GREGGAINS "TALLIED" SHARKEY FAIRLY OUT Referee Alec Greggains was busy yesterday explaining why he decided as he did and receiving the congratulations of many hundred friends who admired his manly stand. He stated that he had warned the men before they went into the ring that there must be a decision, as the agreement called for one, and they both replied that that was just what they wanted. He also told them that if one man did all the work for fifteen rounds and in the last five the other was to make a fast finish the man who held back would have to make a big showing to get the decision. This was also agreed to. "I gave a decision in favor of Jeffries, because I thought him justly entitled to it. The fact that there was many thousands bet in the poolrooms on Sharkey did not affect me In the least. Henry Quigg, my brother-in-law, and my sister had money on Sharkey, as also did my best friends, but this did not deter me. I kept tab during the progress of the fight, and when, at the end of the twentieth round, I summed up, I could not decide otherwise." Mr. Greggains then produced the score card that he used during the Interesting argument, and explained his reasons for giving Jeffries a decision. "In the first found." he said, "both men fought evenly, and I wrote the word 'even' under both names. Jeffries had the best of it in the second, third and fourth. In the fifth I wrote 'even Jeffries a little," meaning that Jeffries had a shade the best of the round. The sixth went to Jeffries and the seventh was an even break. I made it a point to give Sharkey the best of it at times, and in the eighth I wrote Sharkey. Jeffries took the ninth, while the tenth round was about even. The eleventh and twelfth went to Jeffries. The thirteenth was marked 'even Jeffries," meaning that he had a little the best of It. Jeffries did the most work In the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth rounds, while in the seventeenth Sharkey Improved and I marked It 'even.' In the eighteenth and nineteenth rounds I thought Jeffries did the most work and placed his name opposite those numbers. "I did not mark the twentieth round, as I always tallied during the minute's rest. With the score before me and from my knowledge of the game, I thought there was only one man in the fight and his name was Jeffries. In my opinion Jeffries could have put Sharkey out had his hands been in good condition. He had him groggy two or three times and should have followed him up."
There is a quality round by round report report in the Brooklyn Union. Jeffries scored a knock down, and was close to putting the game salior out.
Jeffries 6'2 220lb sharkey 5'8 180lb, sharkey gave him a dead even fight and jeffries was unable to stop him. doesnt fare well for jeff against the more talented swarmers marciano and dempsey.
MY VIEW OF THE BIG FIGHT BY JOE CORBETT. Tom Sharkey and Jim Jeffries engaged according to schedule in a twenty-round boxing match at Mechanics' Pavilion, and Jeffries, the "pride of California," was awarded the decision. The crowds began to congregate in front of the various entrances hours before the time set for the doors to be opened, little dreaming, as they merrily chatted as to the probable result of the light, that death under crashing lumber and falling humanity might he their fate. It is needless to say that if every one in that vast audience could have foretold what was in store for him, Sharkey and Jeffries would have settled their championship aspirations before 10,000 vacant seats. Such, however, is the uncertainty of life. Managers Groom and Gibbs, in anticipation of the big crowd, had made elaborate arrangements for their reception. Carpenters had been very busy for the two weeks building tiers of seats at an elevation, so that everybody, young and old, could have a good view of the great battle. The crowd, on entering the Pavilion, immediately settled in these elevated seats, but they were built in a hurry and not strongly enough to hold the immense mass of people, who occupied every inch of available space, and. consequently, came down with a dull crash, carrying everything before and upon them. To describe the scene as I saw it is beyond me, yet the picture of those people as they were hurled headlong to the floor one, and in some places twenty, on top of each other, amid an avalanche of chairs and broken lumber, will live for years and years to come. That no one was killed outright is the greatest of miracles, and many a day will come and go ere people will again allow themselves to he caught like a rat in a trap. The fight itself was a big disappointment to many on account of its lasting the twenty rounds, yet was as good a tight as has been witnessed in California for some time, barring the Walcott-Lavigne contest. Both men fought very carefully during the early stages of the fight, apparently afraid to try the prowess of each other, Jeffries, however, landing body punches at intervals which hurt and finally won for him the decision. He forced the fighting from start to finish, following Sharkey from one side of the ring to the other, but was unable to land a knockout punch, owing to Sharkey's quickness and cleverness. He, however, kept trying, mixing it up whenever Sharkey was so disposed, his body punches having a terrible effect, especially in the last few rounds, when he devoted most of his time to that part of Sharkey's anatomy. Jeffries' judgment of distance was very poor, as was Sharkey's, punch after punch cutting the air, but as Jeffries forced the fighting, landed oftener and did more damage, he deserved the decision, which was a just one. Sharkey, on the other hand, considering the odds against him, fought a good fight, and a clean one considering his past performances. True, he could not hustle Jeffries around as he has many others, yet he seemed intent on making a fair fight, forgetting himself very seldom, and then doing no damage. He was almost continually on the defensive, his rapid footwork and clever ducking saving him from many a hard punch. He tried hard and often to land a damaging punch, but Jeffries was too big and long. He made a game fight, however, yet should not complain, as Jeffries outpunched him, having him on ***** street three or four different times. Both men have much to learn in the way of science before they will be able to cope with such men as Corbett and Fitzsimmons.
Interesting to hear Corbett refer to Jeffries lack of science , and having much to learn . There are some on this forum constantly trumpeting his defensive qualities and evasive ability
On his 8th-10th recorded fight, do you think Jack Johnson's defense was as good as it woudl get McVey? Of coruse not. Jeffries defense improved after his first fight with Sharkey in 1898. By 1898 Corbett and Fitz was prime veterans. This Authror Joe Corbett ( Not Jim the fighter ) might think Fitz would have beaten this version of Jeffries, but I tend to doubt it. Maybe Jim Corbett could have decsioned a green Jeffries.
