Bob Fitzsimmon's Lion

[Caractacus]

What happened to the Lion he had as a mascot ?
Did it end up in a zoo or was mounted in a museum somewhere after it died ?

[Caractacus]

I think he may have owned 2 lions.
One named "Nero" which sometimes slept in the same bed as him.
and a later one named "Senator Reynolds" which he use to walk on a leash on the streets of Middesex England,
".

[Ric]

Like pictured here? http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/File:LionFitz.jpg

[gilgamesh]

As I mentioned in another thread I'm reading a book about Bob Fitzsimmons at the moment. He would wrestle around with Nero sometimes in front of crowds at some of his exhibitions and stuff. That's pretty cool.

I read in the book that Nero met his fate unfortunately tangling himself in some sort of Electrical Wire and was electrocuted.

Another interesting subject in the book is the fact that Wyatt Earp was the referee of his fight with Tom Sharkey, and at least according to Fitzsimmons and his handlers Wyatt Earp jobbed him by Disqualifying him in the fight.

Still a lot more to read yet too so I may uncover more interesting stuff.

[SenorPipino]

I wonder if Fitzsimmon and his lions were an inspiration to Roberto Duran, who used to strut around with a lion in Panama and even brought the animal with him on trips.

I recall reading in Duran's autobiography that he domesticated the lion ( I think he named it Walla) when it was a cub.

The lion was so gentle that even Duran's small children played with it. Although Duran said everyone else was terrified of Walla.

Did Fitzsimmon personally train his lions or were they already "housebroken" before he owned them?

[gilgamesh]

It didn't mention that part, but I would assume to Domesticate a Lion enough that you could wrestle around with him and keep him as a pal you'd need to have had him since infancy.

[SenorPipino]

Tyson may also have owned a lion for a while.

I know he famously bought 3 very expensive Bengal tigers that prowled his Las Vegas estate.

One of those tigers actually knocked out one of Tyson's gold front teeth with a head butt.

Tyson had to give up the tigers when he was informed that he didn't have the proper licenses to own them.

[Caractacus]

I had heard That Bob Fitzsimmons had Nero stuffed and Mounted after it died and it was placed in his home for display.
( sort of sounds like Roy Rodgers and Trigger)
What became of Bob Fitzsimmons Estate anyway ?
Also which taxidermist mounted it ?
Perhaps the stuffed Lion went to the Field Museum of Natural History ?

[gilgamesh]

I had heard That Bob Fitzsimmons had Nero stuffed and Mounted after it died and it was placed in his home for display.
( sort of sounds like Roy Rodgers and Trigger)
What became of Bob Fitzsimmons Estate anyway ?
Also which taxidermist mounted it ?
Perhaps the stuffed Lion went to the Field Museum of Natural History ?

I don't really remember reading that he had Nero stuffed, but I might have just forgotten about that little tidbit.

Not sure what became of his estate. The book may cover some of that kinda stuff toward the end.

[Caractacus]

My guess is that he got the Lions from the Famous Animal dealer Frank Bostock who was also from England.
Bob Fitzsimmons had trained a Boxing Kangaroo for him named "Fitz"
who performed at Coney Island NY for the crowds.

[Caractacus]

My hunch was correct.
Bob Fitzsimmons did indeed recieve the Lions from Frank Bostock.
check out this article from 1909.


https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti ... 7/24883162

[ewenhay]

As I mentioned in another thread I'm reading a book about Bob Fitzsimmons at the moment. He would wrestle around with Nero sometimes in front of crowds at some of his exhibitions and stuff. That's pretty cool.

I read in the book that Nero met his fate unfortunately tangling himself in some sort of Electrical Wire and was electrocuted.

Another interesting subject in the book is the fact that Wyatt Earp was the referee of his fight with Tom Sharkey, and at least according to Fitzsimmons and his handlers Wyatt Earp jobbed him by Disqualifying him in the fight.

Still a lot more to read yet too so I may uncover more interesting stuff.

