Carson City, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, October 6, 2013

1. Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight Marker

Inscription. On March 17, 1897, at an arena located on this site, Carson City played host to Nevada's first world championship prizefight, a fourteen-round thriller in which the reigning heavyweight titlist, James J. "Gentleman Jim" Corbett, was dethroned by Robert Fitzsimmons. The Nevada Legislature had only recently legalized prizefighting and the match became the object of scathing criticism from the press and pulpit of other states, but fight fans by the thousands came in. Promoter Dan Stuart put on a clean show and demonstrated that boxing need not be brutal or crooked. Other states were soon to liberalize their own prizefight laws and the sport began to assume a degree of respectability it had not enjoyed in the past. In later years, Nevada was to be the scene of several other world championship fights.

Erected by Division of Historic Preservation and Archeology: Nevada Landmarks Society; Nevada State Division of Archives. (Marker Number 243.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is March 17, 1897.

Location. 39° 9.868′ N, 119° 45.602′ W. Marker is in Carson City, Nevada. Marker is at the intersection of East Musser Street and North Pratt Avenue, on the right when traveling east on East Musser

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Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Carson City NV 89701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Charles W. Friend House, Observatory, and Weather Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); Chinatown (approx. ¼ mile away); State Printing Building (approx. ¼ mile away); USS Nevada BB-36 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Washington Elm (approx. 0.3 miles away); Abraham Van Santvoord Curry (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mills Park (approx. 0.3 miles away); Historic Fraternal Site of Carson City (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Carson City.

Also see . . . A Youtube Video of the Fight. Films of boxing matches were a popular staple, and the 1897 match-up between James J. Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons, held in Carson City, Nev., was especially staged for the benefit of cameras. Source: 2012 Film Registry - CBS News (Submitted on October 27, 2013.)

Photographed By Bill Kirchner

2. Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight Marker

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, October 6, 2013

3. Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2013, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 752 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 24, 2013, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.