The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-24
JAMES ]. CORBETT
COMES To TOWN
FORMER CHAMPION BOXER OF
WORLD STILL Is GREAT
ATHLETE.
AUTHORITY ON SPORTS
SOMETHING CONCERNING MAN WHO
REvoLUTIoNizED BOXING, BE-
CAME ACTOR AND IS NOW
MoNOL0GIsT.
AUTHORITY ON SPORTS
BY JAY LEWIS.

town. which is merely a preface to-
ward noticing the presence OF James
j. Corbett in Richmond.
Mr.. Corbett Is still a great athlete.
He Is Immensely interested in attn
letics. He will tell you so himself.
And although he has retired from the
field where he won his greatest fame.
he Ia regarded as an authority in
more than one branch of sport, al
though he devotes his public atten-
ton most fittingly to boxing.
Mr.. Corbett Is renowned for the
fact that IL was he who first intro
duced boxing as 1t 10 taught to-day.
Many may say that to John l.. Sui
Ivan is due whatever credit may be
attached.
Not so. Mr. Sullivan was the last
of the prize ring heroes of the old
school. James j. Corbett In the one
who introduced modern methods.
Corbctt Surprise.
Corbett surprised the old-timers by
his method. Tall, symmetrfcally built.
yet powerful. he demonstrated that
IL was not by sheer strength and
stamina, aided by n modicum of clev-
erness. that boxer won his battles.
Foot-work. speed, clever defensive
work, all had their part in the Cor
pfht ptAn. Inv poNr
was but plaything for him. His
tantalixing left jab. rapid foot-work
and quick. snappy. jolting right-arm
blows. were more effective than the
crushing smashes of the older pro-
lessor OF the game.
Even the tremendous Jeffries found
Corbett's tactics banning. bewildering
and almost unbeatable. And follow
ers of this sport know right well that
it was not the Corbett style. but Cor
bett himself. physically. who was at
fault In their memorable bout at
Coney Island.
Corbett q Clean Boxer.
Corbett was ever a clean boxer.
He stood up, balanced and poised.
ready to dart In with the swift. 1.-THE
attack OF the panther. or ready to
dart aside when his adversary rushed.
He did not crouch in the numbering
style Jeffrtes made familiar, nor did
he have the peculiar. siouching style
of Fitxsimmons. He was graceful and
used hand, foot and body in perfect
time. ----
A tank clerk. Corbett was also
boxing instructor In the old California
Athletic Club. He became a pro-
fessional because he saw a road 10
wealth by adopting this particular
profession. Well hammered. well
groomed. well spoken. he became
known AZ Gentleman Jim
His particular style of wearing his
hair became popular. Pompadour
Jim" was another of his nieknames
To be sure the pompadonr style was
not peculiar to him. Ii was fashion
in Europe years before Corbett en-
tered the boxing profession. but he
actually made the style among sport
ing men at one time.
First Actor puGilist.
Corbett was the first and only boxer
who actually achieved fame as an ac-
tor. To be sure, John l.. Sullivan had
been starred" In a. play. hut Sglii~
van never was considered an actor.
while Corbett possessed no little his
trionic ability. When he found. how
ever. that vaudeville paid better than
playing parts. he quickly took to that
line OF entertainment. Now he is In
terlocutor In a big minstrel orEani-
ration and fills the position admir-
ably.
All OF which would tend to show,
that Mr.. Corbett Ii versatile man.
He Is often criticized for his fond
ness to break into print, but II liz his
business to keep his name before the
public.
II want them to talk about me, to
say 09AAEtuAAk ApOul NV SothEtiliuk
good. preferably, but something any
way" Ia his motto.
Popularity rs Champion.
II has been said that Corbett never
was q popular champion. but since
the days Of Sullivan there really has
not been a popular champion. The
champion boxer OF to-day Is not the
idol he was once simply because Of
the change in public sentiment.
Even Jeffries was not regarded
as a particularly popular champion.
Much criticism has been aimed at
Corbett for his attitude In regard to
Jeffries and the affair at Reno. He
10 said to have taken every advantage
possible to advertise himself Well.
that IL part OF hts business, as stated
above. Some of this advertising has
not been OF the greatest benefit to
him. OF course. but one thing Ia GER
tain Corbett has been a loyal sup
porter Of Jeffries. on and OFF the stage.
He has done his best to allay the ILL.,
feeling against the former boiler
maker and most OF the criticism hurl-
ed At Corbett Is because he did and
does defend Jeffries.
Corbctt Deserves Credit.
When all Is said and done. James
J. Corbett deserves credit for what he
has done and ID doing He raised the
standard OF the boxing game, he was
successful In his career AZ . boxer and
he has been successful on the stage.
He has q winning personality. No
one can Withstand his cordially when
he wishes to be cordial but FOR all
that he can be very plain-spoken when
he wishes to be. There 10 no GAIN
saying that .Corbett makes . splendid
Impression One only has to sec him
faCtn9 an audience to realize this fully.
He has ready, even witty. tongue
and . manly presence.
What II more. he ID q more likable
man In private than when he appears
IN public. He often appears to be
posing In public. but In private. to
those who know him. he II plain Jim
Corbett.
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