Which book are you reading Gil if you don't mind me asking please? Is it the Pollack one? Thanks

[gilgamesh]

As I mentioned in another thread I'm reading a book about Bob Fitzsimmons at the moment. He would wrestle around with Nero sometimes in front of crowds at some of his exhibitions and stuff. That's pretty cool.

I read in the book that Nero met his fate unfortunately tangling himself in some sort of Electrical Wire and was electrocuted.

Another interesting subject in the book is the fact that Wyatt Earp was the referee of his fight with Tom Sharkey, and at least according to Fitzsimmons and his handlers Wyatt Earp jobbed him by Disqualifying him in the fight.

Still a lot more to read yet too so I may uncover more interesting stuff.

Which book are you reading Gil if you don't mind me asking please? Is it the Pollack one? Thanks

I started a thread about it because I had a general question about something in it. It's "Lanky Bob" by K.R. Robinson.

Just read an interesting tidbit where they're basically accusing Wyatt Earp of having been in on fixing the fight with Fitz and Tom Sharkey in Sharkey's favor. He DQ'd Fitzsimmons because of a low blow.

[ewenhay]

As I mentioned in another thread I'm reading a book about Bob Fitzsimmons at the moment. He would wrestle around with Nero sometimes in front of crowds at some of his exhibitions and stuff. That's pretty cool.

I read in the book that Nero met his fate unfortunately tangling himself in some sort of Electrical Wire and was electrocuted.

Another interesting subject in the book is the fact that Wyatt Earp was the referee of his fight with Tom Sharkey, and at least according to Fitzsimmons and his handlers Wyatt Earp jobbed him by Disqualifying him in the fight.

Still a lot more to read yet too so I may uncover more interesting stuff.

Which book are you reading Gil if you don't mind me asking please? Is it the Pollack one? Thanks

I started a thread about it because I had a general question about something in it. It's "Lanky Bob" by K.R. Robinson.

Just read an interesting tidbit where they're basically accusing Wyatt Earp of having been in on fixing the fight with Fitz and Tom Sharkey in Sharkey's favor. He DQ'd Fitzsimmons because of a low blow.

Thanks. Looks good and over 500 pages. I like in depth books about old timers, I especially enjoyed unforgivable blackness and the Sam Langford book is worth a read too. Might check out Lanky Bob. Thanks for the tip

[gilgamesh]

Yeah I just kinda started reading these books, but I definitely intend to try to read up on all the fighters of the era before film when the written history and contemporary reports is really the best you're ever gonna know about these guys. It's still a fascinating look at Boxing history, and in a lot of ways a lot of just general overall history about the time period kinda comes with it when you read these books.

I always love that. The way you can indirectly learn about something else as a result of it's relation to the subject you're reading about.

One that looked interesting to me that I might try to check out after this was "Charley Burley and the Black Murderers Row" which I figure would have extensive chapters on the likes of Eddie Booker and guys like that as well. That'd be interesting as there's not much footage of any of those guys, but they definitely have a rightful place in the sports history.

[ewenhay]

Funnily enough I got the Burley book for my birthday last month but haven't read it yet as I've just finished Dangerous and now I'm in the middle of Murder of Sonny Liston.

I'm looking forward to reading it next though.

I've got a loft bookcase filled with over 300 boxing books. missus complains about them sometimes but they are staying put!

[SenorPipino]

I was reading about Fitzsimmons. I was aware of his ring exploits but not much about his personal life.

Some of you mentioned his estate. Where was it and when did he live in it.

It sounds palatial but some articles I've sifted through indicate that Fitzsimmons died penniless.

An exaggeration or accurate?

He was buried in Chicago's Graceland Cemetery, his grave adorned with only a simple, now battered plaque.

Hardly befitting a great boxing champion. A monument is needed.

Interesting that a contemporary and one-time opponent, Jack Johnson, is also buried at Graceland.

Last year marked the 100th anniversary of Fitzsimmon's passing from pneumonia at the early age of 54.

And he indeed had Nero stuffed and mounted. He had another lion, named Senator Reynolds. So far no mention of whether the Senator was also stuffed.

Fitzsimmons seemed quite an interesting character.

