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The Man Who Became King Of The Lightweights

Jerome Blair

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Published in Leonard The Magnificent: The Man Who Became King Of The Lightweights

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Bob Fitzsimmons was born in Helston, Cornwall, England, on June 26, 1863. He began boxing at a young age and quickly developed a reputation as a hard hitter. In 1883, he moved to Australia, where he continued to fight and win. In 1890, he traveled to the United States, where he quickly became one of the top contenders in the lightweight division.

Leonard the Magnificent: The Man Who Became King of the Lightweights

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In 1891, Fitzsimmons fought Jack Dempsey for the lightweight championship of the world. Dempsey was a much larger man, but Fitzsimmons was able to outbox him and win the fight. He became the first British boxer to win a world championship.

Fitzsimmons defended his title successfully several times before moving up to the middleweight division. In 1896, he fought James J. Corbett for the middleweight championship of the world. Corbett was a much more skilled boxer than Fitzsimmons, but Fitzsimmons was able to knock him out in the 14th round. He became the first three-division world champion in boxing history.

Fitzsimmons continued to fight for several more years, but he never regained his world championship. He retired from boxing in 1906 with a record of 82 wins, 8 losses, and 5 draws.

Fitzsimmons was a pioneer in the sport of boxing. He was one of the first boxers to use his fists as weapons, and he was one of the first to develop a scientific approach to training. He was also one of the first boxers to become a celebrity.

Fitzsimmons died in Chicago, Illinois, on October 22, 1917. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.

Legacy

Bob Fitzsimmons is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time. He was a pioneer in the sport and he helped to shape the way that boxing is fought today. He was also a great ambassador for the sport and he helped to make boxing popular around the world.

Fitzsimmons' legacy continues to live on today. He is still remembered as one of the greatest boxers of all time and his fights are still studied by boxing historians. He is also a role model for young boxers who dream of becoming world champions.