Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-12
WAS FAST FIGHT
JEFFRIES RETAINS THE HEAVY
WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
OF THE WORLD.
C0RBETT SURPRISED SPORTS.
Lasted % Rounds Hitting Jeffries at
Will But Was Knocked
Out.

=
lin the fastest, ,prettiest and closest
heavyweight ring battle ever fought In
New York, James ]. Jeffries has reaf-
frmed his right to the championship. In
the arena Of the Seaside Sporting club
he decisively defeated Jim Corbett, once
champion of the world himself, after 70
rounds of scientific fighting.
1t was a 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. 1t was avowed that
1t was a left hand jolt to the jaw, but
Jeffries himself and Referee 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 cleverest of ring battles.
Jeffries 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 re-
lief as the most striking one of the bat
tie.
Corbett emerged from a years retire.
ment from the ring rejuvenated and
fresh. He was fast and clever as back
in the days when people marvelled at 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 necessary 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 be-
ginner in the art of offense and defense
with hands. His strategy 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.
Corbett went down to defeat that was
regretted by the vast majority of the men
who filled the hall. The money was
against him. but he had a wealth of SYM
pathy. 1t was probably his natural heri-
tage. as the short ender. but before the
battle was over he won more support by
his display of speed and skill. Jeffries
won by his strength, both that strength
that lies in the power of massive muscle
and that strength which is the essence of
vitality. He made the pace for most of
the distance and at the end was still
strong and effective. At first glance the
battle may seem to detract a trif1e from
his reputation, it showed that a fast man
could reach him and get away without a
return. If that fighter of the future hap
pens to be strong and rugged in addition
to being fast, he will take the honors of
the man who tonight left the ring exult-
ant in victory.
1t is improbable that there was ever a
more orderly affair under the Horton law.
There was order In the assembling and
handling of the great crowd and order in
the contest.
SIC NoIOeI IdO Sdteu lIc IcA-TOuIlu
money there was a strong change in the
sentiment toward him, and the men who
had their money on Jeffries to win began
to be somewhat dubious. Jeffries was
grim and resolute and kept at his man.
Here was youth and strength with a
fair measure of skill pitted against the
master of the sport. There were cries
that youth would win, but the partisans
of the man who possessed 1t had their
grave doubts. The pace was one that
would have told against any man not per-
fectly prepared. BY the 18th round JEFF
his reputation, began a series of desper-
ate PUSHES in which he mixed 1t f1ercely
with Corbett.
At the Goth round it looked as If Cor
bett would stay the limit, and popular
judgment awarded him a victory. He
had up to that time avoided any serious
punishment. His face was unmarked,
and the scratches on his shoulders and
arms were more he result of clinches
than blows. His defense was still per-
feet and he was smiling and confident.
He either side-stepped from Jeffries'
terrible rushes or ducked into clinches.
Jeffries was hammering away, however,
and was strong and game.
The end came with the suddenness of
a shock. The men had had two fierce
rallies. followed each time by long-range
sparring, and were in together again.
They were both fighting fast and hard.
Suddenly there was a report of a sharp
blow and Corbett dropped. 1t needed no
count to tell that Corbett's hopes Tor
the championship again were in vain.
The excited spectators Sprang to their
feet and for a moment there were roars
and calls. The confusion was but mo-
mentary, however, and in a silence that
was most remarkable the fallen fighter
was carried to his corner.
Some one called for cheers for Jeffries,
but the almost sullen crowd refused to
give them. Then, a moment later, when
a friend of Corbett put the question a
thousand re-echoed a kindly response.
1t was in the corner If the defeated
man, too, that the crowd gathered, and
there were more solicitous offers to aid
him than there were congratulations for
the man who had defeated him. It was
but natural, however, for Corbett had
made a showing that entitled him to that
consideration. His skill had made it the
best fight they had ever seen, and their
hopes had been with him from the mo-
ment the battle shaped itself.
FIGHT BY ROUNDS.
First "Reminiscences forces Jim, with
Corbett breaking ground and sprinting.
He forced Corbett to the ropes, landing a
right to the body. Corbett still shifting
and breaking ground and hooked a left
to the nose. He kept up his sprinting
and sent another left to J~effries' head,
Jeffries tried a left and right but Corbett
blocked cleverly and hooked another left
to the face. Corbett backed away and
tantalized his opponent by his clever
movements. Corbett hooks left to face.
Jeff then sent a right to the body and
Corbett countered with a left on the
head. This was Corbett's round on
points.
Round 2-Corbett was the quicker on
his feet and landed on jeff. Jeff sent
Corbett's head back with left on head.
but Corbett Strengthened quickly and