The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-05-12
JEFFRlES BEATS C0RBEYT
KNOCKOUT BLOW LANDED IN THE
 TWENTY-THIRD ROUND.
A Full Swinging Right on the Jaw Gentleman Jim Va;nly Attempts 10 Regain His Feet Before the Counting Out-The Fight One of the Fastest anu CIOsesf on Record,

Out-The Fight One of the Fastest and Closest on Record. a-
 Seaside Club, Coney Island, May H.
 In the fastest, prettiest and closest heavyweight ring battle ever fought 1n New York, James J. Jeffries has reaf- firmed his right to the champ1onsnlp'
 In the arena of the Seaside A. C. to- night he decisively defeated James J. Corbett, once champion of the world
 himself, after twenty-tWo rounds Of scl- entific fighting. It was a clean knock out that came so quick that 1t dazed the thousands of keen, alert, intent Specta-
 tors and left them in doubt as to Just
 how the winning blow was delivered
 It was avowed that it was left-hand
 jolt to the jaw, but Jeffries himself and
 Referee Charley White, who stood at
 his side, say 1t was a righthand swing
 There is credit for the victor and credit
 for the vanuuished 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 stands out in relief as the most striking one or
 the contest. Corbett emerged from
 years retirement from the ring, reJuve-
 mated and fresh. He was as fast and clever as back in the days when people
 marvelled at his skill.
 His foot work 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 claimed an early victory. A hun- dred times he ducked under left swings
 that would have ended him just as did the punch that finally did. At times he made the massive Jeffries look like
 beginner in the art of offense and de- fense with his hands. The strategy was
 to jab and get away, and when Jeffries stood over his quivering form his face showed marks of the unishment that he had inflicted. Corbet went down to defeat that was regretted by vast majority of the men who filled the hall. The money was against him, but he had a wealth of sympathy. It was proba- bly his natural heritage as the short ender, but after the battle had begun he won more support by his display Of speed and skill Jeffries won with 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 Ot the distance and at the end was still strong and effective. At first glance the battle may seem to detracts tfifie from his reputation, for it showed that fast man can reach him and get away with out a return.
 1t is improbable that there was ever a more orderly affair under the Horton law. There was but little betting on the outcome of the battle. There had been so much delay and interference in the earlier stages of the negotiations for the fight and so much doubt created by the form showing of the men that the betting was killed. In the small sums placed Jeffries was clear favor ite at odds of two to one, These odds veered at different times at different places during the evening, but live to two was probably the highest and five to three the lowest offered A faVorite bet offered was that Corbet would last ten rounds There was more Jeffries than Corbett money offered, but there never was at any time any activity In the betting.
 Despite the long delay that interven- cd between the arrival of the men and their entrance into the ring. the crowd was scarcely restless. It was made up of representative elements of the busi- ness. professional, theatrical and sport ing world. It was only when the battle itself began that hoarse yells came to tell of enthusiasm for favorite or hope as to money wagered. The reception of the men at the ring-side was warm, but not demonstrative. Jeffries looked rug ged. brown and strong.
 Corbett was clean looking. white and trim He said he weighed more than on the day when he defeated Sullivan, but he did not look it. He seemed to be in splendid condition. The crowd showed it's first enthusiasm over the an- nouncement 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 allowed to wear them. The gong soon changed and as the men sprang forward there was a silence, broken only by the chatter of the tele- graph instruments.
 In the preliminary sparring Corbett showed to wonderous advantage. He was panther-like on his feet and darted in and out with confusing speed. He whipped his left into Jeffries' face and was either inside or away from the punch. Jeffres kept going in, but he seemed awkward. The pace made by the champion was fast, and there was yell of satisfaction from the spectators when the round ended.
 Jeffries kept on making the pace when they were at it again, but Corbett slip ped away from him. Jeffres would try his left in a rush, but Corbett was al- most invariably away from it. There were murmurs of approval that at times broadened into cheers. Corbett was out boxing his man, and outpointing him with his left to the face. They were both fighting carefully, for while Corbett had the speed and cleverness he found Jeffriss hard to get to. Jeffries fought in his crouching attitude. He quickly began to use his strength, and in the his opponent Corbett showed surpris- ing ability against him, and it was long before the strength of the champion be- gan to tell When Corbett had saved the ten round money, there was a strong change in sentiment toward him. Jeff r;a e,,,ppnrters began tO ha 6u biOus |