CITY » left for the New World after retiring from boxing in 1871

Stuart Barnes believes Stuart Lancaster was asked to stand down, despite the former England coach and the RFU claiming it was a mutual decision. The 46-year-old left his role following Englands disappointing World Cup campaign when they became the first hosts of the tournament to be eliminated at the pool stage. Rugby Special: Englands future Stuart Barnes, Dean Ryan and Ali Williams join Alex Payne at 7pm on Thursday on Sky Sports 2 HD... Former England fly-half Barnes has rubbished the idea Lancaster moved on as a result of a joint decision and instead thinks RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie asked the coach to leave his position. Ian Ritchie is saying the two of them came to a joint decision - that is absolutely inconceivable, Barnes told Sky Sports News HQ.They couldnt have said at the same moment Ive got a great idea, Ian and Ive got an idea too, Stuart and say lets resign.Its going to be Ian Ritchie, isnt it? Stuart Lancaster has to fight his corner, even if he thinks it is a hopeless case. Ian Ritchie is the man, he is the CEO, he has to say look Stuart, when all is said and done, you are going to have to go. Stuart Lancaster walks off dejected with Dave Barton after Englands defeat to Australia Ritchie and RFU chairman Bill Beaumont faced the media at Twickenham on Wednesday where they outlined plans to recruit the right person to take England forward.Barnes stopped short of calling Ritchies position into question, however, and instead looked to those around him in the organisation to take more responsibility. RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie and chairman Bill Beaumont faced questions on Stuart Lancasters exit Ian Ritchie is a very articulate and intelligent man, he said. He was noticeably flustered when the question about his position came up in the press conference. He said he would leave that to the board and chairman.Bill Beaumont said he has been given a vote of confidence so from Ian Ritchies position, he is not going to walk.I think he has actually done quite a lot of good things. I will say this in Ian Ritchies defence because he is coming in for a lot of flak, when he moved into this position he was new to rugby, he came from Wimbledon. England head coach Stuart Lancaster (R) looks on with Professional Rugby Director Rob Andrew during the Six Nations Had he said unilaterally I want this man, people like myself would have asked how he was qualified to make that call. He had a board that helped to make that decision. Among others, Rob Andrew [RFU professional rugby director] was on that.These are the people who really put it to Ian Ritchie that Lancaster was the man, so Rob Andrews position is scarred, shall we say, by the Martin Johnson episode and then Stuart Lancaster, and Ian McGeechan, who played an important part, I think, in convincing Ian Ritchie also. It is a bit of a black box there. Also See: RFU could look abroad Lancaster quits England Dewi: Henry for England Who will succeed Lancaster? Cheap New Balance Shoes Authentic . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Wholesale New Balance Shoes . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive. http://www.clearancenewbalance.com/ . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. Wholesale New Balance Shoes Paypal . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. New Balance Shoes China . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Bob Fitzsimmons became boxings first three-weight world champion when he out-pointed George Gardner on this day in 1903.What was more remarkable was that the Cornwall-born boxer was 40 years old.Fitzsimmons, who moved with his family from England to New Zealand aged 11, had previously held the middleweight and heavyweights world titles.Despite being 14 years older than Irish-born Gardner, Fitzsimmons floored his opponent four times en route to a 20-round points win at the Mechanics Pavilion in San Francisco.This win was not only testament to Fitzsimmons longevity, but also underlined his status as one of boxing historys best pound-for-pound pugilists. He was one of the earliest boxers to be described as scientific for his placing of punches and was renowned for his debilitating body shots.But Fitzsimmons did not exactly fit the image of an elite athlete in any era. He was bald, freckled, with spindly legs and known as Ruby Robert or The Freckled Freak.Fitzsimmons arrived in America aged 28 in 1890 after five years boxing in Australia under the tuition of Jem Mace -- twice Englands bare knuckle champion in the 1860s who left for the New World after retiring from boxing in 1871 -- and his pupil Larry Foley.A year after arriving in America, Fitzsimmons shot to fame when he upset the odds and beat Nonpareil Jack Dempsey for the world middleweight title.ddddddddddddFitzsimmons stepped up to heavyweight to win the world title from Jim Corbett in 1897. But after two knockout defeats to Gentleman Jim Jeffries in world heavyweight title fights, Fitzsimmons reinvented himself in the new light-heavyweight division.After beating Gardner, Fitzsimmons lost the world light-heavyweight title when he was knocked out in the 13th round of a first defence to Philadelphia Jack OBrien in 1905.There were just five more official bouts on Fitzsimmons record, including a knockout defeat to Jack Johnson a year before he became the first black world heavyweight champion.Fitzsimmons died of pneumonia in 1917, three years after his last fight and only 14 years after he became a three-weight world champion.He remained Britains first and only undisputed world heavyweight champion until Lennox Lewis unified the belts in 1999.Only two other British boxers have managed to win world titles in three weight divisions since -- Duke McKenzie and Ricky Burns. ' ' '