The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-15
STATEMENTS OF FIGHTERS
corbett Gives JeffrIes Credit Which. ]
His Due.

Corbett Gives JeffrIes Credit Which Ii
The opinions Of the various sporting
writers upon the contest are interesting.
w. w. Naughton, one Of the best known
of the western critics, says:
1.-The fight had a Jeffries' flavor thru
out. He was fast as his trainers claimed
Him to be, and Corbett was unable to
keep out of his way for any, length of
time.
- when Corbett found it useless to run
he began to duck into clnches and hold
on. Jeffries held his arms down and
fought while Corbett was holding on.
"Corbett displayed great cleverness In
duCking under Jeffries left swings for
the head. He also used his elbows eff
fectively three times in blocking the
champions body smashes. but when he
+. became tired. Jeffries sent in Furnishing
blows"
Lou M. EIouseman. the we'll known
sporting writer and fight manager says:
1.-The fight thruout was revelation in
regard to the Improvement of Jeffries in
speed and skill, and the first six rounds
We're a great disappointment to Corbett' 8
admirers. who looked to see him make
a much better showing. 1t was not until
I after the sixth that Corbett developed any
I skill in evading Jeffries' shes and get
ting inside to deliver an, effective blows.
Even In the last rounds Of the fight, when
he hit Jeffries repeatedly in the mouth,
I ne seemed to have no furnishing power.
Jeffries outclassed him completely In
Furnishing power, and even in the quick
ness OF the blows. Had the fight lasted
the limit the decision would have gone
to" Jeffries as he forced the pace right
from the start and had he not been
+ checked by Corbett's repeated clinching
ne would have fought uninterruptedly
turnout each round.
TN contrast with his work in the Ruth
lin and the Fitzsimmons fights Jeffries
put up a far cleverer fight and showed
that the claims for his superior speed
and stiffness were we'll founded j In
fact, Corbett, the acknowledged superior
OF heavyweights In the boxing art, did
not make so good a showing against
Jeffries as Fitzsimmons did He did not
draw any blood from the champion. nor
did he manifestly distress him with any
OF the blows that landed on the mouth
and nose.'
The statements Of the two fighters and
OF Referee Eddie Graney follow:
Jeffries-My fight tonight will demon
strate to the public that I am a better
man than l ever was, and gives the lie
TO the reports which have circulated in
some quarters that am physical wreck
thru drink and other dissipation. 1 must
say That Corbett put up a better fight
than I thought he would
Corbett-I did my best and lost. I
fought the best knew. Jeffries was too
Dig for, me and he Is the best man in the
world. IT the public is satisfied with NV
nshL am. am: glad to give Jeffries all
the credit that Is hts due. I have no
personal feeling in the matter I have
fought my last fight. ',~
Referee-Graney-It was certainly one
OF the greatest heavyweight battles I have
ever witnessed. Corbett fought differently
tnan ever before. From the start he
showed a genuine anxiety to mix it with
JeHrles His r1ght-hand body punches
We're really wonderful The majority Of
the spectators were not as fortunate as
myself In being able to see lust what
happened in the ring. I must say that I
was thoroly surprised at the wonderful
manner in which Corbett used his right
Tor the body. His long, hard training I'M
quest1onably affected his speed.
:: I nave witnessed most of his battles
put l never saw him take a. beating as
Wllllnsly as he did last night Never have
seen MIN so anxious to mix it,. In the
second round he received a terrible punch.
much the same sort of a blow as the one
Fltzsimmons landed on him at Carson. r
ala not think he would ever rise when he
went down from the effect of the blow.
Later IN the fight Jeffries f1oored him with
rlght to the head. In the sixth. sew
enth and eighth rounds and part of the
Alhtn Corbett showed to remarkable adj
vantage. He was clever, fast and 49,
gressive.