BOXING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2074, 28 December 1907, Page 3 (Supplement)

BOXING.

FITZ. CARVED IN MARBLE. FAMOUS SCULPTOR ADMIRES HIS REMARKABLE FIGHTING FIGURE. Bob Fitzsimmons carved in cold white Carrara marble will be one of tho artistic treasures that future generations will gaze at in open-eyed astonishment when naked to regard his living embodiment as the epitome of graceful manhood. All this is line to the fact that Gutzon Borglum, who has taken tlie top position among tlie sculptors of this country, has selected Fitzsimmons as the ideal' in build of the modern gladiators of the glove. Mr Borglum is enthusiastic over tho project of modelling the smooth, long lines of the finest fighting machine of his weight that has fought witjiiii the limits of the squared .ring since the substitution of the Marquis of Queensberry rules for those of the old London prize ring made scientific fighting possible, “Fitzsimmons has the most remarkable figure for fixating, above the belt, that I have over seen,” saiil the artist. “He is one of the best specimens of manhood in the world, and is far tho most perfect representative of tho fighting mill that this ago lias produced. “Above the waist he has the ideal build of a lighter. That- is what enabled him to conquer so many men stronger and bigger than himself. 11l this respect ho is - the best representative of the ring now alive.” “AA’hy did you pick him rather than Jeffries or some of the men wiio liavo whipped him?” the sculptor was usketl. “Because Jeffries and these others are merely fighters. They are big men, and many of them are undoubtedly stronger than Fitzsimmons, but they lack that extraordinary build that, in my opinion, makes the grand old man of the ring the most perfectexponent of prize lighting. “I understand Fitzsimmons is 52 years old, and that he has fought 400 battles. Could anything qualify a. man better as the dean of the Prize Ring ? ‘Then, too, he has lines built for a sculptor to work upon. His muscles aro clean-cut and long. His neck is so short that lie can almost draw his head down oven with his shoulders. Few of tlie statues of the ancient gladiators show physiques equal to that of Fitzsimmons. “Tho strange thing is that Fitz. has always been caricatured. There has never been a serious drawing of him. Artists and cartoonists seem to •have missed the great possibilities offered by liis remarkable build.”

“How does Fitz take to tho idea of having a statue made of him?” Mr Borglum. was asked. “Oh, lie’s tickled to death —thinks it tho greatest thing ever.” Fitzsimmons will come to NewA r ork every day while the work of modelling him in clay is going on. As soon as the clay model is completed the marble, a huge block of which is now ready in the sculptor's studio, and will he chiselled into form, and tlie lines of the greatest fighter of his class in this age will: lie handed down to posterity along with tho huge, hairy, bearded cestus wielder who lias come down to us from tlie days of '.no Roman arena through the efforts of •s£cp snoiiuojqs osoqj jo —New York exchange.