LOS ANGELES HERALD (May 14 1897) - "FITZ FOULED CORBETT!

By Trussman66, a 606v2 forum member.

This great Heavyweight title fight is a trailblazer in many ways. However with the passage of time and all it's vagarities this fight unlike Dempsey - Tunney has lost it's controversial element.

The bout took place at the Race track arena in Carson City, Nevada on St Patrick's day in 1897, it had been scheduled for two years earlier in Texas but was cancelled. Nevada was chosen ostensibly because prizefighting was pretty much illegal all over the states and they managed to obtain a licence there for this fight. Unfortunately due to factors like the location and the lack of marketability of the Englishman the event was sparsely attended despite what subsequent pictures showed, unfortunately for these "Artists" the fight was the first title fight to ever be filmed. A great feat for the time in itself.

Enoch J Rector managed to film the whole of the fight from beginning to end with three Veriscope 63mm cameras of his own invention placed in a specially built hut to save the film from the glare of the sun and other elements. The film later became controversial in itself because subsequent distribution around theatres all over the US allowed Women to see Men semi-naked on film for the first time. A luxury they had previously not been afforded. In fact certain entrepreneurial types promoted the film in a kind of semi-pornographic way to get the ladies in to view the reels !!

Both fighters received 15% of the gross income from the film, which brought in an estimated $750,000 which was not small change back then.

The cameras did in fact cause a few problems, ostensibly with the size of the ring. Both fighters agreed on 24 feet, Rector wanted twenty two to get the whole ring on his camera. He managed to get it changed to twenty two feet only for the referee to hear about it and insist on the extra two feet put back in.

Which brings us to the two protagonists.

The Champion James J Corbett making the third defence of his title became a legend by dethroning the monster known as John L Sullivan five years before in a big upset. A good looking, charismatic matinee idol whose scientific approach to Boxing revolutionised the Sport, however having only one proper fight in three years against Tom Sharkey and falling in love with acting some insiders were assuming he was taking the Englishman lightly and that his heart wasn't into the game. Saying that a 17 pound weight and height advantage coupled with his silky skills made him a big favorite. The Challenger a former Middleweight Champion winning against the legendary Nonpareil Dempsey's only other notable foray at Heavy was a scandalous rip off against Tom Sharkey, a no thrills fighter with a big punch most onlookers thought he'd be too crude for the great Champion.

As the fight started in 100 degree heat, Corbett with Wyatt Earp among other notables from the time in his corner came out and took it to the Englishman. With his usual feinting style he started to dominate the fight with his jab. Mauling up close and leaning on Ruby Rob making use of his greater strength to take the Englishman's legs. However after being cut and decked the Englishman started to get back into the fight from the ninth rounds onwards, regularly besting the tiring Champion in exchanges. In the 14th round a paralysing Solar plexus punch sent the Champion to the deck for good and snatched the title from America's golden boy.

This is where the fun started. The Los Angeles Herald and other tabloids of the day had quite a few problems with the result.

On Fitzsimmons being knocked down - "Fitzsimmons was holding on to Corbett's legs when he was knocked down and only after a plea by Corbett's cornermen to push him off did the referee tell Fitz to let go and only then start the count !!"

On Corbett's knockout "Fitzsimmon's is mistaken. The pictures show Corbett on the floor when the "Australian" sweeps his arm back and lands an uppercut...He clearly knows what he is doing. Fitzsimmons does not retire until he has given the Champion a shot to the jaw"

On Fitzsimmon's conduct during the count - "There is a Gentleman's agreement you stand ten feet away when the count is being made....Fitzsimmons never stands further than six".

Dan Lynch the Manager of Tom Sharkey watching from ringside cried "It was a foul as clear as day".

Corbett's Manager Tom Brady commented " We aren't asking for the title...Just a rematch".

Fitzsimmon's team called it "Sour grapes". Controversial? Not really. Corbett was finished by the Solar plexus punch. Sour grapes? Probably. Corbett was an American hero,Fitz was an outsider. Deserving of a rematch? For sure. Time lends us to forget Fitzsimmons got outclassed for most of that fight and in many eyes got lucky. If there is such a thing in Boxing or life, I tend to believe you make your own luck.

There would be no rematch. Fitz would lose twice to James Jeffries and Corbett would lose twice trying to reclaim his prize to Jeffries also. However he would go on to win the 175 pound title becoming for a long time the only Man to win middle, Light heavy and Heavy..

Controversial or not, Corbett - Fitz will always be a timeless classic and that's okay by me.


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