James Jeffries as an athlete.

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Mendoza, Nov 17, 2022.



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  1. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    I able to stand flat on the floor,
    then leap upward, kick a ceiling eight
    feet high with my toes— -and land on
    my feet. As a kid I watched acrobats
    doing tricks, I conied some of them—
    and originated others of my own. In
    the end, I had a dozen stunts in my
    of tricks, some of which even the
    lightest acrobats couldn't perform.
    Historians of pugilism insist



    Then Billy Delaney and a crowd *
    from my camp measured off 100 yards. I
    ran it in 10 3-5th seconds. They couldn't
    quite believe what had hapnened because
    I was weighing around 225 then — and
    that's a lot of bulk for a sprinter. So
    they remeasured, verified thn distance—
    and I ran the next 100, in 10 1-5. .
    'I can run pretty nearly nil day at
    that clip,' I grinned at the fellows.
    'Well,' said Delaney, 'here's where yon
    get your chance. You'll run 100 yards,
    walk back, 'to the starting, line, win. it
    againr— and repeat ten times. We'll
    see if you are kidding us.'
    That was the day. When I made the
    ten snrints in an average time of
    10 2/5 seconds

    >>> 10 2/5 seconds in the 100 yard dash and a high jump of a ceiling ( I'd image is at least seven feet high ) is better the both Olympic records in 1896. Wow Jeffries really was the best athlete of his day. You should see him jump rope on film for his 1901 training clips, which are not fully on you tube. Enjoy reading the link below.

    [url]https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/a...%20tour%201899[/url]
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2022
    Mendoza, Nov 17, 2022
    Mendoza, Nov 17, 2022
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  2. Sivaro

    Sivaro Member banned Full Member

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    He was a genetic outlier that not even modern athletes could keep up with.

    Jeffries is vastly underrated and at his best could stand toe to toe with anyone and win. His Stamina and chin along with his great wrestling ability's would wear down opponents until his chopping left hooks would fell them.

    The only way to beat him is to outpoint him under 15 rounds. Few indeed of the more famous Heavyweights would be capable of that, and I would favor none from 15+ rounds on to beat him.
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2022
    Sivaro, Nov 17, 2022
    Sivaro, Nov 17, 2022
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  3. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I read that before their fight Jeff lifted up Bob Fitzimmons like Bob was a rag doll.
     
    Stevie G, Nov 17, 2022
    Stevie G, Nov 17, 2022
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  4. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Jeffries was very good. A rough,tough and strong fighter but I would still have backed Jack Johnson to have beaten a prime version of Jeff. Would obviously have been a better fight though.
     
    Stevie G, Nov 17, 2022
    Stevie G, Nov 17, 2022
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  5. Sivaro

    Sivaro Member banned Full Member

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    I would take Jeffries prime for prime to outlast Johnson.

    Jeffries >Johnson
     
    Sivaro, Nov 17, 2022
    Sivaro, Nov 17, 2022
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  6. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    I pretty much agree. In his era I rate him #1 in his timeline. Over 25 rounds or even 20 rounds the conditions under which he fought non-air conditioned rooms or out doors heat are a near unearthly feat which I cannot fully understand. He was not out pointed in any of his matches, and under the 10 point must scoring system he's wins every fight by greater margin as floored every man save his lame comeback attempt out of the ring for six years. Only Corbett if you read the reviews closely ( and not a wire repot ) was even with him on the cards prior to being knocked out according to a good and detailed round by round report of the NY Times.

    If your projected him into modern times he's probably 230 pounds and given his athleticism would take to modern training techniques like a fish to water.

    His ring record is a mystery and he most certainly has more fights than listed. Like at least 10.
     
    Mendoza, Nov 17, 2022
    Mendoza, Nov 17, 2022
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  7. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Style wise I'd have to agree with you that Johnson would be very tough for Jefferies , it would depend on if Jefferies could impose his physicality and strength on Johnson in a long brutal affair of a fight. Jeffries could win but it'd be a fight that takes a lot out of a man even if he won.
     
    Reinhardt, Nov 17, 2022
    Reinhardt, Nov 17, 2022
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  8. Tockah

    Tockah Ingo's Bingo Full Member

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    Can you elaborate on this at any extent, thanks
     
    Tockah, Nov 17, 2022
    Tockah, Nov 17, 2022
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  9. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Posters will pick whom they like as they should.
    Just a couple of quibbles

    Jeffries never fought past 25rds the longer fights,[ with one exception,]Jeffries had were over much smaller and in most cases older men.
    Choynski was conceding 47 lbs when he held Jeffries to a draw over 20 rds.
    Corbett was conceding30 lbs when he went 23 rds and he had been retired for a year and a half. In their 2nd fight,Corbett was giving away 27lbs
    Ruhlin,[who drew with Jeffries in their 1 st fight ,] was the only class fighter he fought before Johnson who was near his size ,he was still giving him12 lbs.
    Fitz gave him39lbs in their first fight and was 12 years his senior.
    For their second fight Fitz was conceding 47 lbs.
    Sharkey gave him 25lbs in their 1st fight ,and 27 lbs in their second.Sharkey was five feet eight.
    Jeffries was a very durable, strong man there is no doubt of that, but his durability and his strength was only demonstrated against smaller older men.
    The second Ruhlin fight ended between the 5th and 6th rds so neither quality was on show.
    Jeffries 3 times went 20 rds,23 rds once,and 25 rounds once
    So where is his stamina proven as superior?
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2022
    mcvey, Nov 17, 2022
    mcvey, Nov 17, 2022
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  10. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    It's as if we went over all this a decade ago. He'd be competitive with high school girls today.
     
    Seamus, Nov 17, 2022
    Seamus, Nov 17, 2022
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  11. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    We did go over it a decade ago.lol
    Anyone who wants to believe Jeffries and his manager about his athletic achievements is welcome to do so.
     
    mcvey, Nov 17, 2022
    mcvey, Nov 17, 2022
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  12. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Why , when did Jeffries prove he had superior stamina to Johnson?
     
    mcvey, Nov 17, 2022
    mcvey, Nov 17, 2022
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  13. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Leaving out the reply that Jeffries did not demonstrate his stamina vs. young men ( False Tom Sharkey and Ruhlin ) both of whom were young and could hit. I have noted that the guys between 180-190 lasted longer vs. him than the guys between 195 -215 did. Probably because they could move around the ring better and play keep away as say Choysnki and Corbett did.

    Generally speaking Jeffries power ended things early. But Jeffries wasn't a swing for the fences man like Rocky Marciano was, he was a paintent fighter as it is written.

    If your looking for fighter his size back his timeline, there were none at least any good ones. I rate him #1 in his era. His competition beaten is excellent
     
    Mendoza, Nov 17, 2022
    Mendoza, Nov 17, 2022
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  14. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    The whole gang is back!
     
    Seamus, Nov 17, 2022
    Seamus, Nov 17, 2022
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  15. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    No Jeffries, with his managers connivance to put a dent inFitz confidence staged a fake row about the meaning of a clean break,
    The managers of Fitz and Jeffries began arguing, Fitz was just standing watching the hoo hah Jeffries who had been coached to do so emerged from the adjoining room clad in only a loincloth," I'll show you a clean break",he shouted and violently pushed the unsuspecting,39lbs lighter Fitz backwards and over on his arse.

    Don't you think you might be capable of doing the same to a 39lbs lighter man who was not expecting it.
     
    mcvey, Nov 17, 2022
    mcvey, Nov 17, 2022
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