Some details off Jim Jeffries training for the second fight with Fitz

The San Fransisco Call, July 23 1902.

"Jeffries and Kennedy were at it hammer and tongs. Joe was pale but determined and he landed blows that would hurt any ordinary man. Jeff blocked many of the punches, but some landed. Jim would shake his head and bore in landing blows that made Kennedy wish he was resting. In the mix up Kennedy was turned completely around by a punch to the jaw. Joe came back to the attack and landed a right hand smash to Jeff's nose, drawing blood. Jeff laughed but it could be seen that he did not like it. Kennedy proved extremely clever. In fact he showed the better advantage than Jeffries. This, however, was due to the fact that Jeffries did not let out at full speed. If he had done so Joe probably would have jumped down the stairs to avoid punishment."

The article also stresses that Jim was keen to have his sparring partners "fight him". He boxed 8 rounds with Kennedy and then another 8 with his brother. Some work out. "The champion worked rapidly. When it was all over he was breathing easily."

Jeffries worked with weights before sparring and the crowd "marvelled at his great bulk. They watched his tremendous muscles brought into play every time he pulled the weight. He then worked the wrist machine...his forearms denoted tremendous strength.

Jeffries was out on the road the day before, and did his ten miles without turning a hair."

There is then a short interview with referee George Siler, who seemed to be favouring Fitz who had "held the champion too lightly...I feel certain Fitz will adopt different tactics...Fitz fought a poor fight, left himself wide open and was beaten...if he is anything like himself he will give Jeffries a hard battle."

 

Roadwork?! This mad ******* is boxing sixteen hard rounds in the last few days!!!

 

It's a nice story, but I don't believe it for a second. I'd need to see dual primary sources, not because you don't have credibility as a poster, at all, just because it's so ****ing crazy.

 

Five miles? In that sun? Even if it was a leisurely pace and an exceedingly fit man it would have a serious affect. You just struggle to get the water in. Dempsey looked as sharp as any fighter i've ever seen in Toledo.

 

This might interest given the topic off resting prior to a fight. This article is from the 8th, the day before the first Jeffries Fitzsimmons battle, and details his work from the seventh. The articles title is "Jeffries Lets Up In His Work" and was printed in The San Francisco Call:

"Jeffries did light work today on account of the heat. This morning he punched the bag for half an hour then left for the beach a quarter of a mile away to cool off. Jeffries and his trainers posed in front of the Kinetoscope machine. Two sets of photographs were taken before the party adjourned to the beach."

This picture is from around about this time, although the boys don't look dressed for the sun...

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Serious men at serious work.

"Jeffries was disposed to doing some light excersise, but his trainers advised him to lay off for the rest of the day and the Californian consented. Tonight he gave a boxing exhibition at the opera-house in connection with a comedy show. He was home and to bed by ten o'clock."


Note Jeffries is winding down his training two days before the fight and also that he is discouraged form working in the sun. Anyone letting Dempsey run 5 miles a few hours before he gets in with Willard should be shot in the throat.