James J. Jeffries - Revision history

John at 20:09, 10 November 2019

2019-11-10T20:09:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:09, 10 November 2019
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	[[File:~~JEFFRIES09~~.jpg\|left\|~~333px~~\|]]		[[File:James J. Jeffries (ff).jpg\|left\|250px\|]]
	~~[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg~~\|~~thumb\|right\|Class of 1990<br>Old Timer Category<br>Hall of Fame bio:[~~http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/jeffries.html ~~click]]]~~		{{ibhof \|url=http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/jeffries.html}}
	<boxer>009022</boxer>		<boxer>009022</boxer>
	'''Trainers:''' [[Billy Delaney]], [[Tommy Ryan]]~~<br>~~		*'''Trainers:''' [[Billy Delaney]], [[Tommy Ryan]]
	'''Managers:''' [[William Brady]], [[Sam Berger]]~~<br>~~		*'''Managers:''' [[William Brady]], [[Sam Berger]]
	'''[[:Category:James J. Jeffries Gallery\|James J. Jeffries Gallery]]		*'''[[:Category:James J. Jeffries Gallery\|James J. Jeffries Gallery]]

	~~<br clear=all>~~

	==Career Overview==		==Career Overview==
	'''James J. Jeffries''', still regarded by some fight historians as the single greatest heavyweight in history, was a fearsome and intimidating fighter who established plenty of credentials for himself in just 21 professional prizefights. He was the very embodiment of the rugged, two-fisted hulk of brawn that people at the turn of the century wanted their champion to be. It is unfortunate that his loss to [[Jack Johnson]], after a six-year layoff from boxing, remains the best known moment of his career, for Jeffries' accomplishments were many. He fought nine bouts against future hall of famers and made seven defenses of the championship. His fighting prowess was so great, in fact, that respected boxing historian [[Tracy Callis]] wrote that Jeffries' combination of assets makes him the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. Even Jack Johnson, Jeffries' more famous conqueror, before his own death in 1946, stated that he felt Jeffries was the best of any era.		'''James J. Jeffries''', still regarded by some fight historians as the single greatest heavyweight in history, was a fearsome and intimidating fighter who established plenty of credentials for himself in just 21 professional prizefights. He was the very embodiment of the rugged, two-fisted hulk of brawn that people at the turn of the century wanted their champion to be. It is unfortunate that his loss to [[Jack Johnson]], after a six-year layoff from boxing, remains the best known moment of his career, for Jeffries' accomplishments were many. He fought nine bouts against future hall of famers and made seven defenses of the championship. His fighting prowess was so great, in fact, that respected boxing historian [[Tracy Callis]] wrote that Jeffries' combination of assets makes him the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. Even Jack Johnson, Jeffries' more famous conqueror, before his own death in 1946, stated that he felt Jeffries was the best of any era.
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	[[Category:American World Champions]]		[[Category:American World Champions]]
	[[Category:IBHOF Members]]		[[Category:IBHOF Members]]
	~~[[Category:World Boxing Hall of Fame Members]]~~

