Fitzsimmons exhibitions

[writehooks]

Hoping somebody out there might be able to provide a list of Bob Fitzsimmons' exhibition bouts as champion -- specifically any appearances in Canada. Thanks!

[gilgamesh]

You should've asked me this before I left my Fitzsimmons book in Michigan

I do recall reading a lot about Exhibition bouts though both of a Boxing and Wrestling nature. Essentially these matches were part of his training, and his method of staying in shape. He had quite a few Wrestling matches along with the Boxing as well, this of course being at a time when Wrestling was 100% legit.

I don't remember the where's and when's, but there was a lot of detail in that book by K.R. Robinson. That'd give you the information you're wanting, and is a great read. I remember it has a great deal of details about his career. Exhibition bouts and all.

[bwu]

There's a fairly good listing of Fitz's exhibition bouts on the old www.cyberboxingzone.com site. I'm sure it's not complete, but that's no criticism considering how difficult it is to track fights from those days. I was surprised at how many of the exhibitions were against Jim Jeffries. I didn't recall anything specifically from Canada, though.

One of the other interesting part of the list was, as noted previously, the number of wrestling matches. I wouldn't agree with the assessment that that sport was 100% on the level at the time (I believe it was Lou Thesz himself who pointed out that there were staged matches in the U.S. as far back as the 1860s), but there were definitely fewer pre-determined outcomes. In any event, I knew Fitzsimmons grappled, but I never knew how much until I saw that record.

[writehooks]

Thanks, guys. I've ordered Robinson's "Lanky Bob."

[Caractacus]

Didn't he also do a bit of live on-stage sparring during the play he toured with ?
THE HONEST BLACKSMITH I think it was called.
and where and when he played in the various cities.

[Bladder]

Thanks, guys. I've ordered Robinson's "Lanky Bob."

Fitz's record on CBZ is likely what is in 'Lanky Bob' as Keith Robinson was one of the contributors to it. I've flicked through his exhibition list in the book and I couldn't see Canada mentioned.

But 'Lanky Bob' is a great book and the most in-depth look at Fitz's entire career. Pollack's book only goes as far as the Corbett fight.

[Caractacus]

Did Bob Fitzsimmon's wife (Rose) ever publish her book about him ?
It was to be released in 1930 (she had been working on it since 1923)
If not does the manuscript still exist ?
Don't believe it ? then check out this link here

https://ebay.com/itm/264252507631?hash= ... Sw2jFcjaJ6

[Caractacus]

here is the link to Bob Fitzsimmons known exhibitions.

http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/fitz.htm

[Caractacus]

just orderd the book LANKY BOB by K. R Robinson(2008) from Amazon on account that today is his Birthday.

[gilgamesh]

Thanks, guys. I've ordered Robinson's "Lanky Bob."

You will find the info you seek there for sure.

[Caractacus]

Hey, everyone here who has thought about ordering LANKY BOB the book since it was published ?
so order it today on the "Fitz-Man" B-Day .
and try and send it up to the Top Ten.
( I wonder how many copies were published of it?)
I'm sure that he would appreciate it (if he was still around that is)
BTW did you notice on the link to Amazon,t he "used" books cost more then the "NEW" books ?
always Greedy B*astards around , no doubt just the type who fleeced Bob Fitzsimmons out of his money when he was still around.

[Benny The Kid]

here is the link to Bob Fitzsimmons known exhibitions.

http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/fitz.htm

That's funny this was the first thing i thought of too!

Most people don't realize Jack Dempsey actually fought Max Schmeling.

[Caractacus]

Who here owns a copy of this book ?
What's it like ?

[gilgamesh]

Who here owns a copy of this book ?
What's it like ?

I assume you're talking about Lanky Bob. I owned it, and left it somewhere, but it's as good and thorough a Bio on Fitzsimmons as you could hope to come across I would imagine.

Doubtful anyone is ever gonna write a better one.

[Ambling Alp II]

here is the link to Bob Fitzsimmons known exhibitions.

http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/fitz.htm

That's funny this was the first thing i thought of too!

Most people don't realize Jack Dempsey actually fought Max Schmeling.

In an exhibition? I knew Dempsey had fought several exhibitions. Have read a lot about both of these guys. Never saw anything about this.

[Caractacus]

Hey, I just received the book LANKY BOB by K. Robinson the other day.
My first impression when it came in the soft big envelope was that it was MASSIVE !
soft-bound. It has a whole bunch of words in the text too,
many rare photographs but mainly of other pugilists of that time.
Surprisinly just a few photographs of Fitzsimmons himself however (one were he is sporting an old fashion type of handle-bar mustache
and another were where he is wearing a rug(hair-piece)on top of his famous bald pate.
obviously a labour of love by the author.
It does list his exhibitions,but most just which cities the exhibitions happened in(9and not the venues there which would have been of historical interest)
Even tho I havent really started to read it yet,I would give this book 5 stars !

[Caractacus]

The book LANKY BOB was published in 2008.
I wonder if the author has since come across
any additional exhibitions ?
also It would have been nice if he had also
listed the various dates of Bob Fitzsimmons plays,
especially THE HONEST BLACKSMITH.
particularly any "one night stands" in some of the smaller cities and towns
that had Opera Houses in America.
I did read that Bob Fitzsimmons had been in Paineville Ohio.
for what,it did not say.

[Caractacus]

[Caractacus]

Perhaps his most famous exhibition was the night that Bob Fitzsimmons took on 7 fighters in one evening.
There at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago.
a large purse for Fitzsimmons.
But If any of them went the distance of 6 rounds for each fight he had to forfeit a portion of his purse.(40 quid each)
The smallest was 14 stone, all the others were larger The largest opponent was 6 ft 7 and about 17 stone 2 .
They had him fight in the 4th fight, when Fitzsimmons may have been tiring from fighting the previous three.
If "Wyoming" won he would also get the rest of the prize money of the three that were to follow him
But Fitzsimmons knocked him out, he knocked out all 7 (in 19 rounds)
read about it in Bob Fitzsimmons own words in the book LANKY BOB.
It is great !

[Caractacus]

Did Bob Fitzsimmon's wife ever publish her book about him ?
It was to be released in 1930 (she had been working on it since 1923)
If not does the manuscript still exist ?
Don't believe it ? then check out this link here

https://ebay.com/itm/264252507631?hash= ... Sw2jFcjaJ6

I think that was Bob Fitzsimmons 4th wife, Temo Ziller . (he first met her in 1904, hooked up with her again in 1913)
She became an Evangelist and died in 1959

[gp.]

Hey, I just received the book LANKY BOB by K. Robinson the other day.
My first impression when it came in the soft big envelope was that it was MASSIVE !
soft-bound. It has a whole bunch of words in the text too,
many rare photographs but mainly of other pugilists of that time.
Surprisinly just a few photographs of Fitzsimmons himself however (one were he is sporting an old fashion type of handle-bar mustache
and another were where he is wearing a rug(hair-piece)on top of his famous bald pate.
obviously a labour of love by the author.
It does list his exhibitions,but most just which cities the exhibitions happened in(9and not the venues there which would have been of historical interest)
Even tho I havent really started to read it yet,I would give this book 5 stars !

Books often do have "a whole bunch of words". There is absolutely no need, however, for you to quote them all here in a long series of posts.

[Caractacus]

[Caractacus]

Bob Fitzsimmons did go to Canada to tour with his plays.
He was in Vancouver British Columbia for sure.