Jim Corbett's professional record according to; Box Rec is 20 Fights . 11 Wins ,4 Losses, 3 Draws,2 NC's Cyber Zone has it. 25 Fights.16 Wins,4 Losses,2 Draws,2 NC's Wikipedia has it 35 Fights,24 Wins .4 Losses* * Wikipedia does not list any names or records . en.wikipedia.org › wiki › James_JJames J. Corbett - Wikipedia James John "Jim" Corbett was an American professional boxer and a World Heavyweight Champion, best known as the only man who ever defeated the great John L. Sullivan Despite a career spanning only 20 bouts, Corbett faced the best competition his era had to offer, squaring off with a total of nine fighters who would later be enshrined alongside him in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Corbett introduced a truly scientific approach to boxing, in which technique triumphed over brute force. He Losses: 4 Wins: 24 Total fights: 35 Wins by KO: 12 The following fights that either Box Rec .or CBZ or both include may have been exhibitions.Dominic McCaffrey, 8-oz. gloves. Officially a no decision bout, although the master of ceremonies awarded it to Corbett in the 4th round when McCaffrey had enough and the bout was prematurely terminated to save him from a knockout, which was not allowed there. Also, the bout was halted at various intervals rather than set rounds. 1st round: 2min 7s. 2nd round: 1min 20s. 3rd round: 2min 30s. 4th round: 1min 13s. The three "rests" between rounds occupied 5min 10s. San Francisco Call Box Rec. Dominick McCaffrey Brooklyn, NY W 4 -Reports vary - "EX 4" - "TK 4"; Technically, this was more of an exhibition bout; Short rounds and long rests were allowed; When McCaffrey retired in round 4, Corbett was declared the winner.CBZ One of Corbett's "wins" was over a member of the audience. No records or Ist names for McDonald, Dougherty. But are included here. Tales of Corbett having over 60 pro fights are just that tales ,and fairy tales at that.
sadly though Confirmed doesn't always equate to Complete Actual full fight records. BoxRec does however tell you that, simply because and especially in times past it is difficult to gather COMPLETE Records... I think you know this more than anyone McVey, when you cite Incomplete Records of Opponents, for a Fighter of Topic, to nullify such opponents, but are too often reminded by fellow posters, "you do know those Records are 'Incomplete' Mac?" anyway, it would be great to have COMPLETE Records for ALL Fighters, but sadly that is a near impossible ask.
I have included bouts that historians such as Adam Pollack .Bob Yalen and Sergei Yevuchenko have included and others that both either CBZ or Box Rec deem to have been pro contests, anymore that anybody can dig up will be included with my thanks. Several biographies on Corbett have been written,the most recent by Adam Pollack ,who is a diligent researcher,if he can add no more names to Corbett's resume,I think it likely there aren't more than one or two that have slipped the net? We are after all talking about a world heavyweight champion here,not some obscure trial horse.
I remember reading once that Jeffries only had 16 fights or something, which certainly can't be accurate, though I think that the context was that a World Title CAN be Won with relatively few fights, given the chance. what is Jeffries fight tally, I wonder. edit, just checked, 24 - James J. Jeffries - Wikipedia I'd say like Corbett, there 'may' indeed be a few more.
One thing I remember is he complained that having so few fights meant he never got to try out all the things he learnt. But does that just mean fifty instead of a hundred like most guys back then? No idea what his fight count is officially. One thing that muddies the water further, I think, is that at times exhibitions have been counted as pro fights by some and not by others as is the case with Joe Louis.
He told Tommy Loughran he only had "a handful of fights". Corbett was retired fromAugust1900 until August 1903.
It’s interesting that James J Corbett is treated like a dancing bear around here but in those few fights he had, he earned the awe of Gene Tunney who considered him a wonder. As I understand it he was 59-0-3 before Fitz If 4 rounders are included in his record.
I have his Auto and Myler's Bio and I'll do a bit more research but I know we won't find much new. An anomoly with Corbett is that while an amature, he boxed a lot of professionals, Burke, Dempsey, Cleary and a host more...but we'll see.
I also remember reading that and I believe it was involving Tunney and their conversation post their sparring ... I have no idea how many fights he had and what constitutes an official fight ... I remember,ber the3 old ring record books having him somewhere in the mid twenties or so but obviously researchers had made updates .. McVey may be right and maybe he made the statement regarding a convo w Loughran ..
I read an article written by Jim Jeffries once, in which he evaluated his opponents. He gave Corbett a good write up, but remarked upon the relatively small number of fights he had, implying that he could have been even better had he been more active. I don't take Jeffries opinion as being final in the matter, but he seems to have believed that Corbett's surviving record was a fairly complete one.
I think in some cases there is lack of clarity on which fights were exhibitions and which were officially sanctioned bouts. I believe This principle and the confusion which surrounds it applies to most of the 19th century fighters and their records. To complicate matters further there were areas where boxing was illegal. Therefore some bouts took place off the grid which may have led to spotty record keeping
Nope they were exhibitions. Produce names and records for 10%of those 62 fights and I might give them some credence until then they aren't pro fights. Name the" Dancing Bears" 3 best wins? That should give you some idea how good he was.imo
