Cornish Boxing Champion - Bob Fitzsimmons

Robert James "Bob" Fitzsimmons was the first fighter to hold the world boxing championship in three weight divisions.

Born in Helston in 1863 he moved with his family to New Zealand, when he was nine years old, where they opening a blacksmith’s forge. Growing up he engaged in both bareknuckle and gloved fights while working in an iron foundry and also as a blacksmith. His professional fighting career only began when he moved to Australia aged 20, in around 1883. In 1890 he then sailed to the United States winning his first the world title in 1891.

Outside the ring he was also know for his extravagance with diamonds for fillings and snakes, bears and lions as pets who he would wrestle with for training.