Jeffries-Corbett I: scoring the NYT report, and other questions.

That's a fairly remarkable bit of action from the surviving footage. The bit of recent restoration work to stabilize the image brings home the truly wild nature of the fight, with fouls a-plenty and Jeffries counting the rushing Sharkey with the body lift described here.

I'm surprised Jeffries' series of exhibitions with Greco-Roman champion Ernest Roeber didn't get more coverage in the papers of the day. I've looked in vain for next-day coverage but you'll be lucky to find a single sentence in the local papers.

 

Thanks McVey. So far so good. I'm off to buy my dream couch today. Every man should have one, don't you think? My HD Sony flat screen, and blu ray dvd need a friend

I do not think you have seen all the footage I have. In fact I'm almost sure of it. Keep in mind I have a good film collection of 100+ fights pre WW II, plus I know some historians who will loan footage for me.

List what you have seen on Jeffries, then I can fill in the blanks. I'll guess there are at least three things on film that I have seen that will be new to you.

 

Thanks McVey. So far so good. I'm off to buy my dream couch today. Every man should have one, don't you think? My HD Sony flat screen, and blu ray dvd need a friend

I do not think you have seen all the footage I have. In fact I'm almost sure of it. Keep in mind I have a good film collection of 100+ fights pre WW II, plus I know some historians who will loan footage for me.

List what you have seen on Jeffries, then I can fill in the blanks. I'll guess there are at least three things on film that I have seen that will be new to you.

>>McVey,

Can you reply to the above? I am curious to learn what you have seen. Perhaps I'll see something new listed. I still do not think you have see the footage I have on Jeffries.

 

Bump

 

This report states that without the ko Jeffries would have lost.

[url]https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1900-05-21/ed-1/seq-7/#date1=1836&index=18&rows=20&words=CORBETT+CORBETT-JEFFRIES+JEFFRIES+v&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1922&proxtext=Jeffries+v+corbett&y=4&x=17&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1[/url]

 

The link doesn't work anymore so I'll get the text of the report (and the thread linked had a download for the report which also no longer works). This only goes up to the Round by Round since the OCR could read that better, but I should be able to get it out in full.


The New York Times, May 12, 1900
JEFFRIES STILL CHAMPION
Corbett Was Knocked Out In The Twenty Third Round
SCIENCE AGAINST STRENGTH
The Cleverness Displayed by the Former Champion Waa a Marvel to the Large Crowd Present.
James J. Jeffries is still the champion heavyweight boxer of the world. He held It against James J. Corbett last night and early this morning In the arena of the Seaside Athletic Club before 7,000 spectators. It took twenty-three rounds to decide the battle, and toward the end of that round, after an hour and a quarter of an exhibition of brute force and ring generalship, seldom if ever before witnessed, Corbett went down from a right hand smash on the jaw from Jeffries that ended it all In ten seconds.

Corbett's ambition la responsible for his defeat. It must have been evident to him from the start that he could not possibly hope to put Jeffries out. His blows lacked force, and so he could rely only on shiftiness that would tire his big opponent out. But when the battle went long and Corbett saw that the giant opposite him was seemingly as fresh as ever he forgot the tactics that had stood him In good stead for twenty-two rounds and sought to mix matters up. Jeffries focced him to the ropes by purely superior brute strength and, as Corbett tried to slip away, Jeffries landed his gloved fist with the power of a pile driver behind it flush on the point of the jaw and Corbett went down like a felled ox.

Referee White stood over, him waving his arm, pendulum fashion, until he had swung ten times. Then he pointed to the mountain of muscle that stood expectantly by his side, and the crowd knew that Jeffries was still champion, and that Corbett's aspirations were over, perhaps forever.

After he was hit, Corbett lay like a log, his legs half doubled imder htm and his bead resting upon the lower rope of the ring. After the ten seconds allowed under the rules for recuperation, Corbett's seconds carried him to his corner, where he soon revived. There was not a mark on him, but he looked around In a dazed way that had in It only the realization that all was over.

Corbett was the favorite with the crowd from the start. This was shown the moment the men entered the ring. Jeffries went to his corner first, followed by his seconds, and there was only a faint cheer as the surly-looking fighter with close-cropped head and a look of fierce determination on his face bowed to the audience and sat down. Corbett followed a second later, and the crowd jumped to Its feet and howled.

