Today in Sports
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
No Result
View All Result
Today in Sports
No Result
View All Result

Jeffries vs Corbett I — All It Takes Is One Punch

May 11, 2025
in Boxing
0
Home Boxing
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


You might also like

PTSD Or Poor Game Plan? Mosley’s Concerns About Haney After Ramirez Fight

Quotes and Fight Prediction for June 28

Yuko Kuroki Retains WBA Crown with Commanding Win Over Nanako Suzuki – World Boxing Association

The first Jeffries vs Corbett clash took place in Coney Island, New York over a century ago but the storylines highlighted by that historic battle are ones we have seen on countless occasions since. First, it presented the timeless match-up of the skillful, cerebral boxer in James J. Corbett against the rugged and ferocious brawler in the powerful James J. Jeffries. Second, the match also offered the dramatic story of a younger, stronger champion facing the challenge of an experienced, former great vying for one last chance at glory; in other words, the old king vs the new king.

Jeffries (left) and Corbett pose before the match.

And it was the old monarch in Corbett who most viewed as the underdog. “Gentleman Jim” was thought to be on his way out due to his age, prolonged periods of inactivity and recent defeats. In March of 1897 he had lost the heavyweight championship when he was knocked out by one of the fiercest punchers of all time, Bob Fitzimmons. He then suffered a controversial defeat in November of 1898 against the powerful Tom Sharkey in a bout some suspected had been fixed against the former champion.

Meanwhile, “The Boilermaker” had rightfully earned a reputation as a savage puncher who mercilessly pounded his opponents into defeat, regardless of pedigree. Having earned the heavyweight title via knockout in a grueling battle against the same Fitzimmons who had defeated Corbett, he feared no one while everyone feared him.

Corbett (right) en route to losing his title to Bob Fitzsimmons.
Corbett (right) en route to losing his title to Bob Fitzsimmons.

Corbett was regarded as a highly intelligent pugilist who had virtually reinvented boxing technique. He utilized footwork and lateral movement that had never been seen before and he didn’t shy away from clinching to frustrate an opponent’s attack. Most significantly, he constantly revised his own strategy based on what he learned from his opponent’s style during the fight. Jeffries’s plan, meanwhile, was simple enough: plod forward no matter how much punishment he absorbed–his large, heavy frame being well-equipped to handle it–and just keep punching. He knew that sooner or later he would land that one good shot that could turn any fight his way.

In the weeks leading up to the match, the public didn’t give the 34-year-old “Gentleman Jim” a snowball’s chance in hell, deeming Jeffries’s advantages in size, weight, power, and age to be more than enough to dispose of Corbett. In retrospect it is easy to accuse the audience of failing to remember that ‘styles make fights’, but at the time it was common knowledge that Corbett was not only going to lose, but lose badly.

one punch knockout Jeffries vs Corbett
Prime James J. Jeffries, aka “The Boilermaker.”

When the two champions finally stepped into the ring, Jeffries outweighed Corbett by at least 30 pounds, and most observers were curious about the outcome more out of a sense of morbidity than from interest in a good sporting contest. But the challenger astonished everyone by turning the tables on his younger, bigger adversary. In front of an awestruck audience of over eight thousand, the veteran Corbett put on a boxing clinic worthy of remembrance.

For 22 of the scheduled 25 rounds, he boxed circles around the younger champ. He danced, weaved, ducked and moved and made Jeffries look like a fish out of water. “The Boilermaker” chased after Corbett the way a poker player on his last stand chases after the river card, but he didn’t seem to even belong in the same ring as Corbett. No matter how hard he tried, Jeffries’s bombs kept hitting air, while he received constant punishment from Corbett’s precise and perfectly timed blows.

By round twenty, the Boilermaker’s corner had worked itself into a panic, warning the champ he needed a knockout to win. Jim was well ahead on the scorecards, and showed no sign of losing steam as the fight neared its end. But what could the champion do except keep pursuing “Gentleman Jim,” doggedly stalking Corbett in the hope of landing the one big shot that could turn things around?

