The Washington times., 1910-07-04
Gaining Favor Among Fight Followers Time for Gong Reno Draws N
RECORDS IN THE RING
OF BOTH BIG FIGHTERS
Son of Preacher Starts Out
as Boilermaker in
Ohio.

James ferries was born in $50, in
Carroll Ohio. the son Of an imPecun-
iOus preacher AT an early age he
removed TO Los Angeles Cal, where
lie received some schooling before he
started out 90 make his living as a
boiler maker The strenuous work re-
CURED by his trade developed his phys
zeal strength TO an unusual degree and
thus prepared him for his later career
in the prize ring bis dTsI pUEilistic
experience was not obtained in the
ring, however. but on the public street
1t was an unscientiic fist fight be-
tween Jeffries and the cOIOred ward
bully who had m.lde himself obnoxious
and the battle enCed with Je6ries vic
LOrious
Jenries, hrst regular ring fight was
against Tim Van BUsEirk, whom he
finished by a knockout in the second
round. The result Of the night was
particularly pleasing TO Jefries, as
Van Buskirk was considered the heavy
weight champion OF the Pacific Coast
The young bOiIermaker's next expert
ence in the ring was a little harder
BIS opponent was Henry Baker, OF
Chicago, who kept Jenries hUsrinE for
nine rounds. but finally succUmbed TO
ences convinced Jehries thaC he could
fight. and he determined 10 90 into the
game for all It was worth
be tackled Gus Ruhlin, the fight end
ing in a draw soon afterward he
went after Joe Choynski, then in his
prime and at the highest notch Of his
dghting skill This contest also ended
in a draw
When James Corbett was training at
Carson City. Jeffries was as sparriug
partner for a time and many are Of the
opinion that Jehries learned great
deal Of the science Of boxing from his
sparring opponent JeIries, however,
mas always denied this
Jefries was ambitious and eager for
e fight with Tom Sharkey and at last
the match was arranged But the au-
thorities stepped in and the contest
was called Of J.fTies never lost sight
Of .-SaIor-- Shsrkey and eventually
met him in the ring in the mean time
JefrIes went To Los Angeles and took
on Joe Goddard. the Barrier champion
who proved easy money JeGries Won
in four rounds This was on February
8. 1895. It was IN the same year that
Ieffrfes by a succession Of victories
came into prominence as a fighter
Ia March and April he met and de-
feated Peter Jackson and Peter Everett
and IN Nay his fiEhu with Sharkey,
ferries Won after twenty hard rounds
ara his fame was made san Francisco
and the west coast were TOO small fOI
The biz boiIsrmaker and ne decided &C
30 TO New York Accompanied by
Billy Delaney, his manager Jendes
set out for the East He was well re-
ceIved and soon became popular, but
there were no fights 20 be had NeSO-
tiatons with Peter Aaher were carried
on for some time, but struck a suae
IN some technically It was then thai
Jefries. somewhat desperate offered u
take on any two men the same night
IT the I,enox Athletic Club Bob Arm
strong was the first opponent JeITles
fought the stipulated ten rounds and
whipped the big cOlOred man, but hur1
his hand so severely that he had tC
abandon the second fight which was q
be against Steve O'DOlnell-
After this experience JeffrieS returned
20 California. but the following year
found him back in New York, with
William T. Brad as his manager june
Of that year, I's9- saw him in the rlue
AZ Co1ev Island facing Robert Fi-Z
simmons, champion Of the world II
the eleventh round Jefries got in hi.
Knockout blow and the championship
was his
Contrary to precedent, the new cham
pion did not rest long on his laurels
Although ne did not fight again tina
summer. November found him matched
with sailor Sharkey again The fEh
lasted twenty-five rounds and was WOI
By Jeffries-
On April 6, 1900 Jefries found cas-
money IN Jack F1nnegan at Detroit
Ee knocked hin. out in the first round
The champion next big battle wa
with Tirn Corbert at COney Island Cor
ut lasted twenty-three rounds bu
N8s finally knocked out Then Jedrie
returned 70 California He had tire
fights the next year He won from
Hank Griffin at Los Angeles in lou
rounds, and q. week later knocked on
Joe Kennedy in two In November h
fought Gus Rubin in san FraDcisc
and finished him in I'VE rounds Hi
next big fight was July . 1902. WLel
he fought a return match with Bo'
F'itZsimmOns and knocked him out ate
eight severely contested rounds. i
August Of the following year he Tough
Jim COTbetC gain at san Francisc
and knocked him out In ten rounds
Bis last fight previous 10 the DTesen
was IN August 19E. when he knOcke
out Jack lIunTOe in the second rOun
at SaE Francisco