Even garbed as they were, the men presented a wonderful contrast Jeffrfes's grreat frame was clad in a blue sweatier and trousers, and as he sat In his corner his frame was bent and hunched over.

Corbett, stripped but for his trunks, was enveloped in a long bath robe, which was left open, displaying his magnificent physical proportions.

There was the preliminary squabbling, and It was noticed that Charley White, the referee, was absent. White, with his hat and overcoat on, stood at the ringside' shaking his head negatively, while Brady and the others shouted 'at him. It was. finally learned that White wanted his $500 fee, and not until he got it did he doff his overcoat and hat and enter the ring. He received a cordial welcome. The presence of White waa the strongest factor that argued against a fake.

Another confab, a preliminary rubbing, whispered Instructions, a bell tap, and the fight was on. Corbett skipped to the centre and danced around smilingly. Jeffries hunched his big frame and, half crouching, came at his slender opponent Again the striking contrast in the appearance and demeanor of the men was apparent. It looked like a battle between a gladiator and a gorilla.

Corbett carried the crowd with hlnj throughout. He thrives oo applatise, and the afclaim of the multitude was as muslo to his ears. • Every time the crowd got tired of his shiftiness and told him to go In he took that advice, even against the better judgment of his seconds. Throughout he played to the gallery. Jeffries, on the other hand, showed bulldog determination that was unwavering. Neither cheers nor groans made any Impression upon him. He was Intent upon an object and only waited his chance to achieve It

As early as 6 o'clock the crowd began to wend Its way seaward, and the elevated and surface lines were packed to their utmost limit. The Island Itself looked like the palmy days of Summer, but for the fact that the crowd was a lot rougher and more Intent than the drifting Summer pleasure seekers. A fierce eagerness as If for blond did not help Improve the brutal countenances.

The gang crowded Into Ben Cohen's Albe- marle and into the various resorts In the neighborhood and discussed the fight. As large as the crowd was. It was noticeably smaller than that which has In other days attended big matches. There was an ab- sence of any propensity to gamble on the result, and this was taken by the knowing ones to Indicate that there was little confidence in the genuineness of the fight.

"Fake" was the word heard oftenest wherever the sporting element congregated, and the gullibility ot the public that wants to see fighting under any circumstances was freely commented upon.

" It may be on the level," said one wlse- .icre, " but If It Is it seems strange that there hasn't been a cent wagered In any of the sporting resorts. The bookmakers have kept their hands off, and If that don't look strange, then I have missed my guess."

It was about 8 o'clock when the crowd be- gan to pour Into the bamllke arena. Outside a gang without the needful $5 pushed and struggled, and used every device under the sun to get by the doorkeepers. The door set apart for the entrance of the police was the favorite spot of attack. Deputy Chief McLaughlin stood there and made a vain attempt to pass In the detectives and plain clothes policemen- that he knew.

Every "copper" had a crowd of friends with him, and managed to smuggle them In on the pretext that they were all police- men. After the steady flow of alleged law preservers had been kept up for over an hour the Deputy Chief remarked that nearly every policeman in New York must be in the building, and ordered his men to clear the crowd away from the entrance.

McLaughlin had charge of the police ar- rangements, such as they were, in the absence of the Chief, who is at the Cincinnati Convention of Police Chiefs. He was represented, however, by his staff of " heroes," Grady and Klernan, so for once the corner of Twenty-eighth Street and Eighth Avenue was deserted.

The arrangements for handling the crowd In the arena were execrable. Those who were supposed to see that orders were carried out stood around the doors and pulled long faces at the meagreness of the early crowd, for while there were thousands outside. It was evident that they were dollarless thousands, to whom the admission prices were more than a passing consideration.

An uncontrollable crowd packed Itself In the aisles In utter disregard of the fire and building regulations. How the crowd could be handled should a panic break out was a problem that did not seem In the least to bother the managers of the club. Their business was to get the crowd In; after that it was supposed to take its own chances.

By 10 o'clock the cheap seats at the far ends of the building were crowded, as were the boxes surrounding the ring. There were, however, many oases In the higherpriced mezzanine seats, which did not fill up as the night wore on.

In front of the blubhouse a big sign was displayed, which read that on account of orders from the Fire Department no smoking would be allowed In the building. As a result, every man In the big hall smoked either a cigar or a cigarette, and by 10 o'clock the ring could only be seen through a cloud of smoke that looked like a fog bank.

