High quality, AI-corrected, color film clip of Corbett-Fitzsimmons (for real this time)

It looks more natural at 1.25 speed. Fitzsimmons punches had visible power behind them in better quality. After a KD, his straight left backed up Corbett quickly, who wanted to finish him.

I wish we had more complete version of the fight in such a quality. I also wish we had Fitzsimmons footage against different type of opponent. I'd like to see him against a swarmer like Sharkey for example.

 

It is very odd, no fighter we have film of ever fought that way.

I don't know you can defend the position that Fitzsimmons was clueless of how he fought. He fought in unnatural stance that wasn't common in his era. He certainly saw the reason to fight that way.

 

How would you explain that odd style Fitz used?

 

Fun to watch .. obviously wish theater was more of close to prime Fitz .. at times they both look a bit painful to watch but then you catch fascinating glimpses of true quality .. Fitz was almost universally recognized as the best of his age so there must have been a lot to him ...

 

Thanks, Great vision.

It seems to me that Fitz’s maintained lean back was more about defence, keeping well out of striking range until he was ready to strike himself. Perhaps more accent on the style v Corbett. You can certainly see some measure of it v a less refined Lang, just not so pronounced though Fitz was older so perhaps he couldn’t do the limbo so well anymore.

You gotta love the opening scene. no nonsense Fitz’ is like, are we done here yet? and just walks away. Corbett on the other hand is absolutely loving the camera, barely able to prise himself away and get on with the lesser duty of fighting. Also like the still of Big Jim Jeffries on the ring apron, approaching to retrieve his punctured and deflated boss.

 

Watching a bit of boxing history is always fun, Thank you for posting.

 

Looks like Corbett slaps alot with the left and is a sucker for a left jab.
Fitz's stance is really strange!

 

Yeah, don't like Corbett's slapping techniques at all.

About jab - it seems that Corbett took them once he hurt Fitzsimmons, as he tried to finish him. Then he started to get tired, didn't move as much and got outjabbed by Fitzsimmons as a result. In the early rounds, Corbett's constant movement worked well, Fitzsimmons struggled to land anything notable.

 

These poor fellas are getting cooked in the comment section, someone said it was like someone was mashing buttons on a boxing video game

Corbett's punch attempt at 0:19 might be one of the saddest things I've ever seen in a boxing match. Wtf was that

Cut to 0:23 and we have a solid right by Corbett (albeit, shot from his hip), seems like he was attempting a left hook that would've had some power behind it. That's pretty rare for Jim.

Bob stayed down for a pretty long time and he's back up at 0:40, and Corbett comes in like a tiger. Well, a tiger with severe down syndrome, but a tiger nonetheless. Corbett slaps a left hook and it seems like he was about to attempt a decent straight right at 0:42 but Bob's punched in that same sequence which messed Jim's form up. At 0:46 Corbett kind of slams his right hand against Fitz on the inside, but I'm not sure if I'd really call that a punch. His uppercut attempt at 0:48 was pretty solid.

Corbett again flings his left in a hook like form at 0:53, but Fitz counters him with a genuinely good parry-jab combo. Fitz feints smartly, but loses his balance (makes sense, as his brain is probably still rattled from the rear uppercut of doom). He then throws a good right hook at 0:56, but Corbett rolls with the punch and ties up. Jim then throws a good right cross and short uppercut on the inside at 0:59.

Fitzsimmons crudely feints at 1:06 before throwing a decent cross that Corbett easily rolls with, and then Corbett throws the rear uppercut of doom that closes the distance. While on the inside at 1:10, Corbett throws some very good right hands and a solid left hook. I've read someone say that they believe Corbett and Fitzsimmons look better on the inside, and they're right.

Corbett throws a stiff jab at 1:21 (or it could be interpreted as a lead left cross) that Fitz counters smartly, before throwing an atrocious combination that seemed like it was meant to close the distance more than anything at 1:24. After they separate, Fitz throws a short right cross at 1:31 followed by a good left hook attempt that was parried by Corbett, who smartly pivoted out of danger.

They dance around for a bit, even holding each other's hands at 1:38 (isn't that cute!). Fitz throws a solid short right to the body at 1:51, and then fakes to the body before throwing a great left hook at 1:56. That may have been the best part of the footage, Corbett's brain is definitely rattled from such a hook.

At 2:12, Fitzsimmons once again goes low before throwing a short hook\uppercut to the jaw. Corbett then counters with his own crappy variation of a hook (more like a pimp slap tbh), in an arm punch at 2:21. I do like Corbett's strong lead left to the body at 2:25, which seems like more of a fencer's lunge than a jab to the body. Fitzsimmons attempts a rugged left hook to the body at 2:30, but Corbett counters with a smart (albeit powerless) left hook to stop Fitz from pursuing him. Corbett then skillfully fakes high, before faking low at 2:33 while pursuing Fitzsimmons. His cross to the body at 2:39 is solid, as is his jab at 2:44 (which has much less pop in it than his other lead left to the body, it's much more of an actual jab)

Overall, I find Corbett's style and technique much uglier than Fitzsimmons'.

 

You are right, it looks much more real time activity.

It does still prove the fact though, that up until the more Stylish Athletic Fighters started to become the norm, by the mid 1920s onward, these turn of the Century Fighters were merely just Tough Strong Brawlers & Scrappers, sure some were better than others and some perhaps more a technical Boxer type, but generally a Crude Era that would have been left behind by most that followed.

and yes, the Film Footage is still not 100% Natural, but the Stylish Athleticism was not yet Boxing!

 

Nice booty shorts.