Bob Fitzsimmons

Robert Fitzsimmons
Fitzsimmons in 1891
Born
Robert James Fitzsimmons

(1863-05-26)26 May 1863
Helston, Cornwall, England
Died22 October 1917(1917-10-22) (aged 54)
Chicago, United States
Other names
  • Bob
  • Ruby Rob
  • The Freckled Wonder
  • The Fighting Blacksmith
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 11+12 in (182 cm)
Reach71+12 in (182 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights101
Wins69
Wins by KO57
Losses12
Draws14
No contests9

Robert James Fitzsimmons (26 May 1863 – 22 October 1917) was a British professional boxer who was the sport's first three-division world champion.[1][2] He also achieved fame for beating Gentleman Jim Corbett (the man who beat John L. Sullivan), and he is in The Guinness Book of World Records as the lightest heavyweight champion, weighing just 167 pounds when he won the title.[3] Nicknamed Ruby Robert and The Freckled Wonder, he took pride in his lack of scars and appeared in the ring wearing heavy woollen underwear to conceal the disparity between his trunk and leg-development.

Considered one of the hardest punchers in boxing history,[4] Fitzsimmons is ranked as No. 8 on The Ring magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

  1. ^ "The Lineal Boxing World Champions". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
  2. ^ "Robert Fitzsimmons". Encyclopædia Britannica. 24 May 2023. British boxer, the first fighter to hold the world boxing championship in three weight divisions.
  3. ^ McWhirter, Norris. The Guinness Book of World Records 1997. p. 467. " Lightest heavyweight champion Robert James "Bob" Fitzsimmons of Great Britain, weighed 167 pounds when he won the title by knocking out James J. Corbett". Random House Publishing Group, 1997
  4. ^ Physical Freak Flattened Men "Like Texas Cyclone", The Barrier Miner, (Thursday, 25 November 1954), p. 7.