Ric: linked to newly-created Jeffries Barn page

2019-09-01T19:23:34Z

linked to newly-created Jeffries Barn page

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:23, 1 September 2019
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	*A lover of hunting, Jeffries once killed a large deer and carried it on his shoulders nine miles to camp without stopping to rest. Friends who accompanied him had difficulty keeping up with him on the jaunt home.		*A lover of hunting, Jeffries once killed a large deer and carried it on his shoulders nine miles to camp without stopping to rest. Friends who accompanied him had difficulty keeping up with him on the jaunt home.
	*In 1904, national attention was drawn to Burbank, California, when Jeffries bought 107 acres for a ranch on Victory Boulevard. He paid $2,000 down and assumed a $10,000 mortgage. Only ten acres were placed under cultivation, and the rest was sagebrush and sand. Jeffries later developed another 93 acres and planted alfalfa. The market price for alfalfa dropped shortly after this time, and it did not pay Jeffries to harvest his crop. He decided to put cattle on the land to eat the alfalfa. This proved to be a prosperous enterprise. Jeffries became one of the country's foremost suppliers of thoroughbred bulls. Most of them were sold in Mexico and South America, thus establishing Burbank's first foreign trade relations.		*In 1904, national attention was drawn to Burbank, California, when Jeffries bought 107 acres for a ranch on Victory Boulevard. He paid $2,000 down and assumed a $10,000 mortgage. Only ten acres were placed under cultivation, and the rest was sagebrush and sand. Jeffries later developed another 93 acres and planted alfalfa. The market price for alfalfa dropped shortly after this time, and it did not pay Jeffries to harvest his crop. He decided to put cattle on the land to eat the alfalfa. This proved to be a prosperous enterprise. Jeffries became one of the country's foremost suppliers of thoroughbred bulls. Most of them were sold in Mexico and South America, thus establishing Burbank's first foreign trade relations.
	*Directly across the street from his ranch, on the opposite corner, Jeffries had a barn that served as a boxing gym and fight arena, where weekly amateur matches were held. Film stars would often turn out to see the amateur fights, always drawing capacity crowds. Jeffries would often referee these bouts.		*[[Jeffries Barn]]: Directly across the street from his ranch, on the opposite corner, Jeffries had a barn that served as a boxing gym and fight arena, where weekly amateur matches were held. Film stars would often turn out to see the amateur fights, always drawing capacity crowds. Jeffries would often referee these bouts.
	*John Garfield's big boxing scene in the 1939 "Dead End Kids" film ''They Made Me a Criminal'' was filmed in Jeffries' ~~barn~~.		*John Garfield's big boxing scene in the 1939 "Dead End Kids" film ''[[They Made Me a Criminal]]'' was filmed in Jeffries' Barn.
	*In 1941, Jeffries' wife of 37 years, Freda Jeffries, was hit by a car and killed as she crossed the street on her way home from the barn. The couple had one child, a daughter named Mary.		*In 1941, Jeffries' wife of 37 years, Freda Jeffries, was hit by a car and killed as she crossed the street on her way home from the barn. The couple had one child, a daughter named Mary.
	*In 1954, the California Historical Society put ~~the~~ Jeffries Barn on its list of historical buildings, and it was moved from its Burbank location to its current home at Knotts Berry Farm. It used to contain a boxing museum complete with a historian to discuss boxing. In the late 1960s, however, the historian died and the boxing museum was removed. The Jeffries Barn hosted a collection of china dolls and the like. Hidden on a wall in the back is a small brass plaque that ~~reads~~: "Jeffries Barn--Historical Landmark." (See also, Dec. 2017 related video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkOGy6IiJdE].)		*In 1954, the California Historical Society put Jeffries Barn on its list of historical buildings, and it was moved from its Burbank location to its current home at nearly Knotts Berry Farm In Buena Park. It used to contain a boxing museum complete with a historian to discuss boxing. In the late 1960s, however, the historian died and the boxing museum was removed. The Jeffries Barn hosted a collection of china dolls and the like. Hidden on a wall in the back was a small brass plaque that read: "Jeffries Barn--Historical Landmark." (See also, Dec. 2017 related video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkOGy6IiJdE].)

	== External Links ==		== External Links ==

Ric: linked to 2017 video of Jeffries Barn

2019-09-01T02:44:24Z

linked to 2017 video of Jeffries Barn

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:44, 1 September 2019
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	*John Garfield's big boxing scene in the 1939 "Dead End Kids" film ''They Made Me a Criminal'' was filmed in Jeffries' barn.		*John Garfield's big boxing scene in the 1939 "Dead End Kids" film ''They Made Me a Criminal'' was filmed in Jeffries' barn.
	*In 1941, Jeffries' wife of 37 years, Freda Jeffries, was hit by a car and killed as she crossed the street on her way home from the barn. The couple had one child, a daughter named Mary.		*In 1941, Jeffries' wife of 37 years, Freda Jeffries, was hit by a car and killed as she crossed the street on her way home from the barn. The couple had one child, a daughter named Mary.
	*In 1954, the California Historical Society put the Jeffries Barn on its list of historical buildings, and it was moved from its Burbank location to its current home at Knotts Berry Farm. It used to contain a boxing museum complete with a historian to discuss boxing. In the late 1960s, however, the historian died and the boxing museum was removed. ~~Today, the~~ Jeffries Barn ~~hosts~~ a collection of china dolls and the like. Hidden on a wall in the back is a small brass plaque that reads: "Jeffries Barn--Historical Landmark."		*In 1954, the California Historical Society put the Jeffries Barn on its list of historical buildings, and it was moved from its Burbank location to its current home at Knotts Berry Farm. It used to contain a boxing museum complete with a historian to discuss boxing. In the late 1960s, however, the historian died and the boxing museum was removed. The Jeffries Barn hosted a collection of china dolls and the like. Hidden on a wall in the back is a small brass plaque that reads: "Jeffries Barn--Historical Landmark." (See also, Dec. 2017 related video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkOGy6IiJdE].)

