Tommy Burns vs. Bob Fitzsimmons

[scorpio83]

15 (or 20) Rounds Heavyweight Bout

Either Burns outwork Fitzsimmons with good body punches and right hands on the head to take a decision or late round stoppage or would Fitz outwork Burns with great body punches with right hands and left hooks to take a decision or late round stoppage? What do you guys think and who do you got?

[DrDuke]

Fitz KOs Burns.

[HomicideHenry]

Very hard fight to predict imo.

Burns was one of the top middleweights of his time. He wasn't able to beat Jack "Twin" Sullivan, but he did have a 20 round draw with him for the title. He did have back to back 20 round draws with Hugo Kelly also for the middleweight title. Both Sullivan and Kelly are HOF'ers. Throw in the 1-1-1 against light heavyweight champion Philadelphia Jack O'Brien he certainly had the skills to compete against Fitzsimmons.

I'll be the odd man out and say "The Little Giant of Hanover" edges out Fitzsimmons in a back and forth tactical battle at heavyweight. I think speed and lateral movement ends up getting the better of Fitzsimmons. Corbett was fast, but Burns I think was more effective with his speed than Corbett who was primarily a defensive fighter. He'd have the punching power to gain Fitzsimmons respect too because Burns hit hard enough to knock out Joe Grim in an exhibition fight when nobody (not even Fitzsimmons) was capable of stopping him.

Jesus Christ Almighty God bless you all

[gilgamesh]

Assuming both are at their best I'm going with Fitz.

[Ambling Alp II]

This is one of those cases where you could see a lot different results. Could see Fitzsimons blowing out Burns early or stopping him late. or winning a decision. Burns could win, but it would less likely. Fitz had a bit of a herky jerky style and Burns was a bit unorthodox as well. Would be interesting to see how this would play out.