As a whole the event was more barren of Incident than any Uttle " mixed ale go " In a Bowery hall.

At 9:55 there was a movement In the crowd and a few faint cheers went up as Corbett, attended by his trainer, entered the building and went to his quarters in the rear of the clubhouse. Jeffries entered a few minutes later, and another faint cheer went up.

A while later an Incident that showed the "wet blanket" temperament of the crowd occurred. From time Immemorial the ad- vent of John L. Sullivan In any Prize-flghtIng crowd was enough to work them up to a nigh pitch of enthusiasm. Yet Sullivan entered the building at 10 o'clock last night and walked to his box with hardly an attendant tremor In the throng.

Up to the beginning of the big bout not a dollar had been displayed around the ring side. If any betting was done It was of the five-dollar variety, and the only line on the general feeling that could be obtained was Jeffries people offered $2½ to $1 on their man, and the Corbett people refused to bet.

It was said that "Bob" Thomas wagered $200 to $300 with "Al" Smith. The latter taking the Jeffries end. This was the largest bet that came to the surface.

THE FIGHT BY ROUNDS.
. . .

 

Here's a number of reports

New-York tribune., May 12, 1900, Page 4, Image 4
[url]https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1900-05-12/ed-1/seq-4/#date1=1789&index=0&rows=20&words=Corbett+Jeffrie+Jeffries&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=New+York&date2=1963&proxtext=jeffries+corbett&y=16&x=15&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1[/url]

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle., May 12, 1900, Page 13, Image 13
[url]http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn83031151/1900-05-12/ed-1/seq-13/#date1=05%2F12%2F1900&city=&date2=05%2F12%2F1900&searchType=advanced&SearchType=prox5&sequence=0&lccn=&index=3&words=Jeffries&proxdistance=5&county=&to_year=1900&rows=20&ortext=&from_year=1900&proxtext=jeffries&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=range&page=1[/url]

The sun., May 12, 1900, Image 1 (right side)
[url]https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1900-05-12/ed-1/seq-1/[/url]

The sun., May 12, 1900, Page 2, Image 2
[url]https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1900-05-12/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=05%2F12%2F1900&index=2&date2=05%2F12%2F1900&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&words=Corbett+Jeffries&proxdistance=5&state=New+York&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=jeffries+corbett&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=range&page=1[/url]

The evening world., May 12, 1900, Page 1, Image 1
[url]http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn83030193/1900-05-12/ed-1/seq-1/#date1=05%2F12%2F1900&city=&date2=05%2F12%2F1900&searchType=advanced&SearchType=prox5&sequence=0&lccn=&index=16&words=Jeffrie+JEFFRIES&proxdistance=5&sort=relevance&to_year=1900&rows=20&ortext=&from_year=1900&proxtext=jeffries&county=&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=range&page=1[/url]

The evening world., May 12, 1900, Evening Edition, Page 6, Image 4
[url]http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn83030193/1900-05-12/ed-1/seq-4/#date1=05%2F12%2F1900&city=&date2=05%2F12%2F1900&searchType=advanced&SearchType=prox5&sequence=0&lccn=&index=8&words=Jeffrie+Jeffries+JEFFRIES&proxdistance=5&sort=relevance&to_year=1900&rows=20&ortext=&from_year=1900&proxtext=jeffries&county=&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=range&page=1[/url]

 

Here's another report, the OCR on this was good and needed minimal correction, so it was quick to get the text.

