The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-13
C(RHTT N GREAT FORM
FORMER CHAMPION ELECTRIFTED
ALL WHO SAW HIM BATTLE
WITH JIM JEFFRIES
WOULD HAVE WON ON POINTS
Jeffries Demonstrated His Capacity
for Wfthstaniing Tremendous
Punfshment-Corb Again
Il Factor.

James j. Corbett would have won his
battle with Jim Jeftries at Coney Island
Friday night had the contest ne the linn
1t. He outpointed his burly opponent at
every turn. and had him bleeding and al
at sea up to the very second of the fatal
blow that ended the chances Of the FIR
n1er champion to regain his lost IaureIs.
And no one knew just how it happened.
1t won the battle for Jeffries, and sIVe1
him from loss of his title, and that was
all he needed. But Jeffrfes lost in pres
tfge as boxer. 1t was shown conclu-
sively that he is nothing more than a tow
er of strength physical marvel WHO is
blessed with the strength of an OK ard
the heart Of an eagle. NJ man with less
stamina and pluck could have withstood
the hail of blows that fell upon JEFF! les
from Corbett's gloved hands in the TWEEN
ty-three rounds that they battled. JEFF
fries is wonder-not as boxer, bat as
a man capable of taking punishment.
CORBETT's SPEED.
Corbett was like Richard-hims- If once
more. His condition was supe. b. His
footwOrk puzzled Jeffries. and cha m d
the expert judges who sat and watched
it. His defense was perfect. ard his at
tack effective. At the conclusion Of the
battle Jeffries' face showed what CCrbett
who had been mixed up in a powder ex-
plosion. He was jabbed into defeat bu5
for his good fortune in landing a knock
out blow The crowd cheered CCrbett and
forgot the understanding that is IRE
in a boxing match, where the victor Is
usually shOwered with attentions, while
the battered loser is left to shift for him
self By his splendid showing Corbett
stepped back into the ranks of the elect
Ch
pionship hOnors. AS Charley White the
referee remarked; "Corbett NV has
more than a look-in with the best Of the
big ones in the game
At times during the great battle the
champion was made to look like a begin
ner by Corbett's splendid work. The FIR
mer champion did not shirk. He did not
attempt to stay the limit He was evil
IDENTIFY in the fight to win or lose on his
merits. He fought as he never fought
before. Had he made 2 similar bat lie
against Sullivan at New Orleans, it would
not have lasted twenty-one rounds, as it
did. Then COrbett was cautious He
knew the mighty blow that the good right
arm of the Big Fellow could deliver, and
he fought shy of it He won then, and
he lost last Friday night. Might it not
have been different had Corbett acted
more on the defensive in his battle with
Jeffries? Perhaps yes. Perhaps no. AT
any rate, he was defeated. but the defeat
was not humiliating. Far from it. The
fight the former champion put up won
for him the admiration OF all who saw
it. He is at least back in the esteem Of
the followers of the ring, if not again in
possession of the championship. Never
before have 1 ranked Corbett as great a
fighter as he proved himself to be i'll his
battle with Jeffrles Friday night. AMI
there are others who have enterta'ne
like opinions who. when they read the de-
tailed account of the greatest heavy
weight battle ever contested at Ccney
Island, will, if fair accord all praise to
Corbett as being still wonder of the
ring, and in the lists for further honors
should ne seek them.