Jack Johnson vs. Jeffries in 1905

Ketchel was actually in Johnson's camp if he was in anyone's, they were firm friends.When Stanley went to Jeffries camp, after spending time at Jack's camp, Jeffries had him slung out bodily by Farmer Burns, as he shouted at him , "you've been messing with that n****r, I don't want you here ".

 

What do you guys think of Gunboat Smith's contention that Jeffries had not even trained for the fight because it was supposed to take place in San Francisco and not be on the level? After it was moved to Reno, Johnson informed Jeffries (a day or two before the fight) that the best man would win, and apparently Jeffries didn't sleep another wink up to the fight... at least according to Gunboat.

 

Jeffries didn't look like he hadn't trained.

 

Most of you probably have read this, an excerpt from Wayne Rozen's 100th anniversary article from NYT...

"Jeffries, 35, was in no physical condition to fight Johnson, or any other professional, for that matter. He had ballooned to almost 300 pounds. Although he lost the weight in training and looked the part, his hand-eye coordination and reflexes had lost their sharpness. Jeffries tried to disguise these weaknesses by changing the schedule of sparring sessions to evade reporters. Instead of sparring with young boxers, Jeffries worked with old buddies. He soaked his hands and face in brine to toughen up the skin and refused showers because he thought they “robbed oil food from the skin.”

“It was plainly evident that he was suffering a terrible mental struggle,” said Joe Choynski, his trainer and a former heavyweight from the bare-knuckle era.

On June 15, when boxing opponents in Washington persuaded California to cancel the fight, Jeffries threw in the towel. He refused to fight in Reno, an obvious tactic to pull out. But the wily promoter Tex Rickard claimed impending bankruptcy should Jeffries make good on his threat. Jeffries eventually set up camp outside Reno, and persisted in a litany of complaints about the altitude, crowds, lack of privacy and pesky reporters.

The great bare-knuckler John L. Sullivan, writing for The New York Times, stopped by for an interview but was turned away nastily by James J. Corbett, and the incident made news. The middleweight champion Stanley Ketchel tried to see Jeffries but was thrown out of camp because he had picked Johnson to win. It was another story for the press and another annoyance for Jeffries. On the day before the fight, Johnson was doing roadwork with his crew when Jeffries motored by.

“Hallo there, Jeff.”

Jeffries grunted back. He was angry, frustrated and anxious.

“He let his trainers assist him in getting his muscles in shape,” Choynski said, “but he kept his own counsel, and the result was worry and the ultimate breakdown.”

For reporters, Jeffries mustered a few menacing words, saying, “I propose to give him the worst beating ever given any man in the ring.” In truth, he had already been defeated."

 

1903:

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1910:

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Think I saw another picture where he had a 6pack for the 1910 fight, Jeffries was pretty diesel for this one

 

Pictures don't really mean more than to prove he lost some weight. Accounts of those close to him reveal he didn't train much or at all... in so far as real combat training. By all accounts, he was in it for a paycheck, possibly thought he could work a fix, and was in serious mental disarray by the time of the fight.

 

You do know you are preaching heresy now don't you?

 

Oh my god, I'm facing a man nearly as big as me ! atsch
And he's under 40!

 

You don't lose 100lbs as Jeffries contends (probably allot less), show up in ripped condition, without training This is getting sillier and sillier

 

Jeffries shed 75lbs ,and had nearly 18 months to prepare for the fight. he was dieting months before he formally announced he would meet Johnson.

 

Funny that those who knew Jeffries at the time contended that this was a fact and put it in writing. Perhaps you were also there and want to include your reminiscences.

Seriously, its possible to lose the weight and not be in top fighting form.