The New York herald., 1922-10-29
Canadian Credited With Being
First American to Win the
World Championship.
IGNORE JACKSON DEFEAT
Negro Declared to Be Unfit to
Fight When Jeffries Stopped
Him in Thee Rounds.
by CHARLES F. aIATHIsoN.


An interesting question as to the line
OF succession in the worlds heavy
weight championship has been raised
by w. +. Corbett, the Australian au-
thority on pugilism. Mr.. Corbett takes
issue with the assertion that Jim JEFF
fries, by defeating Peter Jackson, win
her of the heavyweight championship
Of Europe through knocking out Jem
Smith, and the heavyweight champion
ship OF America by defeating Bob F'itz-
simmons, was the first American to
hold the worlds honors The impress
sion had been created by an article
penned by Corbett that he did not cor
sder Dempsey's claim to the worlds
title valid one. The Sydney expert
denies this. but insists that Jeffries
never won worlds championship, and
that Tommy Burns was the first Amer
lean to capture the title. Mr. Corbett
In replying in the Sydney Referee to
the arguments Of the writer said:
II would like to point out to Mr.
Mathison that l did not question the
winning of the championship of the
world by Jack Dempsey. He certainly
got 1t correctly enough. What I did
say regarding him was this The
worlds championship, held by Jack
Dempsey. originated I'm bluff and bull
1t has been carried OH ever since in the
same way. Dempsey is endeavoring to
cover up his championship tracks with
excuses and subterfuges so that the
eternal negro in the path might be
thrown off the trail. This time itis the
Brown Panther of New Orleans, Harry
wills
Jackson's Position.
"Mathison is wrong in saying that
Peter Jackson was champion of Europe
and Australia when Jeffries defeated
him. He could not hold the Australian
title longer than six months when alb
sent from this country. He and Slavin
could not fight in England for the Aus
tralian heavyweight crown. Even if
that were permissible. neither man had
the remotest claim to the distinction
Jackson had been away from Australia
four and Slavin three years when they
met in London
Between whiles the Australian title
passed from one to another resident
heavyweight. As six years had inter-
yened between Jacxsons last previous
contest-that with Slavin-and his bat
tie with Jeffries, which discovered him
with one foot in the grave, il was inn
possible for Peter to be even champion
of Europe. He could not have been
looked upon otherwise than as a boxer
dead as julius Ceasar for all practical
pugilistic purposes
Burns's Valid Claim.
"Jeffries. therefore, did not win the |
worlds championship through defeating
badly wrecked Peter Jackson.
II quite agree with Mr.. Mathison re-
sarding Tommy Burnss position as |
champion OF the world. His claim when !
lie defeated Bill Squires, champion of /
lstralia, lin California, and crossed the |
&ntic to conquer Gunner Moir. cham !
! OF England. was unassailable.
In the article which has interested |
my New York critic so much I wrote |
no amy Burns succeeded Jack O'Brien. !
Il ~ made no bones about what fighter |
j. net long as there was money to be |
iaincI. He slowed his championship In |
BE grip and travelled to England. to |
rance and 10 Australia. and conse- |
orently, right into the camps OF other
nations that espoused boxing to any
Ercat extent. Burns was an unusual |
champion OF the world. None before him |
ard none since, bar Johnson. took any
Ting like the chances he took with re-
ard to his title
Having had pointed out to him the |
mistake he made by thinking that Peter |
Jackson brought the Australian and |
British titles to Jim Jeffries Mr. Mathi- |
son VIII, perhaps. now agree with me |
that Tommy Burns was the first legiti- |
mate heavyweight champion Of the world |
since Jem Mace retired: that is, il 1t |
must be overlooked that John L. Sulli-
van. Jim Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons
lost, by default. their respective claims |
10 the championship OF the world when |
they so palpably ignored Peter Jackson's |
frequent challenges"