FITZSIMMONS, ROBERT (1862-1917) was born at Helston, Cornwall, and came to New Zealand with his father as a child. They settled at Timaru, where he was educated and learned something of the trade of a blacksmith in his father's shop.

Though his parents were very devout people, Fitzsimmons learned boxing as a youth and during the period 1880-90 acquired some reputation as a promising amateur. In 1890 he went to San Francisco and soon gained fame by winning the world's middleweight championship (14 Jan 1891). His most notable victory was against James J. Corbett at Carson City on 17 Mar 1897. He won that match in the last minute of 14 rounds by his use of the solar plexus punch, which was always associated with his name. He was, however, already old for heavyweight boxing. On 9 Jun 1899 he was defeated by James J. Jeffries in 11 rounds at Coney Island. In 1900 he defeated two doughty opponents, Tom Sharkey and Gus Ruhlin; but in 1902 he again met Jeffries with the same result. On this occasion Fitzsimmons broke all the knuckles of his right hand with one blow. He fought eight times between 1903 and 1914 and in all fought 360 times, and received no scars. He had the shoulders and arms of a giant, but was knock-kneed and wore thick underwear to hide the thinness of his legs. He lost most of his money to sharpers. Fitzsimmons wrote Physical Culture and Self Defence (1901). He was married four times.

D.Am.B.; Fitzsimmons, op. cit.; R. H. Davis, Ruby Robert (1926); Jeffrey Farnol, Famous Prize Fights (1928); H. Sayers, Fights Forgotten.

Reference: Volume 1, page 149

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