	== External Links ==		== External Links ==

Ric: deleted WBHOF logo

2019-09-01T02:39:53Z

deleted WBHOF logo

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:39, 1 September 2019
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	[[File:JEFFRIES09.jpg\|left\|~~thumb~~\|~~350px\|James J. Jeffries~~]]		[[File:JEFFRIES09.jpg\|left\|333px\|]]
	[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Class of 1990<br>Old Timer Category<br>Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/jeffries.html click]]]		[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Class of 1990<br>Old Timer Category<br>Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/jeffries.html click]]]
	~~[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg\|right\|thumb\|200px\|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]~~
	<boxer>009022</boxer>		<boxer>009022</boxer>
	'''Trainers:''' [[Billy Delaney]], [[Tommy Ryan]]<br>		'''Trainers:''' [[Billy Delaney]], [[Tommy Ryan]]<br>

Cap: /* Early Years */

2017-06-11T13:53:20Z

Early Years

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:53, 11 June 2017
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	The next opponent Brady found for his new charge was future hall of famer [[Joe Choynski]], a talented light heavyweight who had been Jim Corbett's toughest rival back when both men were getting their start in the fight business. Though Jeffries outweighed him by as much as fifty pounds, Choynski was considered one of the cleverest fighters in California and was expected to win. The fight took place in San Francisco on November 30, 1897. Choynski's strategy was to keep moving and outbox his massive opponent. He was successful at this during the first two rounds, but a left hook from Jeffries sent him crashing down in the third. Choynski rose to fight on but was met with relentless pressure from the younger fighter. As the rounds passed by, it was all Joe could do to keep moving in circles while popping out his quick left jab to Jim's face. When Jeffries finally cornered Choynski in the sixteenth round and came in for the kill, he was caught with what he would later call the hardest blow he ever took, a desperate right hand thrown by Joe that shattered Jim's nose. Spitting up blood, the determined Jeffries continued to press forward but could not knock his savvy opponent out. After twenty rounds, the referee declared the fight a draw.		The next opponent Brady found for his new charge was future hall of famer [[Joe Choynski]], a talented light heavyweight who had been Jim Corbett's toughest rival back when both men were getting their start in the fight business. Though Jeffries outweighed him by as much as fifty pounds, Choynski was considered one of the cleverest fighters in California and was expected to win. The fight took place in San Francisco on November 30, 1897. Choynski's strategy was to keep moving and outbox his massive opponent. He was successful at this during the first two rounds, but a left hook from Jeffries sent him crashing down in the third. Choynski rose to fight on but was met with relentless pressure from the younger fighter. As the rounds passed by, it was all Joe could do to keep moving in circles while popping out his quick left jab to Jim's face. When Jeffries finally cornered Choynski in the sixteenth round and came in for the kill, he was caught with what he would later call the hardest blow he ever took, a desperate right hand thrown by Joe that shattered Jim's nose. Spitting up blood, the determined Jeffries continued to press forward but could not knock his savvy opponent out. After twenty rounds, the referee declared the fight a draw.