The Daily Standard Union (Brooklyn), May 12th 1900
CORBETT's GREAT FIGHT A BIG SURPRISE TO ALL
His Work Surpassed the Hopes of His Friends and the Expectations of the Public.
Qave One of the Most Marvelous Exhibitions of Science and Ring Generalship Ever Seen, But He Failed to Prove That He Is a Hard Hitter—Jeffries Fought Cautiously and Well—Crowd Was With the Former Champion—A Detailed Description of the Fight.
Corbett's failure to regain the championship at the Seaside Athletic Club last night occasioned no surprise, but the splendid showing he made was a revelation to both his friends and the general public. Few believed that the conqueror of Sullivan had a ghost of a show to win, and nearly every one thought-he would be doing' exceptionally well to stay fifteen rounds with the champion. Corbett never had Jeffries really in distress, and after the fifteenth round, when he could no longer land with effect, he adopted purely defensive tactics, such as keeping away until covered and then clinching to save himself from the heavy swings of his antagonist. The scientific battle put up by Corbett has never been equaled in this State before. He did as he said he would, "go around Jeffries like a cooper goes around a barrel," but the barrel wa s too :ugged a proposition for Mm to upset. The magnificent manner in which the erstwhile champion used his legs in avoiding rushes called forth applause in nearly every round. Ills flghtinr was simply marvelous, but he again showed that even when .he is in the best of form his blows lack that force which are necessary to win declslvely. Dozens of times Corbett reached Jeffries' face but beyond drawing a little blood, he did no damage. The champion had an advantage in weight of about thirty pounds. It was made plain, beyond question, that Corbett is the most popular fighter In the ring to-day. The ovation he received when he climbed through the ropes was twice that accorded Jeffries, and during the battle whenever Corbett did particularly well the crowd went wild. It wanted to see him win and when he got his quietus in the twenty-third round the victor did not receive his proper meed of applause. Jeffries has not suffered in public opinion by reason of the fact that he was twenty-three rounds in boxing his man. He boxed with great skill, and was not made a "******" of, as the expression gees, by his slippery antagonist. He was very quick considering his size, and he proved that-he is a fair master of the art of boxing. The suspicion is not general, yet in some quarters it Is believed that the fight wa s intended to go the limit. Those who cling to this opinion declare that the champion never let hiself loose, and that the knockout blow was entirely unexpected to him, as well as to Corbett. These same critics say that nearly all the hard swings Jeffries made were delivered with a slowness which enabled his opponent to either get out of the way of them or else block them effectively. They also assert that the boilermaker played for the body too much, and that the first hard blow he landed on the ex-champ'on's head ended the battle. Certainly, Jeffries did not use the vicious and swift blows which he ladled out to Sharkey. The few spectators who are Inclined to think that no knockout was Intended say the champion allowed many opportunities to pass when he should have thrown In wicked jabs, and that several times when he had his rival in distress he failed to take advantage of his condition. Jeffries fought with extreme caution throughout. The battle was an exceptionally clean one. Both men lived up to the rules to a satisfactory extent, so far as the spectators were concerned, and evidences of hard feeling between the two principals were laoking. The rules restrained Jeffries from leaning on Corbett In the clinches, and also from fighting when they were holding each other. It was further agreed that they should break clean. All these things favored Corbett.

Both men were trained to perfection. The champion has lost that blotchy appearance which made his friends shake their heads the night he went into the ring with Sharkey. Last night his skin was clear and clean and his eyes were bright. The trip to Hot Springs certainly relieved him of much that was not needed in his system. Corbett, also, was a revelation. He seemed to be rejuvenated, and was apparently bigger, stronger and better In every way than his New York friends expected to see him or had ever seen him. Jeffries is certainly a great fighter, even though last night's event was not of a nature to make apparent his full capabilities. Within a year-he has won the world's championship from a fighter accounted to be the greatest combination of aggressiveness, strength and cleverness of modern times. He has twice successively defended the emblem—once against the goliath of strength and a very glutton for punishment and now against the man whose generalship, cleverness, shlfthess and speed have for more than a decade been the wonder of his craft.

The crowd early demonstrated that it wanted Corbett to win. When he showed that he possessed most of his old time swiftness hs was greeted with cheers which rang continuously through the great amphitheatre. Jeffries thought to end It. He came out of his corner with a lionlike rush and an Intention to crush his opponent by that brute fores which hs knows he possesses. Corbett, however, would have It otherwise. He was in and out, dancing before his bulky foeman in a manner that must have blurred the latters eyes. Jeffries led, Corbett dodged, came back and shot in his left, touching the champion lightly between the eyes. Jeffries was astonished and perplexed. Corbett worked around the ring nimble as a cricket, showing his superiority in a manner that has seldom been equaled In any ring.

 

The Daily Standard Union (Brooklyn), May 12th 1900
THE FIGHT IN DETAIL
The opening round all belonged to Corbett. On points it was his ten to on, and yet no damage had been done to the aggressive youngster who was there to defend the championship.

