ROBERT JAMES ‘BOB’ FITZSIMMONS

26 May 1863 – 22 October 1917

I grew up hearing the name Bob Fitzsimmons, and having worked at the local blacksmiths shop near Gisborne, I was often reciting Henry Longfellow’s poem; THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.
The first verse;
Under a spreading chestnut-tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms,
Are strong as iron bands.

Every Saturday afternoon our local blacksmith named Frank Hollis, used to shut his shop at 12 noon and get out the old horse hair stuffed, and leather cased boxing gloves, and let the local kids have a punch-up. We had to fight all the local boys, including my brothers, and all our mates. We had little or no skills, but leather was flying in all directions as we tried to emulate the fighters we had read about or heard about on the radio. I was one of the kids that helped Frank after school, and on Saturday mornings, and also when I was home from school supposedly sick, by turning the bellows and getting the fire red hot, and then white hot, so he could shoe his horses, and make iron gates.

Frank was a boxing nut and we often discussed our great fighters, and the name Bob Fitzsimmons often came up. I loved the blacksmith shop, and Frank had huge arm muscles from the work he was doing in the forge. He told me Bob Fitzsimmons had won three world titles at three different weights, and was working in his fathers blacksmiths shop in Timaru, where they had settled, after first arriving in Lyttelton.
Bob was born in Helston, Cornwell on 26th May1863, and his Dad wanted a better life for the family, so they decided to head to New Zealand.

As an amateur boxer Bob was schooled by Jem Mace, a famous English bare knuckle fighter, who was hosting a school in Timaru. Mace hosted an amateur tournament and it was won by Bob in 1880. Mace was instrumental in organising the first New Zealand Championships in 1902. Bob learned how to punch properly from the great man, and perfected the solar plexus punch, which brought him much fame. Many historians rate Bob as one of the most powerful hitters of all time.
Bob helped his dad in the blacksmith shop and tried to build up his physique. Not that he had a great body– He was only light, covered in freckles, not much hair on top, and didn’t look at all like he would turn into a champion boxer. He had skinny legs and wore underwear like my dad and grand-dad wore. Long johns, as they were known, were fashionable in those days.

We claim Bob as a kiwi, and that is known world-wide, as he attended school in Timaru, but the Australians also claim him, as he had lots of early fights in Australia. In fact he had over 40 fights, all in Sydney, before he headed to America. The Americans also claim Bob, as well as England, having been born in Britain.

Bob won the first of his three world titles in 1884 by beating Jack Dempsey, known as the nonpareil, meaning he was an excellent fighter, and no one could equal him. His real name was John Kelly, and Bob took the world middleweight crown off him. This was not the heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey, but the smaller Jack was known as Nonpariel Jack Dempsey.

Bob won the heavyweight title in Carson City, Nevada, on St Patricks Day, by beating Jim Corbett, known as ‘Gentleman Jim’ in 1897. He knocked out Corbett in the 14th round with his famous ‘solar plexus’ punch. This was a great feat, as Corbett had beaten John L. Sullivan, the last of the bare knuckle fighters.

Winning the light heavyweight title in 1905 made him the first boxer to win three world crowns in three weight divisions. He beat George Gardiner, also spelt Gardner, on points over 20 rounds. Gardner was the first undisputed World Lt. Heavyweight Champion.

Bob’s son was a heavyweight boxer, but he did not reach the great heighths of his father. He was known as “Young” Bob Fitzsimmons and was boxing for around 12 years.

Bob met some of the great names of the sport and was in the ring with Jack Johnson, James J Jeffries, Tom Sharkey, Mick Dooley and New Zealand born Dan Creedon from Invercargill, (This was for the middleweight World Title. Two Kiwis were fighting for the World crown in USA )
Bob Fitzsimmons died at the early age of 54 from pneumonia, but what he achieved in his lifetime made him an all-time great. He died on 22-10-2017

A statue of Bob is situated in Timaru, and was commissioned by Sir Robert Jones. It has attracted many visitors and has been photographed by many world travellers.
Bob Fitzsimmons was inducted in to the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in in 1996.

Bobs boxing record is as follows. Some variations in the record books, as I believe Bob took part in many exhibition matches.

TOTAL BOUTS 125
WON 89
LOST 12
14 DRAWS
10 NO CONTESTS

DC 2020