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LIFE HISTORY OF JEFFRIES— HOW HE BECAME A PUGILISTNew York. Aug. J1 -James Jeffries Is without doubt one of the greatest fighters the world has ever rccn. tils title to the heavyweight championship was wor. on hlB merlu, and no fighter ever defended his crown so successfully against all . comers as the former boilermaker.Jeffries' rise to pugilistic fame was as .rupld no It was precise. He woo the championship In ft single effort, and ever since his victory over Fitzsimmons his laurels hove never been considered In danger.Although having engaged In several minor battles It won not until Jeffries Joined Jim Corbett’s training camp at ..Careon City, when ho was training for 2ob Fitzsimmons, that he came before tho public eye. Jeqrlea was considered a great trial horse for the former champion and he played his part well, taking all of the stiff wallops that Corbet could• Bend his way. Those who witnessed the dally bouts between Corbett and tho big, raw-boned giant could sec that the boilermaker had wonderful strength, and several good Judges predicted that If Jeffries could gain cleverness he would be a hard man to bent.At first Jeffries could not learn to be clever. He was so big and strong that• Corhett did rot hesitate In going the limit with him. He was a fighter, however, In the raw material, and It was whispered about the ccrap that all Jeffries required was a little coaching lo develop the many good qualities that he possessed.Jeffries evidently knew this. (oo. He knew that by paying attention to tho wonderful footwork nr.d cleverness of Ccrbett that he might some day become a great fighter himself. It w*i* during .bis workoute with Corbett that he conceived the Idea that ho could beat Corbett. Ho watched Corbett fight FUzslm-mors, and when the latter won ths cham-plonshlp by the solar plexus blow Jeffries remarked to some friends that he would . take It away from him some day. and he . did at tho first opportunity offered to him.Jeffries was bom In Carroll. Ohio. In 1575, and when ho won the championship '* fco was one of the youngest to ever hold• tho title. He la a tremendously big man, : weighing about 225 pounds when In condition. ar.d slanda fully six feet two Inches In hla stocking feet. Ha Is so well hullt in proportion that he carries his weight with apparent ease. and. In fact. Is much more active than id any rr.er. who are much lighter.Jeffries first important battle which j brought his prowess before the public was la July. 1597. when he and Gus Ruhlln fought a desperate battle of twenty; rounds that was declared a draw, although It Is tolleved by many that Jcf-1 fries had the better of the contest.His next opponent was Joe Choynskl, \ then regarded as one of the cleverest men In Krlscn. The bout went twenty rounds and was declared a draw. Jeffries was Just getting his hands In form. Each battle showed on improvement. In rapid succession he fought Joe Gooddard. Peter Jackson, Pete Everett, Torn Sharkey and Horn Armstrong.His performance no Impressed the public that when he challor.cged Flixslmmons ho was considered the logical candidate, and he was accommodated.While everyone considered Jeffries entitled to a match, there were few who really thought that ho had any chance to wrest the championship -from the Comtek-1 man. But Jeffrlea trained with ona Idea In his mind, and that was to win the championship, the one ambition of bis life. When ha faced Fitzsimmons at Coney Island In June. 1 S», the latter was a big favorite. Jeffrie* proved a surprise to Fitzsimmons, as well as the spectators. He fought the Camlfhrr.an to a standstill, knocking him out in the eleventh round. After that performance Jeffries was recognized as champion.Once the possessor of the title Jeffries, Instead of shirking a meeting with his rivals, began to look sround for the best men that would act as drawing card*. He was challenged by Sharkey, and a match was arranged for November of the same %ar. and In tho rnme arena In which Jeffries and Fitzsimmons fought. It was. one of the greatest battles In ring his- j tory. the pair fighting twenty-five rounds. I Jeffries gave the sailor an awful beating, and for his aggTeaslvo tactics received the decision on points.Jeffries took on Corbett next. It was the pupils agnlnst the master, but tho battle which took place at Coney Island, hrowed that tlmo had made a change, and Jeffries conquered his foremr employer offer twenty-three rounds of hard fighting.Ruhlln then thought he was entitled to a fight, owing to Ms early twenty-round draw, but he had little chance with the Improved Jeffries, being stopped In tho flflh round.With all of theso dangerous aspirants disposed of there wna no one for tho champion to meet, so he gave Corbelt and Flixslmmons return matches, both of which resulted tho same as tho first meeting, victories for Jeffries.
Newspaper Details
Des Moines Capital
Des Moines, Iowa, US
Thu, Sep 01, 1904
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
John H.
IL, USA 06 Mar 2017
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