The Fitzsimmons-Maher Prizefight

In 1896, Judge Roy Bean made national headlines with a unique boxing match held at this site. Robert James Fitzsimmons was to fight James J. Corbett, the heavyweight champion, but the Legislature had outlawed boxing in Texas. While promoters sought a new location for the match, Corbett retired, handing the title to Irishman Peter Maher, who soon agreed to fight Fitzsimmons. Bean arranged for spectators, the press and Texas Rangers to travel by train from El Paso to Langtry, where he held the fight on a sandbar on Mexico's side of the Rio Grande; Texas lawmen had no authority there and Mexico had no law enforcement on hand. Fitzsimmons knocked Maher out in 95 seconds, winning the title. (2006)

The Fitzsimmons-Maher Prizefight is a historical marker in Langtry, Val Verde County, dedicated in 2006. It is one of 61 historical markers documented in Val Verde County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 78 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.8074, -101.5553 near Langtry. The nearest cataloged historic site is The Torres Family (historical marker), about 0.2 miles away. Others within a short drive include Langtry School, William H. Dodd, and Eagle's Nest.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5507013649. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.