 This site is dedicated to one of the hardest punchers and greatest fighters in the history of boxing, Bob "Ruby Robert" Fitzsimmons.
Bob "Ruby Robert" Fitzsimmons
Few fighters have travelled such a long and difficult path to win their
place in boxing history as Bob Fitzsimmons. Born in Helston, England, at a
young age Bob and his family emigrated 12,000 miles to Timaru in the South
Island of New Zealand. There young Bob worked at his brother Jarrett's
blacksmith's forge developing the strength that would take him to ring
immortality. In his climb to the top of boxing, Fitzsimmons then travelled
to Sydney, Australia, and after several years finally made it to the United
States. After this long path it did not take long for Fitzsimmons to become
a household name in America. First the world middleweight title, then the
ultimate, the world heavyweight championship, fell to him. Who will ever
forget Fitz's win over James J Corbett at Carson City, Nevada, in 1897? It
is still one of the greatest of all fights, a ring classic, and was watched
by such famous personalities as Bat Masterton, Wyatt Earp and some of the
wealthiest men in America.
The question is: Was Fitzsimmons at his peak in 1891 rather than 1897? Many
say 1891 since by 1897 Bob was in his mid to late 30s. Still, age was never
a problem for him and he later claimed his third world title, the world
light heavyweight title, at the advanced age of 41. |  |  To his generation winning titles at such an age was unheard of. People talked of him as a boxing freak: a bald-headed, big shouldered, thin legged fighting machine. Clearly there has never been a fighter like Fitzsimmons
and there never will be.
The man himself was immensely proud of his record
and said he did pretty well for a boxer who was only really a middleweight.
Honours still descend on him. He is now a member of Boxing's Hall of Fame,
the International Boxing Hall of Fame and New Zealand's Sports Hall of Fame.
Now you can read all about this great fighter in a new book written by
Christopher Tobin. Published in a hardcover it is packed with rare
photographs, lithographs, and little known facts. Through the eyes of
Fitzsimmons it brings America of the turbulent immigrant age of the 1890s
and early 1900s very much alive. Did you know that but for a little luck
Fitzsimmons could have become the first man to reclaim the world heavy
weight title? Did you know he had lions as pets and appeared on Broadway?
And did you know Fitzsimmons has his own statue in his old hometown of
Timaru, New Zealand? Obviously for any true ring fan the book is a
"must-buy".
It is a special limited edition book and would be a prized addition to any
boxing fan's collection.
 "Fitzsimmons" Boxing's First Triple World Champion! Buy the
Book
 Sam Langford
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