Corbett - Jackson Draw a myth ...

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by he grant, Feb 22, 2014.


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  1. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    I recently finished the excellent bio on William Muldoon and he gave some very interesting first hand accounts of the (in)famous Corbett - Jackson fight ..

    For starters, Jackson's pre-fight injury is usually played down but in fact it was quite severe and if Jackson were white he would have postponed the bout .. the leg was badly injured and as the rounds progresses it swelled and vled to such an extent that Muldoon, a hard as steel guy in his own right, was amazed Jackson kept going as long as he did .. Corbett was a very smart manipulator and made sure to run like hell for as long as possible and extend the bout, knowing his advantages .. Jackson had the better of it for the first twenty to twenty five rounds and then it became a snorfest .. Corbett would then never fight Peter again as champion but lived of the fact that he did fight him once .. revisionist storytelling .. Peter Jackson was screwed for sure ..
     
    he grant, Feb 22, 2014
    he grant, Feb 22, 2014
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  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I dunno, I mean Pollack doesn't have anything about the ankle swelling and bleeding, though he does stress that the injury interfered with his training.

    So before we start writing of multiple primary sources as "revisionist", what are the sources employed in the Muldoon book? Is it Muldoon telling the story to a single newspaper man 25 yrs after the fight? Is it the testimony of a one man told to a newspaper the next day? What are the circumstances?
     
    McGrain, Feb 22, 2014
    McGrain, Feb 22, 2014
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  3. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    He is basically giving his own story .. I agree that I did not read any significant coverage of the injury in the papers but I can also double check that as it is an interesting point ... I have read that he was injured from multiple sources and some seem to say it impacted him while others made no mention .. curious .. Muldoon seemed spot on on many of the other things he discussed .. a curious one ..
     
    he grant, Feb 22, 2014
    he grant, Feb 22, 2014
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  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I agree with you that it's interesting, but i'd hold off on writing off all the primaries Adam unearthed and shared as revisionist on that one account.
     
    McGrain, Feb 22, 2014
    McGrain, Feb 22, 2014
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  5. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I personaly think that Jackson was the best heavyweight between Sullivan and Jeffries.
     
    janitor, Feb 22, 2014
    janitor, Feb 22, 2014
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  6. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    He might have been the best through Louis, period ... Fitz knew him and sparred with him and thought he was exceptional ..
     
    he grant, Feb 22, 2014
    he grant, Feb 22, 2014
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  7. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Yeah, i don't think any of this is particularly outrageous, but would be all agree that Jackson didn't prove himself greater than Corbett, Dempsey etc.?

    What about his ranking higher on an ATG list than Fitzsimmons?
     
    McGrain, Feb 22, 2014
    McGrain, Feb 22, 2014
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  8. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    I really don't know as there is so little to go by .. forget footage .. so many of his bouts were overseas .. as far as Corbett goes by all accounts he was well ahead early .. Corbett seemed to have clearly fought a distance fight by design ..
     
    he grant, Feb 22, 2014
    he grant, Feb 22, 2014
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  9. Boilermaker

    Boilermaker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He has a better resume than Corbett doesnt he?

    The extend of his leg injury is unclear but he definitely at worst drew with Corbett.

    I have read also, and this part i am not sure if it is just plain mistakes by reporters and many people or not, but i have read that he was past prime for the Corbett fight. Does anyone else agree with this?

    I think that more people who fought/sparred the two ranked Jackson the better fighter. Not a bad effort considering that people of the time were supposedly so racist.

    Ironically, and as an interesting tidbit, despite the world famous Gentleman Jim nickname, most people who knew both of these guys considered Peter Jackson to be by far the better Gentleman of the two. Again, very ironic in the supposed racist times.
     
    Boilermaker, Feb 22, 2014
    Boilermaker, Feb 22, 2014
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  10. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    My hunch is that Jackson was better head to head, but that we might have to rank Fitz higher based on resume. His win over Corbett seals it.
     
    janitor, Feb 22, 2014
    janitor, Feb 22, 2014
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  11. mattdonnellon

    mattdonnellon Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Every fight is overseas, depending where you live?
     
    mattdonnellon, Feb 22, 2014
    mattdonnellon, Feb 22, 2014
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  12. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    My hunch is that Sullivan was the best and Goddard should have been second.
     
    Seamus, Feb 22, 2014
    Seamus, Feb 22, 2014
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  13. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I used to think so, I don't now. I'd sure be interested in hearing the case.
     
    McGrain, Feb 22, 2014
    McGrain, Feb 22, 2014
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  14. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Good point man .. very American of me ... point is taken :)
     
    he grant, Feb 22, 2014
    he grant, Feb 22, 2014
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  15. Cmoyle

    Cmoyle Active Member Full Member

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    That Muldoon book is a great read, isn't it Evan? Two others I really liked are 'Champions Off Guard' 1932 by William Inglis and 'Wise Guy. James J. Johnston: A Rhapsody in Fistics' 1933 by Marcus Griffin. Inglis writes about Sullivan, Corbett, Fitzsimmons, McCoy, Jeffries, Dempsey and Tunney and not only knew these men personally but sparred with a number of them so it's interesting to read his insights. It's been a while since I read that particular book now. I'll have to reread it again before long. Good stuff.
     
    Cmoyle, Feb 22, 2014
    Cmoyle, Feb 22, 2014
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