Ring pioneer James J. Corbett

And land it he did. In round 23, he caught Corbett with a short, stiff right hand just as the challenger, having avoided a left hook, bounced off the ropes. The blow landed flush and the former champion sunk into unconsciousness before he had even hit the canvas. Jeffries had caught his river card, big time, at the same time giving boxing one of its truly legendary one-punch knockouts.

Thus Corbett’s gallant challenge was repelled, as were all challengers who vied for Jeffries’ title belt. Incredibly, Jeffries never lost his championship in the ring and would suffer only a single defeat in his boxing career, that in a comeback bout against the “Galveston Giant,” Jack Johnson, in another historic fight many years later. For his part, Corbett competed only twice more before finally retiring for good, one of those contests a rematch against Jeffries in 1903, which he also lost by knockout. But that night in Coney Island three years before saw Corbett give what many came to regard as, despite the outcome, perhaps the finest and noblest performance of “Gentleman Jim’s” entire career.

–Rafael Garcia

Become a patron at Patreon!



Source link

Tags: CorbettJeffriespunchTakes
Share30Tweet19

Recommended For You

PTSD Or Poor Game Plan? Mosley’s Concerns About Haney After Ramirez Fight

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 27, 2025
0
PTSD Or Poor Game Plan? Mosley’s Concerns About Haney After Ramirez Fight

Shane Mosley says he was disappointed and surprised by Devin Haney’s performance in his fight last May against Jose Ramirez at Times Square in New York City. He’d...

Read more

Quotes and Fight Prediction for June 28

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 27, 2025
0
Quotes and Fight Prediction for June 28

Jake Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) and Julio César Chávez Jr. (54-6-1, 34 KOs) will soon face each other in a 10-round cruiserweight clash.Their bout headlines a Golden Boy Promotions card...

Read more

Yuko Kuroki Retains WBA Crown with Commanding Win Over Nanako Suzuki – World Boxing Association

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 26, 2025
0
Yuko Kuroki Retains WBA Crown with Commanding Win Over Nanako Suzuki – World Boxing Association

Veteran southpaw Yuko Kuroki showed once again why she remains a force in women’s minimumweight boxing, turning in a masterclass to defeat fellow Japanese contender Nanako Suzuki by...

Read more

Manny Pacquiao Looks Great In Training – But Can He Upset Father Time?

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 26, 2025
0
Manny Pacquiao Looks Great In Training – But Can He Upset Father Time?

By: Sean Crose There’s no doubt about it – it’s good to see Manny Pacquiao back. Watching him run through the California hills is a pleasure – entourage...

Read more

A Great Win Marred By Controversy

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 26, 2025
0
A Great Win Marred By Controversy

In September of 1970, Scotland’s Ken Buchanan won the WBA version of the world lightweight championship by close fifteen round decision over Panamanian Ismael Laguna. He would defend...

Read more
Next Post
How Juventus could line up vs Udinese without suspended trio

How Juventus could line up vs Udinese without suspended trio

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

AS Roma vs Lazio preview, staff information, tickets & prediction

AS Roma vs Lazio preview, staff information, tickets & prediction

December 25, 2024
Kylian Mbappe’s Copa del Rey final bench role explained: Carlo Ancelotti reveals the truth behind the decision in Barcelona defeat

Kylian Mbappe’s Copa del Rey final bench role explained: Carlo Ancelotti reveals the truth behind the decision in Barcelona defeat

April 27, 2025
I Can Succeed on Clay

I Can Succeed on Clay

April 18, 2024

Browse by Category

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
Today in Sports

Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net. Soccer News, Basketball News, Baseball News, Golf News, Boxing News and More!

CATEGORIES

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis

Recent News

  • The three key areas the Western Force must nail to tame the Lions
  • One in, one out: Kylian Mbappe returns for 2025 FIFA Club World Cup – But Real Madrid hit with new injury blow
  • Saudi Pro League move next to unite with Cristiano Ronaldo? Vinicius gives six-word Real Madrid contract renewal hint
  • Contact us
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.