Why did Jeffries defend against John Finnegan in1900 ?

Although McVey won't admit it, the papers of the time report Jackson to be in shape. In fact they mention Jackson had regained his from. Jackson's conditioning was not a factor in the fight. Jeffries hurt and floored Jackson in round two, and finished him in round three.

While Jackson was past his best, a green Jeffries impressively blew him out.

 

I dont put much credence in the regaining form stories, he was as badly out of form as Jeffries against Johnson and probably worse. But as you say, Jeffries did what he had to do, and he could have done no more.

I do wonder how that Jackson might have gone against the Finnegan Jeffries fought. You never know for sure, but one thing is certain, Jackson would have been the betting favourite. Actually, you have to wonder whether or not there were any coloured fighters in the world at the time of the Jeffries fight that would have started betting favourites over Jackson. I think that plenty would have beaten Jackson, particularly after seeing his form, but i am not so sure many would have started favourite or been confident of victory. Jeffries himself said that it wasnt until round 1 started that he had any idea of how shot Jackson was. i think most people would be similar and this is why Jackson was still the coloured champ.

Incidentally, the Jeffries fight wasnt the last time Jackson fought. He went on an exhibition tour with Slavin after the Jeffries loss, and Slavin reports that he was not anywhere near top form (not that we really needed any proof).

 

I dont remember reading about the Jim Jeffords fight (He wasnt as bad as many think, although modest or average is probably a good description). I am not so sure why i never noticed those fights before on CBZ, are they a new entry? Anyway, I see that as well as the KO loss, Jackson also fought 2 Draws with the big 6' 4 200lb super heavyweight Jim Jeffords. :good

What do you know of the draw he fought with Billy ****** over 25 rounds?

 

I said big Superheavy, not good Super heavy!.

According to CBZ there are conflicting reports of draws and exhibitions.

At a guess i am going to say that all three were lively exhibitions fought in a similar manner to the Joe Louis Elmer ray exhibition that is floating around where Jeffords carrying Jackson a little and not pressing hard for the KO when he hurt him, but that is just a guess based on nothing really.

 

The claimed fight with Billy W a r r e n never happened, at that stage poor Peter couldn't go 25 seconds not to mind rounds.

 

I think you might like the description of Jackson which was given a couple years before the Jeffries fight.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/l...r&y=16&x=20&dateFilterType=yearRange&index=18

 

Back to the original topic, here is a blow by blow of the Finnegan fight. Finnegan landed the first blow!

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/l...egan&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&index=0

 

I dont see how this could be considered a title matchup. Jeffries didnt even train properly for the finnegan fight (note this article that says he was to start training a couple of weeks later. And he was trying to fight 3 fighters the night before!

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/l...egan&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&index=5