	On February 28, 1898, Jim took on [[Joe Goddard]], the "~~Iron Man~~" who had been one of the leading heavyweight sluggers of the past several years. Considered to be ~~on the downside of~~ his ~~career~~, the Australian had nonetheless been in the ring with some of the era's best, including hall of famers Choynski, [[Peter Jackson]] and [[Tom Sharkey]]. He was thought to have enough experience and tricks to give Jeffries a fair test. Instead, he was crushed inside of three rounds. Less than a month later, the young contender was in the ring with the most accomplished opponent he had yet faced, Peter Jackson. A decade earlier, when the legendary [[John L. Sullivan]] ruled the boxing world as the world's heavyweight champion, Jackson had been considered the man most worthy of Sullivan's laurels. Sullivan had always refused to face the black Australian on account of his skin color, but many theorized that Jackson was so good that the race issue was only a cop out on the part of Sullivan. Jackson held Jim Corbett to a sixty-one round draw back in 1891 and previously held the championships of both England and Australia. He was said to be so talented that he often fought men with just one arm in order to make his fights more competitive. However, by the time Jackson fought Jeffries, he was past his prime. Inactive, debilitated by fast living and probably already suffering from tuberculosis, from which he died in 1901, Jackson was no match for his younger opponent. Jeffries hurt his man with a hard blow to the body in the opening round. Embarrassed at being hit by a relative upstart, Jackson was goaded into trading toe-to-toe in the second round and, caught by two big left hooks, was dropped to his knees. Before the end of the round, he was down again but managed to rise and survive the second. In the third, Jeffries bore in and had the living legend out on his feet against the ropes after landing a devastating left-right combination. Not wanting to permanently injure his opponent, Jeffries turned to the referee, who stopped the fight and gave Jeffries the biggest win of his career thus far.		On February 28, 1898, Jim took on [[Joe Goddard]], the "Barrier Champion" who had been one of the leading heavyweight sluggers of the past several years. Considered to be well past his best at 41 years old (6-2-2 in his previous 10 and coming off two losses), the Australian had nonetheless been in the ring with some of the era's best, including hall-of-famers Choynski, [[Peter Jackson]] and [[Tom Sharkey]]. He was thought to have enough experience and tricks to give Jeffries a fair test. Instead, he was crushed inside of three rounds. Less than a month later, the young contender was in the ring with the most accomplished opponent he had yet faced, Peter Jackson. A decade earlier, when the legendary [[John L. Sullivan]] ruled the boxing world as the world's heavyweight champion, Jackson had been considered the man most worthy of Sullivan's laurels. Sullivan had always refused to face the black Australian on account of his skin color, but many theorized that Jackson was so good that the race issue was only a cop out on the part of Sullivan. Jackson held Jim Corbett to a sixty-one round draw back in 1891 and previously held the championships of both England and Australia. He was said to be so talented that he often fought men with just one arm in order to make his fights more competitive. However, by the time Jackson fought Jeffries, he was years past his prime. Inactive, debilitated by fast living and probably already suffering from tuberculosis, from which he died in 1901, Jackson was no match for his younger opponent. Jeffries hurt his man with a hard blow to the body in the opening round. Embarrassed at being hit by a relative upstart, Jackson was goaded into trading toe-to-toe in the second round and, caught by two big left hooks, was dropped to his knees. Before the end of the round, he was down again but managed to rise and survive the second. In the third, Jeffries bore in and had the living legend out on his feet against the ropes after landing a devastating left-right combination. Not wanting to permanently injure his opponent, Jeffries turned to the referee, who stopped the fight and gave Jeffries the biggest win of his career thus far.

