Is James J. Jeffries the most underrated HW champ?

Some of us just don't rate color-line guys all that well. If he didn't want to be remembered for getting licked by Johnson six-years out then he probably should have given him a shot when they were both closer to prime. Realistically, he is always going to be the big-bad wolf in America's moral parable about race.

 

Would Jeffries be the ‘baddest’ wolf in this scenario from an ethical standpoint, compared to other colour line guys like Sullivan or Dempsey?

 

I think that is a matter of opinion. But he had the great fall to make a morality play out of his career, whereas Dempsey and Sullivan got away with it.

 

True, he is the poster boy for the colour line and racism in boxing, whether he likes it or not.

 

Johnson was nowhere near Jeffries' level in 1904.

 

No, now he isn't underrated. In his time of course he was considered the GOAT and frankly had only a few HW champs to be compared with. And two of them, Corbett and Fitzsimmons beat the crap put of him until they collapsed from their efforts. He was a product of his time more than any other HW IMO. He was savagely beaten on several occasions; his only defense was to outlast the other guy over 20 rounds. Forget about today, in the 20's he'd be out of his depth as title fights became 15 rounders. Hed lose to every HW champ beginning with Demp5.

 

Surely we would imagine he would adjust his plans for a shorter fight.

 

Then he should have fought him.

 

Don't call me Shirley.

 

it’s an accurate description of how Jeffries approached the vast majority of his fights. After all, it is much easier to impose your size on your vastly smaller opponents than to actually try and outbox them.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s how he approached all of his fights. In fact, when he actually wanted to, Jeffries could put on a solid boxing performance and defensive performance.

Here are some examples from prior to Jeffries-Fitzsimmons 1:

“The boilermaker has been practicing defensive tactics more than attack, and believes that he can keep Fitz off. The latter is expected to force the fight from the start. In such an event it is believed that Jeffries will stand away and try to jab his block off.”

New York Sun “

Jeffries is really a clever boxer and knows how to protect himself in a manner that will make Fitz wonder how to reach him with a damaging blow.”

National Police Gazette

“He feints savagely and with startling speed. His feet have improved until now he moves about like a shifty lightweight. His footwork resembles both Corbett’s and Ryan’s. He shifts about continually, is not obliged to set before he hits, and will never be caught flat footed.”

New York Journal

After-

“Jeffries was cautious to the end. There was but one period when he cut loose, but as soon as he found that Fitz was still dangerous he let up. He fought the Cornishman at long range almost entirely, and when the end came he did not rush in to close, but fired the left at Bobs head from a rather distant point”.

New York Sun

“Less than a year ago Jeffries appeared in New York a great awkward ungainly boy. Today he is a lithe active alert trained athlete. The men who prepared him for this fight worked wonders with him. Taught him a nearly perfect defence, instructed him in the methods of inflicting punishment. The transition has been little short of miraculous”.

Ashbury Park Dailey Press

I never saw a fellow get away so well from a punch or show so much speed on his feet. He was quick as a flash and his light footwork made me guess a great deal. I made desperate leads. I tried every ruse at my command to beat him but it was to no avail.”

Bob Fitzsimmons

I’ve seen people credit Tommy Ryan or Delaney with making Jeffries into a good technician, and it seems like they did a solid job early on, but honestly it seems like Bob Fitzsimmons had the most positive impact on Jeffries’ offensive arsenal once Fitz started training him, after their rematch in 1902.

Their rematch was brutal, and is still probably the most common fight used to detract from Jeffries’ abilities. Fitzsimmons boxed circles around Jeffries, forcing him to uncharacteristic pounce on the front foot which likely left him very wide open:

Fitz fought more on the defensive than he ever did in his life. He was light on his feet and faultless in his judgment of distance. He out boxed and out pointed Jeffries who seemed unable to escape his cutting blows. His crouching attitude did not save him from punishment and at times he abandoned it.”

San Francisco Examiner

“Jeffries took a terrible mauling and his face was beaten almost to a pulp. Fitz hit him often especially with the left. Bob would feint Jeff into a knot, then stab him with the left jab and dance away”

George Siller

“Jeffries forced a fast pace and when he got Fitzsimmons on the ropes he hit the body hard”.

