Evening star., 1953-03-04
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Retired in 1905
AS Undefeated
King Of Heaviies
Cooked Back in 1910,
He Lost by TKO
To Jack Johnson
By The As.oeio,ed Pres,

oO1CoANA, OallI., Mar. g.
James J. Jeffries- Big Jim, the
boilermaker boy who became
one Of the worlds greatest
heavyweight boxing champions
was counted out for the first and
only time last night. Death
came to the former titleholder
at the age Of ~.
Jeffries, a Semi-invalid since
a stroke seven years ago, died in
his home in bed after asking his
niece and housekeeper. Mrs. Lii
liam Bull, to call a doctor.
Big Jim. idol Of the boxing
world at the turn of the century,
had been feeling rather well in
recent weeks. even up to attend
ing a social function or two, Mrs.
Bull said. But he died before
the doctor arrived.
DR.. William M. Nethery said a
heart attack (coronary throm-
boSiS) was the cause.
Lost to Johnson in 1910.
Never counted out in his 19-
year ring career. Jeffries reigned
as king of the heavyweights
from 1899 to 1905. when he re-
tired undefeated. But, coaxed
out of retirement. he met Jack
Johnson. his successor as cham
pion. in 1910. johnson won on
a technical knockout in the
18th round to close the career
of Jeffries, then 35.
But in his prime. many veteran
fight fans say there was no one
like Big Jim for speed and power.
Carrying 220 pounds on a 6-foot-
1Ha frame. Jefries twice knocked
out Jim Corbett and the great
Australian, Bob Fitzsimmons.
His victories over Sailor Tom
Sharkey, Gus Rubin and Joe
Choynski rank among the fierc-
est battles in the days when
prizefghts were long and brutal
His overall record: % fights, II
knockeuts. decisions, 2 draws
2 exhibitions-and the one loss
to Johnson.
Son Of Clergyman.
Born in Carroll, Ohio, April
is. 1875. of Irish-American
stock, Jeffries was one Of eight
children of a Methodist clergy
man. The family moved to Los
Angeles when Jim was only 6
and the boy went to work early
in railroad shops and iron foun-
dries as a boilermaker.
He had his first professional
tight in 1891, at the age of 16
knocking out Hank Griffin ir
the 14th round and earning $500
His mother then persuaded him
W qulG the ring until he was 81
In 1896, Jeffries began his
career in earnest. He knocked
out Danny Long in SAM Fran
cisco and fought 20-round draws
with Choynskizand Rubin. Two
other quick kayoes followed.
He began rounding to top form
IN 1898 when he beat Joe God
dard and Peter Jackson and won
his first 20-round decision owe,
Sharkey in a bruising battle
Knocked Out Fitzsimmons.
Jeffries won the heavyweight
title by knocking out Fitzsim.
mons in the 11th round at Coney
Island, N. Y, June 8, 1899. Five
months later he successfully de-
Tended his crown with IS.
round decision over Sharkey.
In 1900 he met Corbett, the
former titleholder and greatest
boxer OF the era. Corbett was
far ahead on points IN the 23d
round when Big Jim caught
him with a left and Corbett was
counted out.
Jeffries repeated his knockouts
OF Fitzsimmons and Corbett in
1902 matches, speeding the end
ings this time in the 9th and 1OtE
rounds, respectively.
Running out Of !. competition
Jeffries retired In 1905 and built
the San Fernando Valley ranch
home where he died. But with
the rise Of johnson, friends pre-.
vailed on Jeffries to try come
back in a July 4. 1910. title bout
at Reno, New. It was Tex Rick.
ards first big promotion.
Weighed 2s5 Pounds.
The long absence from compe.
tition and the fact Jeffries hac
ballooned to 285 pounds beat
him.
| It was strictly no contest. II
the 18th round. Johnson knocked