42 Facts About Bob Fitzsimmons

Robert James Fitzsimmons was a British professional boxer who was the sport's first three-division world champion.

Bob Fitzsimmons achieved fame for beating "Gentleman Jim" Corbett, and he is in The Guinness Book of World Records as the lightest heavyweight champion, weighing just 167 pounds when he won the title.

Robert James Bob Fitzsimmons was born on 4 June 1862 in Helston, Cornwall, England, the youngest of seven boys and five girls born to James and Jane Bob Fitzsimmons.

Bob Fitzsimmons received his early education at the National school in Helston.

Once Bob Fitzsimmons had completed his education at the Timaru Main School, he took on a range of jobs.

Bob Fitzsimmons 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.

Bob Fitzsimmons's time working in the blacksmith's forge helped to develop his upper body, particularly his arms and shoulders.

Bob Fitzsimmons entered the tournament and knocked out four opponents on his way to winning the lightweight title.

Bob Fitzsimmons knocked out five opponents in the subsequent competition in 1881 to capture the middleweight championship.

Boxing record books show Bob Fitzsimmons officially began boxing professionally in 1883, in Australia.

Bob Fitzsimmons beat Jim Crawford there in a bare knuckle fight by getting a knockout in three rounds.

Bob Fitzsimmons developed a certain movement and caginess from one of the greatest bare-knuckle fighters, Jem Mace.

Mace encouraged Bob Fitzsimmons to develop his punching technique, drawing on the enormous power he had gained from blacksmithing.

Bob Fitzsimmons soon built up a reputation as by far the hardest puncher in boxing.

Bob Fitzsimmons knocked out Dempsey in the 13th round to become the World Middleweight Champion.

Bob 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, Bob Fitzsimmons knocked him out and then carried him to his corner.

Bob Fitzsimmons spent the next two years fighting non-title bouts and exhibitions until giving Hall a chance at the title in 1893.

Bob Fitzsimmons retained the crown by a knockout in round four.

Reportedly, two freak accidents happened that day: Bob 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.

At a public sparring performance on 16 November 1894 at Jacob's Opera House, Syracuse, New York, Bob Fitzsimmons knocked out sparring partner Con Riordan, who was carried off unconscious and died several hours later.

Two months later Bob Fitzsimmons was charged with manslaughter but was acquitted.

Bob Fitzsimmons had officiated 30 or so matches in earlier days, though not under the Marquess of Queensberry rules.

Bob Fitzsimmons was favoured to win, and bets flowed heavily his way.

Bob Fitzsimmons later said he forgot he was wearing it.

Bob Fitzsimmons was taller and quicker than Sharkey and dominated the fight from the opening bell.

Earp stopped the bout, ruling that Bob Fitzsimmons had hit Sharkey with a low blow.

Bob Fitzsimmons's ruling was greeted with loud boos and catcalls.

In 1896, Bob Fitzsimmons won a disputed version of the World Heavyweight Championship in a fight in Langtry, Texas, sanctioned by Judge Roy Bean, against the Irish fighter Peter Maher.

Bob Fitzsimmons 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.

Bob Fitzsimmons spent the rest of 1897 and 1898 doing stage tours.

In 1899, Fitzsimmons fought James J Jeffries at the Coney Island Athletic Club near Brooklyn, New York.

In June 1901 Bob Fitzsimmons took part in a wrestling match against Gus Ruhlin.

Bob Fitzsimmons then enjoyed legitimate boxing knockouts of leading contenders Ruhlin and Tom Sharkey.

In November 1903, Bob Fitzsimmons made history by defeating World Light Heavyweight Champion George Gardiner by a decision in 20 rounds, becoming the first boxer to win titles in three weight-divisions.

In 1907 at age 44, Fitzsimmons fought much younger Jack Johnson, during the time period in which reigning champion James J Jeffries refused to fight Johnson.

The bout between Johnson and Bob Fitzsimmons ended in victory for Johnson with a second round knockout.

However, Bob 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.

Bob Fitzsimmons had a final professional record of 69 wins with 57 by knockout, 12 losses, 14 draws, and 6 no contests.

Bob Fitzsimmons married four times and had six children, two of whom died in infancy.

Bob Fitzsimmons died of pneumonia on 22 October 1917 in Chicago, survived by his fourth wife.

In 1954, Bob Fitzsimmons was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame and The Ring magazine's Boxing Hall of Fame.