San Francisco Examiner

“The champion took it all with bulldog courage and landed the harder more internally damaging blows particularly to the body. Fitz was the superior boxer, but Jeffries applied the determined pressure, looking to land knockout blows, until finally he landed that one fearful punch”

San Francisco Call

“I will either defeat Jeffries or make him into the greatest fighter the world has ever seen.”

Bob Fitzsimmons

Joe Gans had this to say about Jeffries:

“Some folks imagine it is Jim Jeffries’ bulk and huge strength that has enabled him to remain undefeated champion of the world,” continued Gans, “This is a most popular impression but it is a wrong one. Jeffries, in my estimation, is one of the most accurate punchers in the business.” NY Times, February 2, 1908

It’s worth mentioning that Gans didn’t even think Jeffries was a ‘fancy boxer’, and that the examples he used to showcase Jeffries accurate punches were in fights before he started training with Fitzsimmons. Since Jeffries credits Fitz with significantly improving his offense, this appraisal of a pretty green Jeffries is still impressive.

Jeffries’ first fight after training with Fitz was the Corbett rematch, and the improvements made to Jeffries were clear as day for all observers:

Jeffries showed wonderful improvement. He fought better and faster than he did when he fought Bob Fitzsimmons in this city. Jeffries showed grand science and great hitting power. I was not prepared to see Jeffries outbox Corbett. He lost none of his overpowering strength by taking on the newly acquired cleverness and every blow told.”

Ed Graney (referee).

“He is so big and strong that one must conclude that it is impossible to find a man who can take his measure. Before last nights encounter I thought that a clever strong man could beat him, but when he stepped into the ring and showed as much science as Corbett I was forced to take my hat off to him.”

Tommy Ryan

“His clumsy leads were absent; his awkward efforts to set himself after missing were a thing of the past. In the year since he beat Bob Fitzsimmons down and out he has added wonderful science to his enormous bulk and unbeatable strength. He could have acquired his knowledge in but one way-from Bob Fitzsimmons, with who he toured the country and boxed almost nightly.”

National Police Gazette

“Jeffries surprised me. I am certain that he was not that quick when he fought Fitzsimmons. His footwork has improved and his hitting is cleaner. He did not employ the crouch as he did in our previous contest. He is just as strong as he ever was, much cleverer, and in the ring tonight his speed was a revelation. It was my ill fortune to meet him at his best and I have paid the penalty.”

Jim Corbett

 

Look we know he was big and strong naturally, likely a terrific natural athlete type, took an exceptional punch but I have no idea if he was a George Chuvalo in 1898 or a Tommy Morrison with a terrific chin ... real speculation ..

 

Without due concession for age, inactivity and his own, specific dissipation during the interim, Jeff would be underrated if basing him absolute just on the Johnson fight.

There’s been a few ATGs advantaged by their greater size and durability - so I suppose we can’t take those advantages away from Jeff outright.

However, for some fighters, while their armoury might be “comprised” of the above attributes, for Jeff, they appeared to be the whole thing.

So, when moving Jeff into fighting opponents of similar or even greater size, strength, power and durability, I see him losing quite a bit of ground - since he (imo) didn’t have the necessary skills to keep him afloat otherwise.

 

Given the sports international and decentralized nature there wasn't a hard color line in boxing. After gaining the HW belt off Sharkey his first title defense was against a black fighter in Armstrong even if people today have retroactively decided to pretend Sharkey wasn't champion. Jeffries should not be considered a "color line guy".

Jeffries had first gained a title claim by beating an over the hill black champion who hadn't fought in 6 years. His career then ended the same way Jacksons had at the hands of Johnson. Did either fight prove anything? No but he fought both of them. Part of what makes Foreman doing what he did in the 90s so special is the people who failed to do the same along the way.

Jeffries was on the way out when Jack Johnson hit the scene. Johnson was far enough along to justify a title shot if one had been given but not at a point where it would otherwise be held against him. This wasn't a Dempsey v Willis situation.

None of this suggests Jeffries wasn't a racist human being btw. It doesn't suggest hes one of the best ever either.

 

Here is footage of Jim Jeffries vs. Tom Sharkey. Thank goodness for that clever person with the cigar box.

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