The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-12-29
WHEN DELANEY FIRST
met jim JEFFR|ES
Met the Champion in a Street
Fight as He Was Giving a.
Bully a. Good Licking.
Used Him Afterwards to Train
With Corbett- Story of
Hard Boxing with Corbett

Billy Delaney told me the story,
when he was in Duluth with Jim Cor
bett, Of how he first discovered big
Jim Jeffries. Delaney was on visit
to Los Angeles, and CHANGED to see
street fight in which jeff was thrash
ing a bully. Billy noticed how we'll
jeff did the job and was confident
that in Jeffries he had discovered a
world beaten. Delaney, after a talk
with Jeffries, obtained the latter's
consent to go on a boxing tour. JET
fries knew nothing about the art of
"hist1cuffs,' but he was an apt pupil
and soon, had picked up enough poin-
tiers to enable him to beat some of the
lesser lights in the obscure California
towns.
1t was when Corbett asked Delaney
to prepare him for his fight with Fitz-
simmons at Carson City that Delaney
saw chance to bring Jeffries in to
prominent notice. Corbett wanted a
hard course Of training and Jeffries
was promptly engaged. One day when
Corbett was feeling good he cut loose on
Jeffries and punched him good. The
latter only laughed. This made Jim
mad. "Dosen't it hurt?' asked Cor
bett. mot on your life," laughed the
big boilermaker. Honestly now, don't
my blows hurt you?' repeated the
great boxer. Il tell you noi' replied
Jeffries cody. "Then you big dub I'll
knock you out" exclaimed Corbett. At
this the champion rushed in pell NELL.
He piled into him with terrific blows
on the stomach over the heart and
kidneys until he was weary. but jeff
still refused to even wabble. When
Corbett let up the boiler maker still
more smile.
When the days. work was over De-
laney went to Jeff and said: Jeff,
those punches must have hurt you."
To which jeff replied: ION my honor
Bill, hardly felt them" "Why jeff"
said the trainer "He is punching you
as hard as he can, and he may hurt
you. The next time he asks if his
punches hurt say yes"
I'll do nothing Of the kind, retort-
ed the big Californian, 'let him keep
on trying to KNOCK me out and some
day I'll take a hand in the game my
Next day Corbett tried again to put
jeff out. The champion used all his
cleVerness and strength, but the boiler
maker was always on deck with the
same old smile. Finally Corbett white
with rage, yelled: Damn it, own up
them blows hurt now, don't they?" mo
they DON'T" persisted Jeff. Then Cor
bett sailed in again to whip the YOUTH
full pugilist. This time Jeff was work.
ed up and fought back like tiger. The
mix up was a corker, Corbett refraining
from going to far, or fear that he
might hurt his hands as it was near
Ing his fight with F1tzsimmons.
That night in talking with Delaney
Jen said: IF that man is champion and
can't hit any harder than that I can
whip him or any other man, and ri
prove it. Match me with him, and If
don't win I'll not ask a cent. De-
laney was too busy with training Cor
oett to bother with such talk, but Jeff
meant business. When Corbett was
beaten by F4tzimmons, jeff told De-
laney as he was leaving Corbett's
dressing room: BILLY, can whip both
OF those fellows" II believe you can
Jefr, unused the trainer, "and I'll
match you with one or the other as
soon as possible"
The proof came sooner than DELANEY
expected, but jeff did not have an easv
time with either Of them. Jeff weigh-
ca sixty pounds more than Corbett or
F1tz1mmons. I have always maintain
ed that Jeffries did not deserve verv
much credit for whipping FYtz. or Cor
bett. He Is giant along side Of eth
er or them. FRANK HAYES,