The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-12-17
coRsETT TELLS HOW HE LOST.
lin, Saws That He Was Whipped In
the Second Round.

While James j. Corbett himself ad-
,nits that his defeat at the fists of Jim
Iaffries at San Francisco was decisive
tho story of the exact manner in which
ba WAS put out of the race for the
heavyweight championship on his final
trial IS interesting enough to lovers
of the boxing game.
According to Corebtt's story, as re-
counted in his dressing room last
week to a coterie of ST. Louis sport
ing men, the blow which ended the
fight really came in the second round
instead of the tenth. Although he
collapsed in the aforementioned period
and added his name to the list of JEFF
fries victories for a second time, he
"toss-up" as to whether Jeffries or
himself would win.
I'VE held meeting at my training
camp just before the fight said Cor
bett to a reporter for the ST. Louis
Republic. and tried to map out plan
Of action This was attended by Tom
nv RYAN. myself, my brother Tom
Corbett and by Al Mackenzie, who is
now travelling with me. We discussed
/. every possible action of Jeffres in the
ring. and tried to arrange our plans
accordingly
Il had suggested that l follow the
hit-and-g getaway system l had found
50 handy in my previous battles. I
wanted to take my old style back to
the ring with me and see whatI could
do with it in one final effort. Both
RYAN and my trainer advised other
wise however, and we selected a style
that was really compromise between
NV regular method of fighting and
that of Tommy Ryan.
Ryan insisted that Jeffries had
enough speed to keep me moving
backwards all the time in the ring,
and that he had probably invented
some blows of his own to solve this
method. He also urged that Jeff had
served as my sparring partner and
had fought me once, and that l ought
to adopt some style that would be
different from the methods he eX-
pected.
Tom objected to any change. but
it was finally agreed that l ought to
adopt my style to Jeffries' increased
speed. SO We decided that, instead of
trying the former system of getting
away from all punches, that I was to
slip inside of every blow and try work
at close range.
Il also practiced hard in developing
my punch, and succeeded in so doing
, | honestly believed that 1 could swap
punches with Jeffries. but had no in
y tention of doing SO, on account of his
Immensely superior weight.
Our plan of campaign was for me
to 90 in and try and slip Jeffs
punches and swings, instead Of trying
to duck or jump away from them. l
was to try to tire him out by these
methods. and was then to go in and
see what I could do in the way of trad
ing punches. We all were agreed, and
The fight showed we were right, that
could tire Jeffries if I could only
stay long enough with him.
For the first round and onehalf
aged to slip every blow Jeff sent in,
and the accounts of the bout show
mat | had the better of the boxing
10 that time. I managed to slide out
u the way of Jeff's blows, and
thought that everything was going
nicely. For the opening half of the
second round. | had no trouble at ALL
Then Jeffries, suddenly switching
his style sent in a straight punch and
NOOK instead of his usual short and
'"oppy swings. l saw the change, but
II was too late. l went straight into
j" and the blow actually seemed to
'"'e my stomach in. never had such