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

I don't think that it has escaped your notice that Corbett entered into negotiations with Peter Jackson at various stages. The inescapable implication of this, is that he was claiming that he would fight Jackson in some circumstances.

Fitzsimmons fought Black Pearl while he was himself the Middleweight champion, so we have to consider him to be at least luke warm on the color line.

Jeffries made his enthusiasm for the color line very clear.

Hart was not around long enough to truly gauge his willingness.

 

He deserved the match, but it didn't necessarily have to be against Sullivan.

Let's say that Sullivan and Corbett should have given him a title shot between them, and leave it at that.

 

Jackson's NC with Corbett adds fuel for both sides of that argument. Another tangent is that Goddard with two stoppages of Choynski and a hot draw with Jackson himself probably deserved consideration.

Going from memory, the title was in limbo for about 3 or 4 years with Sullivan retiring, getting injured, getting sick and unretiring. Then Corbett's inactivity and less than ambitious title defenses held the belt at bay for even longer. At that time Jackson should have gotten a sniff, especially after schooling Slavin.

 

Corbett should certainly have fought Jackson, in effect he didn't defend for five years, the Mitchell fight was a joke. Beating Choynski was just local credit was Corbett, the Kilrain win and the Jackson draw brought him to the fore. Slavin was probably see at least an equal threat at this time. Sullivan would not be expected to fight Jackson pre-1888, the win over Godfrey brought Jackson into the picture.

 

Jackson unequivocally deserved a title shot!

You could argue that Sullivan fought the guy who drew against Jackson (Corbett), and therefore answered the call, albeit belatedly.

Corbett obviously disgraced the title with his inactivity.

When he was finally ready to defended his title, the argument seems to have come down to whether he should fight Jackson or Fitzsimmons.

Some times it came down to the fact that there was a very strong black contender, and an equally/nearly as strong white contender.

Not that this made it any better for the black contender!

 

I think we are pretty much in agreement here. Jackson and Corbett (I think to a slightly lesser extent) were the obvious deserving contenders. Again, I would add Goddard for a short window. Slavin would have been considered, also, but Jackson took care of him. One wonders if Jackson would have been considered in any time after Corbett's title winning victory if he himself had remained more active. But for all intents and purposes Jackson retired at that point and the booze took over.

 

There I would have to disagree.

However bad a champion Corbett was, he did beat Sullivan to get the title, and he did draw against Peter Jackson to get the title shot.

It seems to be a very uncontroversial title claim, and a very uncontroversial title shot to me.