Corbett opened the second round with a sharp left. Jeffries jumped In with a brace of wicked lefts, which drove Corbett to the ropes. There he steadied himself and got to a clinch. When they were in the centre Corbet sent in a left hook and got away without a return. Jeffries rushed him to the ropes and planted a left on the ribs. They clinched, and the referee went between them. Jeffries again rushed his man to the ropes and drove his left to the wind with killing force. They clinched, but broke at the order of the referee. Then Corbett surprised Jeffries and the crowd by feinting with hla left and landing his right heavily on the jaw, a performance which won a loud, cheer for him. After this Corbett devoted moat of his time to sprinting. Both men were cheered loudly at the sound of the gong.

Through the third and fourth rounds, Jeffries, followed Corbett around the ring, now and again forcing him to the ropes, but out of every snarl Corbett would spring like a ghost and bring up in the centre of the ring, smiling sarcastically at his astonished adversary.

Neither of them was doing damage, though both were in full earnest. When the champion succeeded In cornering his man, Corbett would rush into a clever clinch. Jeffries would endeavor to throw his great bulk upon him, but the veteran would give Jeffries enough ground to bring his adversary staggering after him. Then the referee would force them apart and step between them, Corbett would smilingly cast his glove In Jeffries' face in a way that brought a look of perplexity to the youngster's face and howls of delight from the spectators.

Thus it went on to the seventh round, Corbett refusing to slow down, as many expected him to do. In the seventh Jeffries rushed viciously from his corner and led his left, landing the first good blow that he accomplished, which struck Corbett on the jaw, but the latter shook it off, and just when those who were in Jeffries' corner thought that their man had the fight well In hand Corbett lunged in and played a three time tattoo upon Jeffries nose, bringing the first blood of the contest. The champion was In no serious distress; yet he was glad to hear the sound of the bell.

On and on they went, Corbett pursuing his pantherlike tactics, and as the rounds were reeled off It began to appear as though the championship would return to its old possessor. Up to the twentieth round there was no time when, if the contest had been ended and a demand made for a decision on points, that It could have been denied to Corbett. Still, the only question was whether Corbett could keep, away from the vicious lunges and swings v/hlch the youngster was sending after him until the limit was reached. As It resulted, It seems that the thing was Impossible.
From the fifteenth round on Jeffries had things-his own way, only he could not land effectively enough to stop his man. Corbett wa s growjng tired with every round and his offensive work grew lees and less until he was purely on the defensive. Still it looked as though he would go the limit. When the twentythird, and what proved to be the last, round opened Corbett dashed swiftly across the ring, and with a marvellous blow brought Jeffries' gloves down to guard his wind, and then corkscrewed his own left up to the champion's nose, which was made to bleed afresh. Jeffries was angered, and swung viciously right and left, which Corbett evaded by shaking his head from one side to another.

Jeffries was becoming Impatient and was inclined to rough It a bit, but heeded the admonishments of the referee. Just as the round was drawing to a close Jeffries rushed with great force upon his antagonist, led with his right and quickly whipped his left with a hook to the jaw. The blow sounded all over the building, and Corbett fell back with his head resting upon the lower rope of the three which make the arena. He was utterly helpless. It was not a question of quitting. No yellow streak had been developed. His marvelous defense had come to nothing, and that one blow had brought tb an end all of his aspirations. As the referee methodically counted off the sec onds those who were In Corbett's corner vainly besought him to get up, but their words sounded In ears that heard not.

When the final ten had been counted, Corbett was lifted to his corner and fell into his chair still dazed and senseless. Jeffries rushed acrois the ring and shook his hand, but Corbett knew nothing of It. It wa s fully five minutes before the vanquished pugilist came to himself.

The victor had both his eyes disfigured slightly, his lips cut and his never handsome nose jammed a bit further into his face, while the vanq

After leaving the clubhouse last night the winner announced his Intention of claiming the championship belt as his personal property, under the provisions made by the donor that It would be given to that pugilist who would successfully compete for It three times In one year.

 

Here's a bit on it, I'll see if I can find something more local though
The Topeka state journal., October 10, 1899, LAST EDITION, Page 2, Image 2
[url]https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82016014/1899-10-10/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=1899&index=14&rows=20&words=Roeber&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1899&proxtext=Roeber++++++++++++++&y=11&x=9&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1[/url]

 

This thread is most notable because it was started during the halcyon days when the Lion rest beside the Lamb.