Boxing's Heavyweight Championship Lineage
Bob Fitzsimmons
1897-99
Fitzsimmons, the first heavyweight champ born outside the U.S., was also boxing's first three-division world champion. Born in Cornwall, England, "Ruby Robert" was small for the division but thrived on his movement in the ring and some of the finest punching power in boxing history.
In 1897, Fitzsimmons challenged Jim Corbett for the heavyweight title, rallying after taking early punishment to break down and finish Corbett with devastating body blows. In his only defense, Fitzsimmons, although favored, fell to James J. Jeffries by 11th-round knockout in 1899. He got another crack at Jeffries -- and the title -- in 1902, but Fitzsimmons, despite brutalizing the much larger man for most of the fight, suffered another KO loss.
Advertisement
ESPN Video
- 00:43
High schooler with Down syndrome sinks 3-pointer
Leslie County (Ky.) High School's Ethan Wolfe, who has Down syndrome, checks into the game and knocks down a 3-pointer.
- 02:04
Hurts surprises family with donation toward a new home
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts surprises a family, whose child is battling cancer, with a $30,000 donation to go toward a new home.
- 01:25
Ron Rivera rings the bell after final day of cancer treatment
Washington coach Ron Rivera receives an ovation as he walks down the hospital hallway to ring the bell after his final day of cancer treatment.
