The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-12

| In the fastest, prettiest and closest
heavyweight ring battle ever fought
in New York, James J. Jeffries has re-
affirmed his right to the championship.
In the arena of the Seaside Sporting
club tonight he decisively defeated Jim
Corbett, once champion of the world
himself. after twenty-five rounds of
scientific fighting.
| 1t was q clean knockout that came
so quickly that it dazed the thousands
of keen, alert intent spectators and
/ left them in doubt as to just how the
winning blow was delivered. It was
| avowed that it was a left hand jolt to
| the jaw, but Jeffries himself and Ref
cree Charley White, who stood at his
side, say it was a right hand swing.
| There is credit for the victor and
credit for the vanquished in this clev-
crest of ring battles. JeffTies must be
awarded the laurels of victory, yet his
opponent is entitled to all honor for
| his most wonderful fight That feature
of the contest STANDS out in relief as the
most striking one of the battle.
COrbett emerged from a years retire
ment from the ring rejuYenated and
fresh. He was fast and clever as back
his skill. His foOtwOrk was wonderful,
and his defense perfect. He outboxed
his man at both long and short range,
and if he had had the strength neces-
sary would have gained an easy victory.
A hundred times he ducked under left
swings that would have ended him just
as did the punch that knocked him out
At times he made the massive Jim look
like a beginner in the art of Offense
and defense with the hands. His STRAIT
egg was to jab and get away, and
when Jeffries stood over his quivering
form his face showed the marks of the
punishment that he had inflicted. Cor
bett went down to defeat that was re-
GREETED by the vast majority of the
men who filed the hall.
Sympathy With Corbett.
Tth money was against him, but he
had a wealth of sympathy. 1t was
probably his natural heritage as the
short ender, but before the battle end
ed he won more support by his display
of speed and skill Jeffries won with
his strength, both that xtrength that
lies in the power of massive muscle and
that strength which is the essence Of
vitality. He made the pace Cor most
Of the distance, and at the end was still
strong and effective.
At first glance the battle may seem
to detract a trifie from his reputation,
for it showed that a fast man could
reach him and get away without a re-
turn. If that fighter of the future hap
pens to be strong and rugged in addi-
ton to being fast he will take the hon
Ors of the man who tonight left the
ring exultant in victory.
It is improbable that there was ever
d more orderly affair under the Horton
law. There was order in the assemb-
ling and handling of the great crowd,
and order in the contest. The small
army of police present was taskless
and the contestants themselves neither
wrangled nor quarreled throughout the
evening.
The crowd came slowly. At 6 p. m.
scarcely 1900 persons had gathered at
the arena. It was late before there was
color or life in the crowd. There was
but little betting on the outcome of
the battle. In the small sums placed
JeffrieS was a clear faVOrite at odds of
2 to l. These odds veered at different
times, and different places during the
evening, but 5 to was probably the
highest, and to the lowest offered.
A favOrite bet was that COrbett would
last ten rounds, and the men who had
a true line on the former champions
edge. There was decidedly more JEFF
fries than Corbett money offered, but
there never was at any time any activ-
ity in the betting.
Both in Good Condition.
The reception of the men at the ring
side was warm, but not demonstrative
The men came almost together and
they and their seconds exchanged
handshakes. Jeffries looked brown,
rugged and strong. He smiled an oc-
casional recognition to a friend in the
crowd. but for the most part seemed
serious. He looked burly in his blue
sweater. Corbett was clean, white
and trim. He said he weighed more
than on the Gay memorable in pUgilism
when he defeated Sullivan, but ne did
not look it. He was in splendid con-
ditiOn.
The crowd showed its first enthus-
iasm over the announcement that
Charley White would referee the
fight. There was a roar of applause
when he entered the ring. There was
a brief wrangle over the bandageS on
COrbett's hands. but he was finally al
lowed to wear them. The gloves were
quickly slipped on, and in a moment
the gong changed out loud and clear.
As the men sprang forward the spec
tators were stilled to silence that was
broken only by the rattle and clatter
of the telegraph instruments.
In the preliminary sparring Corbett
showed to wonderful advantage. He
was Danther-like on his feet, and
darted in and out with confusing
speed. he whipped his left into JEFF
fries face and was either inside or
away from the punch Jeffries kept
going in, however, but he seemed
awkward. The pace made by the cham
pion was fast and there was a yell
of satisfaction from the admiring
spectators when the gong ended the
round.
Jeffries Made the Pace.
Jeffries kept on making the pace
when they were at it again, but Cor
bett slipped away from him. Jeffries
would try his left in a rush but Cor
bett was almost invariably away from
it. It was a superb exhibition and
there were thunders of applause that
at times broadened into cheers. Cor
bett vas outboxing his man and out
pointing him with his lefts to the face.
They were both fighting carefully for
while Corbett had the speed and
c3everness he found Jeffries hard to
get to. Jeffries fought in his crouch
ing attitude, which proved so hard to
solve to Fitzsimmons.
Jeffries quickly began to use his
strength and in the clinches threw a
little OF his strength upon his oDpon-
ent. CorEett showed surprising ability
against him, and Il was long. before the
strength of the champion began to
tell. When Corbett had saved the ten
round money there was a strong CON
dition IN the sentiment toward him,