	===Sharkey and Fitzsimmons===		===Sharkey and Fitzsimmons===

Bitplayer: /* Early Years */

2016-09-09T18:32:47Z

Early Years

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:32, 9 September 2016
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	===Early Years===		===Early Years===
	[[File:Jeffries 1899.jpg\|right\|thumb\|275px\|Jeffries early in his career.]]		[[File:Jeffries 1899.jpg\|right\|thumb\|275px\|Jeffries early in his career.]]
	Born to farmers in Carroll, Ohio, on April 15, ~~1975~~, Jeffries was the sixth of eight children. The family moved to Los Angeles, California, when he was six years old. As a teenager, Jeffries found work in the local mines, doing manual labor that helped to develop his bulky physique. At sixteen, he already weighed over 200 pounds, stood more than six feet tall and was regarded as the best all-around athlete among his fellow workers. In young adulthood, he left the mining camps and found work shoveling coal for the Santa Fe Railroad. (See also [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085947/1903-10-16/ed-1/seq-6/].) Later, he worked as a boilermaker, shaping, hoisting, riveting and assembling large sheets of iron and metal. In his free time, he often raced, wrestled and boxed at a local gym against friends from the boiler making plant. On September 19, 1895, while relaxing at home, Jim was approached by coworkers who pleaded with him to meet and box a black prizefighter who had wandered into town looking for tough locals to test his mettle against. The opponent was [[Hank Griffin]], a traveling heavyweight boxer and veteran of an untold number of unrecorded boxing matches. Griffin, like many boxers of the era, earned a living by traveling to mining, railroad, steel and farming camps offering to face any man before a paying crowd. Jeffries, who had never had any real schooling in boxing and had never previously fought for pay, accepted the match. Griffin used his obvious advantages in skill and experience to make Jim look ridiculous through much of the fight. Jeffries could do little else but fumble around after his opponent and take a blood-spattered beating. In the ninth round, however, Jim landed a lucky right to Griffin's throat, leaving the visitor stunned. The punch turned the tide of battle as Griffin's energy and confidence continued to wane until Jeffries finished him off with a body blow in the seventeenth round. The unknown Jeffries, not the experienced Griffin, collected the winner's purse.		Born to farmers in Carroll, Ohio, on April 15, 1875, Jeffries was the sixth of eight children. The family moved to Los Angeles, California, when he was six years old. As a teenager, Jeffries found work in the local mines, doing manual labor that helped to develop his bulky physique. At sixteen, he already weighed over 200 pounds, stood more than six feet tall and was regarded as the best all-around athlete among his fellow workers. In young adulthood, he left the mining camps and found work shoveling coal for the Santa Fe Railroad. (See also [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085947/1903-10-16/ed-1/seq-6/].) Later, he worked as a boilermaker, shaping, hoisting, riveting and assembling large sheets of iron and metal. In his free time, he often raced, wrestled and boxed at a local gym against friends from the boiler making plant. On September 19, 1895, while relaxing at home, Jim was approached by coworkers who pleaded with him to meet and box a black prizefighter who had wandered into town looking for tough locals to test his mettle against. The opponent was [[Hank Griffin]], a traveling heavyweight boxer and veteran of an untold number of unrecorded boxing matches. Griffin, like many boxers of the era, earned a living by traveling to mining, railroad, steel and farming camps offering to face any man before a paying crowd. Jeffries, who had never had any real schooling in boxing and had never previously fought for pay, accepted the match. Griffin used his obvious advantages in skill and experience to make Jim look ridiculous through much of the fight. Jeffries could do little else but fumble around after his opponent and take a blood-spattered beating. In the ninth round, however, Jim landed a lucky right to Griffin's throat, leaving the visitor stunned. The punch turned the tide of battle as Griffin's energy and confidence continued to wane until Jeffries finished him off with a body blow in the seventeenth round. The unknown Jeffries, not the experienced Griffin, collected the winner's purse.

	Jeffries initially returned to his day job, but eventually, the prospect of more money for an hour or so of fighting lured him to San Francisco, the center for fighting and sporting culture in the West. His reputation had not followed him, however, and he initially found it hard to secure a fight and ended up as a bartender at Charlie Merry's saloon on Downey Street. Eventually, he was matched with Dan Long, a promising pug from Denver, on July 2, 1896. After he took Long out with a barrage of heavy punches in the second round, Jeffries won acceptance within the exclusive sporting culture of San Francisco. During February and March of 1897, he was chosen to act as a sparring partner for heavyweight champion [[Jim Corbett]], who was in preparations for his fight with [[Bob Fitzsimmons]]. Corbett was a fast, defensive marvel in the ring and, though he lost the match with Fitzsimmons, the several sparring matches he shared with Corbett proved to be invaluable learning experiences for the younger fighter.		Jeffries initially returned to his day job, but eventually, the prospect of more money for an hour or so of fighting lured him to San Francisco, the center for fighting and sporting culture in the West. His reputation had not followed him, however, and he initially found it hard to secure a fight and ended up as a bartender at Charlie Merry's saloon on Downey Street. Eventually, he was matched with Dan Long, a promising pug from Denver, on July 2, 1896. After he took Long out with a barrage of heavy punches in the second round, Jeffries won acceptance within the exclusive sporting culture of San Francisco. During February and March of 1897, he was chosen to act as a sparring partner for heavyweight champion [[Jim Corbett]], who was in preparations for his fight with [[Bob Fitzsimmons]]. Corbett was a fast, defensive marvel in the ring and, though he lost the match with Fitzsimmons, the several sparring matches he shared with Corbett proved to be invaluable learning experiences for the younger fighter.

