Sullivan, 1907, on himself vs. Jeffries

here is an interesting piece.

http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cd...-----en-Logical-20--1----1893+jeffries-all---


Have i read this correctly? Jeffries looks like he was knocked out by Corbett, in a sparring incident!

 

It was claimed by Corbett and his manager, but Jeffries always denied it.

Adam Pollack investigates the claim in some detail in his Jeffries biography and it is not clear whether it happened or not.

 

I read that Corbett dropped him in sparring, but have been unable to find the piece again, if true it doesnt really mean much , [it was sparring ] ,except that Jeffries is celebrated for his chin, much like Chuvalo.
I strongly doubt Corbett, kod even a green Jeffries.

 

http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cd...98--en-Logical-20--1----jeffries+fight-all---

This one mostly seems a marketing exercise, but it seems that Jeffries dropped Australian Billy Smith with the first shot he landed. And Jeffries by the sounds has obviously kod plenty of big men in the "amateurs" or whatever you want to call it.

 

This articles isnt too exciting or interesting, but i am pretty sure it refers to an exhibition (in 1897) between Jeffries and Greggins, which i havent seen listed before anywhere (although it may be that the scheduled fight didnt end up going ahead).

http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cd...---en-Logical-20--1----jeffries+carson-all---

 

This one is another interesting one. Nothing earthshattering, but there is some good talk about a likely Maher-Jeffries Matchup. It seems that this fight never materialised? But, what is interesting is that in most of the articles i read from this period, jeffries is constantly referred to as the Los Angeles champion (and in this one a "crackajack" heavyweight). Now firstly, how are you a *******jack Heavyweight with the prospect of matching a world class figher like Peter Maher, after just 2 fights? And secondly, how do you become the Los Angeles Champion ie who did he win the title off? Surely a place as big as Los Angeles would have such a title. I have not seen anyone from the period referred to by the same title, so it may not just be the throw away line, it could be.

http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cd...--en-Logical-20--21----jeffries+carson-all---

 

Here is an article i just found about the Corbett Jeffries sparring incident which happened in March of 1897 (when Corbett was getting ready for Fitz). It seems that if this report is correct, Corbett dropped Jeffries not once, but twice! I know sparring is only sparring and it was a young Jeffries anyway, but this is pretty impressive still by corbett.

http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cd...--en-Logical-20--61----jeffries+carson-all---

 

Well,it seems Corbett really did have him allmost out.
Given that he is allways harping on about Gunboat Smith putting Jack Johnson through the ropes, and claiming a tko on Smith's behalf, I wonder what Mendoza will make of this?

 

I have often thought that Corbett was a little under rated as a puncher.

He staggered Jeffries in their first fight, which is something that Fitz never managed to do.

 

I read what appears to be mixed quotes regarding Jeffries n Adam's book. I often read Jeffries was never seriously hurt but in accounts of battles v.s. Sharkey and Fitz newspaper accounts state hat Jeffries was rocked or hurt on multiple occassions ... it's a bit hard to track.

 

I never heard of this before. Corbett said you could not hurt Jeffries, not even with an ax. No mention of a sparring partner knockdown was ever mentioned by either man that I am aware of.

However a sparring match greatly differs from a formal exhibition match. Gunboat vs. Johnson was a scheduled 4 round match, with Johnson entering the ring as champion.

This affair if it is accurate is an spontaneous sparring type of match. There is a difference between the two circumstances. More research, and perhaps a 2nd source is needed. Sparring partners are paid to take blows.

 

Its not often in this life that you hear a man be so honest about another being his better.

 

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9904E3D91E30E132A25757C2A9629C946196D6CF

Here is an article by Corbett about why Jeffries is the greatest fighter ever. Hard to really pick too much fault in the logic to be honest, and he makes a good point, in that he has probably researched the old timers more than anyone else.

One thing i never knew before this article (or at least if i did i forgot it) is that Jeffries was actually a natural left hander. And it is interesting that Corbett is so confident in his posession of KO Power in both hands. I think he is correct on this account.

 

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C07E7D81530E233A25751C0A9609C946196D6CF

While we are on the topic of sparring and training stories, it seems that Corbett may have had Jeffries number on the handball courts as well! Corbett is an underated natural talent at all sports!

 

Great contribution. Thanks for this.