sydney WIN
KO
1885-04-01 Alf Brinsmead debut Sydney WIN
KO
1885-03-01 Joe Riddle debut Sydney WIN
Points