Joe Corbett was Jim's younger brother. He mostly covered baseball in San Francisco Call (the source of above articles), but sometimes wrote on boxing as well, he often sparred exhibitions with his brother.
The subject is Jeffries ,not Johnson.I am aware it is Joe Corbett not Jim ,I can read. Since it was Jeffries 10th fight ,and he only had 21 I would think he was as near the finished article as he would get.After a 10 rounder with Bob Armstrong he would be fightiing for the title against Fitz ,so his manager evidently thought so too.
Jeffries defense improved over the years. He was not seasoned fighter after the first Sharkey fight. In fact papers say his perfomance vs Fitzsimmons showed marked improvement. So your conclusion here is conclusion that Jeffires was " nearly a finished article " is wrong. I have full reviews of both the Fitz and Corbett fight, and Jeffries agility, and defense can be eaisly read there. In fact the papers say Jeffries improved a lot from 1898. Keep in mind though Jeffries only had 21 recorded fights, he had something like 300 exhibitions, many of which as champion, and scored dozens of knockouts vs names history has forgotten. Jeffries used to go on tour and offer $500 to local fighters if they lasted 4 rounds with him.
Your not telling me anything I dont know M .It's just that you put a different interpretation on it Jeffries gave exhibitions in Newcastle Uk,its common knowledge.Newspapers can say what you want them to say ,often depending on which party got to the writer first.Jeffries first fight with Sharkey was his 10th ,he had 11 more ,so I think my conclusion is justified.Fitz and Corbett who had both been inactive and were aging ,made Jeffries look a plodding sparring partner,he beat them by wearing them down,taking severe punishment along the way .Jeffries stock in trade was his strength and durability NOT his defensive techique,he had his nose broken 3 times ,his eyebrows laid open in several fights and on two occasions his face was described as a mask of blood.THAT IS NOT A DEFENSIVE MASTER AT WORK.Jim was tough ,maybe the toughest man to hold the title,he was strong ,maybe the strongest,he could hit hard ,and he could take it till the cows come home,WHAT HE WASNT IS A TECHNICALLY ADEPT BOXER.
Here is the improvement from 1898 to 1899: (Los Angeles Daily Times, Sat., June 10, 1899) CONEY ISLAND SPORTING CLUB (N.Y.), June 9 -- (Exclusive Dispatch) Big Jim Jeffries of Los Angeles is the champion pugilist of the world. At the Coney Island Athletic Club tonight he defeated Robert Fitzsimmons in a fast and vicious contest that went eleven rounds. He fought with the coolness and precision of a veteran, and at no time was he in danger of meeting with defeat. It was a fair and square contest, marked by a brilliant display of science on both sides, and was fairly and squarely won. The young Californian showed himself a master at every point in the game, and won as he pleased after he had taken the measure of his opponent. This content is protected . He came to the ring in superb condition, and the first round that he fought had no apparent effect upon him. As he stood over the prostrate form of his bleeding and unconscious opponent he looked fit to go on for another hour. He was punished throughout the fight, for no man who never before met reverse, without being hit hard and often; but he stood up to it with a lion-like courage, and never faltered. He showed an entirely different method of boxing. He crouched very low, with his left arm extended, and Fitzsimmons seemed lost as to the best method of finding him. This content is protected It was a great battle, and the young victor will probably remain the champion for years to come. He has size, weight and speed, and the comparative ease with which he defeated Fitz, whom they all feared, will give him wonderful confidence. Jeffries won a fortune by his wonderful victory, and furnished one of the greatest upsets in the history of pugilistic betting. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were placed on him at the ruling odds of 2 to 1. Fitz was regarded as a sure winner, and was liberally backed. It was admitted that he was at a disadvantage, as far as youth, weight and reach were concerned, but his backers relied upon his dly. Fitzsimmons tried all his tricks and devices, but was either blocked or countered harder than he led. After the seventh round the young Californian had things all his own way. The eighth round was all his. He sent the Australian staggering against the ropes with a left-hander and again landed his left. Fitz went to his corner dazed. Fitz came back fairly strong in the ninth round, only to be beaten back. It was all Jeffries' way, and there was consternation in the Fitzsimmons corner. The crowd saw the inevitable result, and there were hoarse yells for the Californian to go in. In the tenth round Fitz was beaten to a standstill, and it was only the call of time that saved him. He was down twice, and was done for when he staggered to his corner. The end came after a minute and a half of fighting in the eleventh round. It was left and right from Jeffries, and the Australian, who had always never known defeat, dropped down unconscious. His seconds frantically called to him, but their words fell upon deaf ears. Referee Siler and the timers called off the ominous count of ten, and there was a roar of applause that shook the building up. A new champion was heralded. Jeffries' seconds swarmed around and embraced him, and in an instant hundreds of spectators broke for the ring. The police stopped the advance, and while Jeffries slipped through the ropes and ran for his dressing-room, Fitzsimmons, still limp and unconscious, was carried to his corner. He was some time in reviving, and then did not know he was beaten or that he had been in a fight. >>>Amazing, you think a fighter is nearly a finished article by his 11th fight? No doubt Jeffries defense and skills improved a lot from 1898 to 1899. You can take it from me, or don't. Others who read or own news clippings will pretty much tell you the same thing
the article says fitz punished jeffries throughout the fight. a 165lb man punishing a "herculean" 6'2 220lb ATG heavyweight like that? foreman liston tyson 220lbers you think fitz would have punished these guys?