Attached you will find an article sent to me by Mendoza that dispells the myth that Corbett was winning the first Jeffries fight in a shut out fashion that has become the legend ... he sent it to me a long time ago and I never saw it but I am glad that I did now ... great stuff and hats off to him ... http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archiv...751C1A9639C946197D6CF&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Like many fighters of this period our contemporary impresions of him are formed mainly by people who did not see him fight. Many boxing fans today think of him as a prehistoric version of Razor Ruddock whowore down his oponents by soaking up a beating. I have seen popular books that describe him as a big fighter who wore oponents down by absorbing their punches. When you get into the detail of it a diferent picture starts to emerge. Jeffries was cat quick for a man of 220 lbs and had reflexes like a rattlesnake. He had an incredible ability to judge distances and often made oponents miss by inches by pulling back from a punch. He also developed into a good technician later in his career and was verry methodical. He also did some interesting things like switching from orthodox stance to southpaw.
Like many fighters of this period our contemporary impresions of him are formed mainly by people who did not see him fight. Many boxing fans today think of him as a prehistoric version of Razor Ruddock whowore down his oponents by soaking up a beating. I have seen popular books that describe him as a big fighter who wore oponents down by absorbing their punches. When you get into the detail of it a diferent picture starts to emerge. Jeffries was cat quick for a man of 220 lbs and had reflexes like a rattlesnake. He had an incredible ability to judge distances and often made oponents miss by inches by pulling back from a punch. He also developed into a good technician later in his career and was verry methodical. He also did some interesting things like switching from orthodox stance to southpaw.
Again, Corbett was not a big hitter. Fitz was but he was still a 175 pound guy. I appreciate what Janitor is writing but that's a lot of skills mastered in 22 fights. Many greats had that many fights in a year. Maybe it's true but I don't know based on what ... if you read the Brooklyn Eagle's excellent archive, Jeffries got very mixed reviews ... Adam Pollack will be releasing his Jeffries book this year and I cannot wait. There is not more detailed researcher in the sport today as his excellent reference books on Sullivan, Corbett and Fitz prove.
Found this one which suggests that Corbett was winning rather easily. Perhaps it was in the eye of the beholder (or the sportswriter) how this fight unfolded. Scartissue 1900-05-11 : James J Corbett lost to James J Jeffries by KO in round 23 of 0 Location: Seaside A.C., Brooklyn, New York, USA "Corbett emerged from a year's retirement from the ring rejuvenated and fresh. He was as fast and clever as back in the days when people marveled at his skill. His footwork was wonderful and his defense perfect. He outboxed his man at both long and short range, and if he had the strength necessary he would have gained an early victory. A hundred times he ducked the punch that knocked him out. At times he made the massive Jim look like a beginner in the art of offense and defense with his hands. It was a clean knockout that came so quickly that it dazed the thousands of keen spectators, and left them in doubt as to just how the winning blow was delivered. It was avowed that it was a left hand jolt to the jaw but Jeffries himself and Referee Charley White, who stood at his side, say it was a right hand swing." -The Atlanta Constitution Weights Corbett - 185 Jeffries - 215
there is a contradiction in the news article about the knockout punch.in the first paragraph or so it states jeffries threw a right hand swing while in the round by round anylysis it states it was a left.can anybody confirm?
Brooklyn Daily Eagle - left hook to the chin NY Tribune - left swing to the jaw NY World - short clean left jolt to the point of the chin NY Sun - left-hand punch on the jaw
Guilalah did a round by round score based on the news paper. Its in the archives here. You should check it out. The bottom line is this. The internet is a great tool, but much like a computer, its only as good as the data entered. The thing I find intersting in this fight is, Jeffries made Corbett not once or twice, but a lot. Those who knew Corbett said this fight was his best ring effort. Corbett was a true master boxer with a 59-0-3 record ( re-searched by me ) comming into the Fitzsimmons fight. Granted many of those wins were 4 rounders or viewed as exhibition matches.
