Can Sullivan,Corbett,Fitz,Jeffries,& Hart Truly Be Called "World" Champions?

McVey, is the following true or Hear say ?

In 1904, when Jeffries was in his prime, Jack Johnson met with him trying to pressure Big Jeff into a title shot. Jeff, knowing the politics of the time, drew the color line. But he told Johnson in dead seriousness, "There's a cellar in the place. 'Tell you what I'll do. I won't meet you in the ring because you got no name and we wouldn't draw flies. But I'll go downstairs with you and lock the door on the inside. The one who comes out with the key will be the champ." Johnson refused and walked out. That's the kind of rugged man Jeffries was though, a real fighter. A boxer, a wrestler, a street-fighter. He could do it all

 

From Buddy Baer's autobiography:

Our grandfather, Aschill Baer, was a French Jew from Alsace-Lorraine who migrated to America as a youth.

(His wife) Fanny bore him seven sons, one of whom was our father, Jacob Henry, and two daughters. The sons were named for the tribes of Israel, and all were given their early education in Jewish schools.

Despite this impressive recognition of his Jewish heritage, Aschill and Fanny did not insist on any of their children following the Jewish faith if they wished to do otherwise.

This paved the way for our parents (Dad married Dora Bales, of Scotch-Irish ancestry) to live independent of any particular faith, and to give Max and me and our sisters the freedom to decide on a religion when we wanted to, then, later or never.

We grew up respecting our Jewish connection, but were completely unconcerned about that religion or any other.

 

I don't remember him tiring against Sharkey. If anything IIRC he seemed to be coming back into it when it was stopped.

 

Many years since I read it but I remember it being a good read and well worth the purchase. Definitely had the feel of a personal recollection.

I wasn't that familiar with Buddy's career and bought it more for the Max content, of which there is obviously plenty. But Buddy has his own story to tell as well , growing up in the shadow of his famous older brother, Heavyweight contender himself, etc

 

Yes, that is true. Johnson asked for a fight, Jeffries offered it on the spot. Had Johnson fought and lost, he might have been able to use the press to lure Jeffries in for a real title shot.

Jeffries would have beaten Johnson, Marvin Hart beat Johsnon. Jeffries said if there was demand for it, he'd fight Hart next. Few wanted to pay for it.

 

You said he had no Jewish Blood in him. Stop already, he did.

 

Since Jeffries said Johnson would no draw files, maybe that and him losing and drawing too from 1899-1905 is a reason he didn't get a title shot. Had Johnson soundly defeated Hart, maybe there would be a larger purse for Jeffries to decide upon.

 

Which time ? In the first by pretty much all accounts he was hanging on for survival .. in the rematch it became a life and death type of brawl which clearly favored Sharkey when it was stopped .. that said w Sharkey who knows how much foul fighting contributed to it ..

 

I've always read the Baer Jewish blood claim was a huge stretch , more of a marketing ploy ... pretty much almost anyone can claim some strain of anything if they go back far enough ..