Jim Jeffries beat Fitz, Sharkey and Corbett in under 12 months

Corbett had some exhibitions against decent opposition during that time. :good

 

I reckon Jackson (reigning world coloured Champion), Armstrong and Griffin might have been the top 3 before Denver came along!

 

Unfortunately,Jeffries then waited 2 years before fighting Fitz again,and 3 before rematching Corbett,choosing instead ,to fight Fearsome Finnegan.
Fitz and Corbett gave Jefffries tough fights yet he was in no hurry to fight them again,and they were both well past their best.

THis takes the shine off his accomplishment somewhat,imo.

Louis had close fights with Godoy and Walcott and a scare against B Baer,
he rematched Walcott inside 6 months ,Baer inside7 months and Godoy inside 4 months.
Ali had close fights with Spinks, [ a defeat],and Norton, he rematched Spinks in 7 months and Norton inside 6 months.
Ali was past his best in those fights whereas his opponents were in their primes.


Calling Jeffries the prototype for these men needs a prodigious leap of faith, imo

 

Corbett hadnt won a fight in 4years, yet he was top3 in the world? It highlights boxing was a sport in its infancy

 

He was done for BEFORE he was kod'.

 

True about Corbett.

 

Yes, it's true that fighters can come off layoffs and appear to be in very decent form (Ray Leonard in 1987, Vitali Klitschko in 2008 ), and it appears that Corbett did so against Jeffries.
But I wouldn't be too much stock in stories or quotes. He was certainly coming in with no proven form, and it was a "comeback" appearance rather than justified by a current ranking based on activity and form.

 

Probably. I think Jackson and Griffin were better than Denver Martin for sure. Jeffries has a reported, but not confirmed early KO win over Martin.

The interesting thing about Fitz, Corbett and Sharkey is they represented a different style. Fitz was the puncher, Corbett the quick boxer, and Sharkey the aggressive swarmer. Jeffries beat all three styles in a year.

 

What style would you say Finnegan had ?

 

Finnegan was a great prone fighter for sure. The funny thing is after the gloves were selected for the fight, Jeffries warned the press it won't last long.

 

He sure wasn't lying.

 

1. Denver Ed Martin Knocked out Hank Griffin when both were at their best. I doubt you can rank Griffin over Martin on those grounds alone.

2. Peter Jackson was washed up. I highly doubt he would have been a competitive match for a tall, young, talented boxer like Denver Ed.


Martin seems to me a lot better than you give him credit for. I have read sources that described him as one of the best defensive fighters of the era coped with a phenominal left jab.

 

In November of 1903, Jeffries turned down a $20,000 plus expenses offer from the Colma athletic club to fight Sam McVey

Oakland Tribune, 1903, 8/18

"When there are no white men left to fight I will quit the business. It may be that I can defeat all the colored heavyweights in sight with ease but i am not going to try. I am determined to not take a chance on losing the championship to a negro."- James J Jeffries
__________________

 

Sure wish McVey-Jeffries would have happened.

Jeffries said at the start of his reign he wouldn't draw the color line; it's sad he didn't stick to that resolution.

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In the last year and a hald leading up to Jeffries-Sharkey 2, Sharkey had KO1'd Ruhlin, won by DQ over Corbett in a competitive fight, KO10's Kid McCoy, and a couple other victories. He could fairly be described as an outstanding challenger.