Who wins between Bob Fitzsimmons vs Tommy Burns at heavyweight?

[scorpio83]

Who would win this match up at heavyweight between Bob Fitzsimmons vs Tommy Burns despite the fact they both fought in their middleweight and light heavyweight limit? In my opinion, Fitz would outwork Burns on the inside and stops him on his feet in round 15. What is your opinion?

[pound per pound]

Fitzsimmons was a class above Burns.. I think he stops a game Burns inside of 10 rounds,

[gilgamesh]

I think Fitz would knock out Tommy Burns, and I think he'd control the fight pretty clearly until then too.

[scorpio83]

Yes, Fitz is a class above Burns and here is another question. Would they both last in 20 rounds in their time?

[Ambling Alp II]

Fitz did beat Gardner for the light heavyweight title in a 20-round decision. Burns went 20 round s several times.

I agree with you guys that Fitz would probably win. However, Burns would probably give him trouble and would have an outside chance of winning. Burns was really good at darting in and out, landing punches without getting hit.

[BitPlayer]

Here's an account of that fight if anyone is interested.

https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers. ... r-------0-#

Supposedly Fitz hurt Gardner but lacked the stamina to finish it, knocked him down too.

[HomicideHenry]

Burns is so incredibly underrated. It's difficult to imagine the stiff legged, stiff backed Fitzsimmons beating the darting Burns, but then again Fitzsimmons was capable of beating slick, fast guys like Jim Corbett. I think Burns could have controlled the early rounds, and Fitzsimmons rallying back, and Burns splitting the "Championship Rounds" with Fitzsimmons, resulting in a draw.

The two men had a few opponents in common. Off the top of my head, including exhibitions: Joe Grimm, Jim Corbett, Jack Johnson, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien. There was probably others. Burns faired better in losing against Johnson than Fitzsimmons, and Burns also did better (imho) against O'Brien than Speckled Bob did. Burns also nearly kayoed "Ironman" Grimm, whereas Fitzsimmons couldn't do the job.

[gilgamesh]

Burns is so incredibly underrated. It's difficult to imagine the stiff legged, stiff backed Fitzsimmons beating the darting Burns, but then again Fitzsimmons was capable of beating slick, fast guys like Jim Corbett. I think Burns could have controlled the early rounds, and Fitzsimmons rallying back, and Burns splitting the "Championship Rounds" with Fitzsimmons, resulting in a draw.

The two men had a few opponents in common. Off the top of my head, including exhibitions: Joe Grimm, Jim Corbett, Jack Johnson, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien. There was probably others. Burns faired better in losing against Johnson than Fitzsimmons, and Burns also did better (imho) against O'Brien than Speckled Bob did. Burns also nearly kayoed "Ironman" Grimm, whereas Fitzsimmons couldn't do the job.

You're talking as if you were eye witness to these fights, and watched 'em in person or something. Fitzsimmons had a couple of different styles he could go into, and I don't think stiff legged, and stiff backed accurately describes Fitz at his fighting best. It's certainly not the way I've seen anybody describe him that wasn't a direct rival of his trying to cut him down.

[HomicideHenry]

Fitzsimmons was a power house in his day, yes, but boxing also evolves a bit. If you watch films on both men, etc and compare performances between similar opponents, Burns seems to have the more fluid and effective style.

[BitPlayer]

Burns is so incredibly underrated. It's difficult to imagine the stiff legged, stiff backed Fitzsimmons beating the darting Burns, but then again Fitzsimmons was capable of beating slick, fast guys like Jim Corbett. I think Burns could have controlled the early rounds, and Fitzsimmons rallying back, and Burns splitting the "Championship Rounds" with Fitzsimmons, resulting in a draw.

The two men had a few opponents in common. Off the top of my head, including exhibitions: Joe Grimm, Jim Corbett, Jack Johnson, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien. There was probably others. Burns faired better in losing against Johnson than Fitzsimmons, and Burns also did better (imho) against O'Brien than Speckled Bob did. Burns also nearly kayoed "Ironman" Grimm, whereas Fitzsimmons couldn't do the job.

Fitz is really underrated as a boxer. I think it's because we only have footage of him against the best boxer of a generation, and 12 rounds in aged 46.

Looking at reports he was regularly outboxing people, even at middleweight, and was well schooled by Jem Mace.
I went through some of his early wins here if you want to see
http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=219657

I agree Burns was underrated but FItz was a class above still.

[Ambling Alp II]

I agree that Burns is underrated.
Worth pointing out that Fitz was 44 and had an injured arm when he fought Johnson. That fight is completely irrelevant. That Burns (who was completely dominated by Johnson) did better is a silly point to try to make.
Fitz was also past it he fought O'Brien.
No idea who Joe Grimm was. Maybe homicide can enlighten us.

[BitPlayer]

I agree that Burns is underrated.
Worth pointing out that Fitz was 44 and had an injured arm when he fought Johnson. That fight is completely irrelevant. That Burns (who was completely dominated by Johnson) did better is a silly point to try to make.
Fitz was also past it he fought O'Brien.
No idea who Joe Grimm was. Maybe homicide can enlighten us.

http://www.boxing.com/joe_grim_how_to_t ... _some.html

He was a freak of nature who pretty much just took beatings from top boxers.

[HomicideHenry]

Joe Grimm was a Middleweight who found out he could take a punch, and made an open challenge to anyone capable of knocking him out. Fitzsimmons, Johnson, Blackburn, Langford and many others tried but came up short. Burns had him out on his feet in their exhibition, but the bell saved him. I believe the only man to stop Grimm in his "prime" was Sam McVey.

[Ambling Alp II]

Fitz knocked him down about 20 times in a 6 round n-decision. If that fight took place anytime in the last 70 years it would have been stopped. Burns supposedly had the guy in trouble in an exhibition. Don't see how this is evidence that Burns beat Fitz.

[HomicideHenry]

Fitz knocked him down about 20 times in a 6 round n-decision. If that fight took place anytime in the last 70 years it would have been stopped. Burns supposedly had the guy in trouble in an exhibition. Don't see how this is evidence that Burns beat Fitz.

I think it is telling that Burns could get a man in trouble very fast, even a freak like Grimm. Fitz in his prime was the same way. I just think that Burns had an all around skillset and more speed, so I think he could have outboxed Fitz. However, a guy like Fitz only needed one shot to end things. So it'd be a very tactical, cautious fight for Burns.