Bob Fitzsimmons vs Bill Lang(1909)

[Caractacus]

Speaking of Fightin' Blacksmiths.
Here is a link to some rare film footage(almost 105 years old)of round 12
of the Bob Fitzsimmons(age 48 yrs) vs Bill Lang bout
for the heavyweight championship of Australia.
27.December.1909 Sydney Stadium,New South Wales,Australia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CeiBX4aU_I

[Caractacus]

Man,those punches by Bill Lang on the noggin of Fitzsimmons really looked like they may have hurt.
Does anyone know why Bill Lang never fought Jack Johnson for the Heavyweight Championship of the World?
(as if the opponents Johnson defended the title against had never lost).

[Tomasino]

Man,those punches by Bill Lang on the noggin of Fitzsimmons really looked like they may have hurt.
Does anyone know why Bill Lang never fought Jack Johnson for the Heavyweight Championship of the World?
(as if the opponents Johnson defended the title against had never lost).

He looked pretty ferocious Duce. Fitz was miles past his best though he looked like he still takes a good punch.

[Caractacus]

Does anyone know if all previous 11 rounds still exist of this fight?
I had read that it was pretty even going into the 12th round.
and why did they always seem to have heavyweight championship fights just 2 days after Christmas back then?
I bet Bob Fitzsimmons didnt even have time to fully digest his Christmas dinner.

[jackclem]

this is remarkably good film quality and shown at the proper speed.
thanks for posting this.

[Caractacus]

Wow Bob Fitzsimmons didnt waste no time on getting off the canvas(after the first knockdown at least).
and it Looks like Bill Lang had a little of "The Manassa Mauler" in him.

[Caractacus]

BTW That view of Bob Fitzsimmons laying on the canvas should probably be in the encyclodeia under the word
"A Knock-out".

[dr_devious]

Man,those punches by Bill Lang on the noggin of Fitzsimmons really looked like they may have hurt.
Does anyone know why Bill Lang never fought Jack Johnson for the Heavyweight Championship of the World?
(as if the opponents Johnson defended the title against had never lost).

Probably because he'd already been KOd by Tommy Burns for the title and previously been stopped by Johnson

[Caractacus]

Man,those punches by Bill Lang on the noggin of Fitzsimmons really looked like they may have hurt.
Does anyone know why Bill Lang never fought Jack Johnson for the Heavyweight Championship of the World?
(as if the opponents Johnson defended the title against had never lost).

Probably because he'd already been KOd by Tommy Burns for the title and previously been stopped by Johnson

yeah,as if that had stopped anyone else from getting a shot at the heavyweight title.
maybe Bill Lang had improved since.

[dr_devious]

My point is he'd had his chances at top level and lost, beating a geriatric Fitz doesn't make him any better

[Ambling Alp II]

Agree. Unless you are the #1 contender, you really have no right to complain if you don't get a title shot. And as mentioned, he did get one against Burns. He was a hard puncher though.

[pound per pound]

Speaking of Fightin' Blacksmiths.
Here is a link to some rare film footage(almost 105 years old)of round 12
of the Bob Fitzsimmons(age 48 yrs) vs Bill Lang bout
for the heavyweight championship of Australia.
27.December.1909 Sydney Stadium,New South Wales,Australia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CeiBX4aU_I

Fitz ( age 46 and well past his best ) was doing well in the earlier rounds. Fitz had Lang cut in the 11th frame and got caught later.

Some say films of fighters past their prime means nothing. I disagree a bit as it can shed light on their styles and moment preferences.


http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/ ... d-1/seq-7/

[Caractacus]

So how did Bill Lang do against Tommy Burns and Jack Johnson up to the point that he was knocked-out in those two contests?
Was it competive?
Did he have a glass jaw,lack of stamina,or cut easily?