The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-15
JEFFRIES HAS
EASY VICTORY
Champion Knocks Corbett Out in the
Tenth Round After a Fast
Battle.
Speed and Cleverness of the Boiler
maker Are Revelation to
the Experts.
Corbett's Poor Showing Indicates
That He Is Well Started on
Down Grade.

James j. Jenrles Is at last undisputed
champion Of the world. When he put Jim
Corbett down and out in the tenth round
of their fight at San Francisco last night,
he brushed from his path the only remain
Ing heavyweight who conceded even a
chance against him.
To say the least the result of last nights
fight was surprise Jeffries was tipped
to win by most Of the experts, but 1t was
not thought that the champion would
show such improvement in speed and
science, nor that he would actually out
point Corbett during the greater part of
the fight.
The ex-champion's showing was BIT
ter disappointment to his supporters.
The famous Knockout punch which Cor
bett claimed he had developed was not
there. His blows were 80 feeble that in
the eighth and ninth rounds Jeffries, APP
parently with the purpose Of trying out
his opponent, stood with his hands down
by his hips and allowed the older man to
jab him at will. jeff took everything
Corbett could give him In these two
rounds, and laughed at the ex-champlon's
vain effort to land g. telling punch.
| Not only did Corbett lack steam, but he
| showed only 1.-THE, Of his old speed and
cleverness. He was able to land fre-
quently on Jeffries, but he could not keep
the giant away from him, nor block his
| punches. Jeffries simply wore his man
down with steady punching, until he was
| able to put on the finishing touches in the
tenth. The champion maintained that he
would have finished Corbett earlier but
| for the fact that his glove broke In the
| fourth round. Half a minute OF the fifth
| was occupied in putting a new mitt on
| the champion, and this extra rest I'M
doubleday helped Corbett, who was in dis
| tress.
jeff Earned Decision.
The unanimous verdict Of the sporting
writer's and fight experts who saw the bat
| tie was that Jeffries must have received
the decision had the bout gone the limit.
1t was apparent early in the game, how
ever, that the older man could not stand
| long against the rain of blows. 1t was,
simply a case of a man who had reached
the down grade, pitted against a man In
the prime of his strength, and one who
probably would have been more than a
match for Corbett, even had the latter
I been at his best. 1t is hard to say just
how much Corbett had gone back, and
how much his poor showing was due to
Jeffries improvement The most dis
| couraging feature of Corbett's fighting,
/ however, was his apparent tirnidity. Haa
/ seemed unwilling to mix things with the
champion, and altho he let his opponent
| come to close quarters, he lacked the
courage to lead with his full power.
! Jefrries started out by forcing the fight.
He outclassed Corbett not only in punish
ling power, but In the quickness Of his
| blows. In the fifth round Corbett began
| to show signs of the severe punishment
he had received. Jeffr1es followed his
man around the ring, adopting his usual
| crouch, and landing repeatedly on the
wind, notwithstanding Corbett's clever
ness In blocking swings, and ducking to
escape right and left punches to the head.
In the fifth Corbett was too slow in
breaking from a clinch to escape a, terrific
| left hand jolt to the stomach. He went to
lI1.k.~.- -
pain. He managed to stall away from
further punishment in this round, but in
the sixth he went down again from a blow
on the mouth.
corbett Tries New Tactics.
In the eighth and ninth rounds, Corbett,
possibly at the suggestion of Tommy
Ryan, adopted new tactics, using his
shoulder to block Jeffries' rushes, and
getting in upperouts and punches to the
face in clinches. The eighth and ninth
were Corbett's best rounds but his jabs
had no effect on the champion, and tow
ard the close Of the ninth Jeffries caught
him with a. right and left just over the
belt. Corbett went to his corner groggy,
and in the tenth Jeffries started in to set
tie matters. He rushed the ex-champion
around the ring and finally landed left
hand punch in the stomach that brought
Corbett to his knees. Corbett's face was
drawn with pain, and It was evident that
he could not last long. He tried to clinch
but jeff threw him off and landed again.
sending Corbett to the floor Tommy
Ryan, seeing that he could not last.
jumped into the ring at the count of seven
and threw up the sponge. Corbett Law
helpless for several seconds, and then his
seconds lifted him into a chair and he
vornited from theseffects Of the blow He
| was helped to his feet, and Jeffries shook
hands with him and congratulated him on
his good showing.
FERRIES Alone In His Glass.
The fight demonstrated that Jeffrfes is
alone In his class. It is the first time
he has clearly shown superiority in speed
7 and cleverness over worthy foe In
his former contest with Corbett, and II,
! his fights with Fitz, Jeffries won simply
3 because of his endurance and hitting
4 power. Against Sharkey and Rubin; al
] tho neither Is in g. class with the other
. two mentioned with regard to cleyerness
the champion did not make showing
!. which testified to speed or stiffness.
7 Against Corbett last night he demon
strated that he at last has the cleverness
to make his vast physical strength ef-
: fective
There are now no heavyweights who
, have legitimate claim to fight with
= : the champion. A tinge of humor was
dooSu W ldSI ll4SuC proceedings ny CQdl-
! lenges to the winner from Jack Munroe
! and Jack Johnson. Neither has proved
r his right to fight for the title. George
v Gardner, the best Of the light heavy
d weights, would have to give Jeffries
: about fifty pounds. Sharkey and Rubin
: are dead ones and the champion has two
t victories to his credit over Fitzsfmmons
and Corbett. It is probable, therefore,
that there will be no more fights for the
championship for many moons. Should
any claimants arise Jeffries will un-
doubtedly give them chance, for he
has been more Industrious in defending
his title than any champion since S,llli-
van In the last four years he has had
six championship fights, two with Fitz-
!, simmons, two with Corbett, one with
: Sharkey and one with Rubin.
4 The attendance at last nights fight
was estimated at 10000 persons. The
receipts were $4,000 OF which the fight
: ers receive 70 per cent. Jeffries share Of
d the purse was Is per cent OF the 70 per
. cent, which would make his ''bit" some
n thing over $4,000. Corbett will receive
nearly $4,000 as the losers share. Few
larger purses have ever been offered. The