The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-02-04

My mlno mes Dack JV yearSt ana I have to agree that two of the greatest heavywsights of all time James J. Corbett and Peter Jack son-were born 30 years too soon. For what would the modern fight world, with its big arenas, big prices and big ballyhoo. give these men, in their prime, for fight?
 They trained for two months, then battled 61 rounds on May 21, 1891. And in payment they re- ceiyed s2,500 each, with the privil- ege of fighting again for $7,500.
 Jackson In His Prime
 Corbett at that time had beaten Joe Choynski in their barge fight. He had drawn with Dave Campbell and won from Jake Kilrain at New Orleans. Jackson, the marvellous negro from Austrlia, was at his prime. Friends of both urged the match. Both were willing. But the California club doubted the advisability of sending the virtually unknown Corbett against Jackson. Finally, they were signed for a $10,000 purse. Jackson refused to take the precocious ex-amateur seriously, and expected to win in six rounds. He trained hard, though, as did Corbett.
 ( Selected Crowd
 Only members of the California club could attend the fight, as the wealthy sportsmen composing 1t assessed themselves for the sums necessary for purses. Throngs hA cfroafu of Snn ErQ nCiSc0- owing to the growing excitement, the club refused to allow any news papers to install ringside wires or telephones, at request of police.
 Young America, self-taught, en- tered the ring against one of the worlds most formidable heavy weights, on the short end of the betting. Wise ringsters picked Jackson. Corbett's friends were youngsters who couldn't bet much.
 Plenty of Science
 Right lustily they stepped into it, Corbett landing with a curved arm blow, and Jackson using straight punches. There was plenty of science on both sides, and the tide of battle ebbed and flowed. Corbett's aggressiveness caught the fancy of the crowd. Corbett scored heaviest with left swings and jolts, and Peters best were right-hand- ars to the body. In fact, Corbett's left often troubled him later through repeated use of the fore- arm to ward off these right-hand- CTS.
 It looked like curtains for the negro in the 41st, with Jackson backed into corner, off balance, and Corbett raining lefts and rights. Peter fought out, however. Thereafter, the fight became list less.
 That left forearm of Corbetts went lame. Jackson's shoulder had gone back on him. An ankle, in- jured in an accident few days before the fight, stiffened. In most of the rounds, Jackson stood in the center, with Corbett circling him.
 It seemed. after the 55th round, that Corbett could have just bumped against Jackson, and the latter could not have arisen. But Jackson's quick right to the heart was deadly, and Corbett knew it.
 The crowd, always .shrieking for action, urged them to fight. The club directors. instructed Referee Hiram Cook to warn the men to extend themselves. The two fight CTS spoke to the directors, saying they were doing the best they could at the time.
 By the 61st, they were so wear fed they could only glare at each other. Then Cook stopped the fight, with mo contest" decision.
 Jackson was weary and bitterly disappointed with the fight. Cor bett, however, viewed 1t as 8 vic- tory, standing off a man of real merit.
 But, as to financial reward they were Born 30 Years Too Soon"