I've always wanted to see a tape of his second fight with Jeffries. He supposedly thrashed Jeffries until he was KOd.

All I've found is one round of his his title loss to Jeffries in 1899.

With his physique and bald head, Fitzsimmons reminds me of a 1970s era California light heavyweight named Ray Windmill White.

White wasn't a bad fighter. Gave a good showing against Mike Quarry. But he was no Bob Fitzsimmons.

[Bladder]

I've always wanted to see a tape of his second fight with Jeffries. He supposedly thrashed Jeffries until he was KOd.

All I've found is one round of his his title loss to Jeffries in 1899.

Footage of Fitz v Jeffries 1 exists?

[SenorPipino]

I've always wanted to see a tape of his second fight with Jeffries. He supposedly thrashed Jeffries until he was KOd.

All I've found is one round of his his title loss to Jeffries in 1899.

Footage of Fitz v Jeffries 1 exists?

I've only seen the somewhat speeded up KO round. Check YouTube.

[Bladder]

I've always wanted to see a tape of his second fight with Jeffries. He supposedly thrashed Jeffries until he was KOd.

All I've found is one round of his his title loss to Jeffries in 1899.

Footage of Fitz v Jeffries 1 exists?

I've only seen the somewhat speeded up KO round. Check YouTube.

Do you mean this?

[SenorPipino]

Footage of Fitz v Jeffries 1 exists?

I've only seen the somewhat speeded up KO round. Check YouTube.

Do you mean this?

Footage of Fitz v Jeffries 1 exists?

I've only seen the somewhat speeded up KO round. Check YouTube.

Do you mean this?

Yes that was it.

A lot of wasted arm movement. Typical until about the 20s.

In stature, Jeffries didn't look that imposing.

He's always described as a burly bear of a man but he was only 6' 206 lbs. for this fight. Practically a cruiserweight.

And Fitz came in under the super middleweight limit (167).

Just munchkins.

[Bladder]

I've only seen the somewhat speeded up KO round. Check YouTube.

Do you mean this?

I've only seen the somewhat speeded up KO round. Check YouTube.

Do you mean this?

Yes that was it.

A lot of wasted arm movement. Typical until about the 20s.

In stature, Jeffries didn't look that imposing.

He's always described as a burly bear of a man but he was only 6' 206 lbs. for this fight. Practically a cruiserweight.

And Fitz came in under the super middleweight limit (167).

Just munchkins.

But that's not Fitz and Jeffries in the clip, it's a couple of blokes pretending to be them for a re-enactment.

[SenorPipino]

You're certain?

I will say that it doesn't appear to resemble the Jeffries I'm familiar. As I said, he seems rather slight.

But it does look like Fitzsimmons.

A call goes out to noted historian Caracatus to give insight.

[Caractacus]

yes, I was just thinking about that comment yesterday about someone saying they saw part of the Fitzsimmons vrs Jeffries fight of 1899 at Coney Island NY.
The Vitagraph Company did film it at Coney Island inside the building,the problem was in the first round a minute into the fight,
12 of the 24 electric arc lamps overheated (the place was reportedly flooded with light from it)and went out,they filmed the fight anyway but when
the developed the gelatin it tunrs out nothing was recorded on the film (other then the first minute maybe).
I will bump up the thread (Prof. Lubin's Fake fight films)from last year for more info concerning this.

[punchoutsb]

Do you mean this?

Do you mean this?

Yes that was it.

A lot of wasted arm movement. Typical until about the 20s.

In stature, Jeffries didn't look that imposing.

He's always described as a burly bear of a man but he was only 6' 206 lbs. for this fight. Practically a cruiserweight.

And Fitz came in under the super middleweight limit (167).

Just munchkins.

But that's not Fitz and Jeffries in the clip, it's a couple of blokes pretending to be them for a re-enactment.

How could anyone not easily recognize that that is not Jeffries or Fitz? It looks nothing close to either man. I've got pip on ignore, but someone should also tell him Big Jim was not 6'. He's usually listed between 6'1 1/2 to just under 6'3.