Boxsoup: /* Sharkey and Fitzsimmons */

2016-04-08T16:43:15Z

Sharkey and Fitzsimmons

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:43, 8 April 2016
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	===Sharkey and Fitzsimmons===		===Sharkey and Fitzsimmons===
	[[File:~~Jefferies~~ Fitzsimmons ~~I 1332868056~~.jpg\|right\|thumb\|355px\|Jeffries and Fitzsimmons before their ~~1899~~ bout.]]		[[File:Jeffries-vs.-Fitzsimmons.jpg\|right\|thumb\|355px\|Jeffries and Fitzsimmons before their 1902 bout.]]
	After knocking out the overmatched [[Mexican Pete Everett]] in the Spring of 1898, Jeffries began his campaign in search of a shot at the heavyweight championship held by [[Bob Fitzsimmons]]. Fitzsimmons insisted he would put the title on the line against no man until someone had proven himself as the undeniable leading contender for the crown. After the victory over Jackson, the only man who could contest Jeffries' assertion to be the top contender was Sailor Tom Sharkey. The Irish-born Sharkey was almost a mirror image of Jeffries. He was a young, burly slugger known for his ability to take and deal punishment on an almost inhuman scale. Though several inches shorter than Jim, he was nonetheless covered in bulky muscle and considered a peerless blood-and-guts warrior. When the two power punchers fought at Mechanics Pavilion in San Francisco, spectators expected fireworks and they got them. The entire fight featured back-and-forth action, as first one man would land a telling blow and then the other. By the ninth round, both men were bleeding profusely from open wounds and it wasn't until the eleventh that Jeffries appeared to gain any clear advantage. In that frame, he landed several hard blows that had his opponent sagging and dazed. Still, Sharkey survived and, though obviously nearing exhaustion, came out for the twelfth ready to fight on. Tom became the aggressor and Jeffries the counter puncher. It was clear that Jeffries was getting the better of the action, but Sharkey refused to relent. At the close of the twentieth round, both men were still standing and the referee announced Jeffries the winner.		After knocking out the overmatched [[Mexican Pete Everett]] in the Spring of 1898, Jeffries began his campaign in search of a shot at the heavyweight championship held by [[Bob Fitzsimmons]]. Fitzsimmons insisted he would put the title on the line against no man until someone had proven himself as the undeniable leading contender for the crown. After the victory over Jackson, the only man who could contest Jeffries' assertion to be the top contender was Sailor Tom Sharkey. The Irish-born Sharkey was almost a mirror image of Jeffries. He was a young, burly slugger known for his ability to take and deal punishment on an almost inhuman scale. Though several inches shorter than Jim, he was nonetheless covered in bulky muscle and considered a peerless blood-and-guts warrior. When the two power punchers fought at Mechanics Pavilion in San Francisco, spectators expected fireworks and they got them. The entire fight featured back-and-forth action, as first one man would land a telling blow and then the other. By the ninth round, both men were bleeding profusely from open wounds and it wasn't until the eleventh that Jeffries appeared to gain any clear advantage. In that frame, he landed several hard blows that had his opponent sagging and dazed. Still, Sharkey survived and, though obviously nearing exhaustion, came out for the twelfth ready to fight on. Tom became the aggressor and Jeffries the counter puncher. It was clear that Jeffries was getting the better of the action, but Sharkey refused to relent. At the close of the twentieth round, both men were still standing and the referee announced Jeffries the winner.

Boxsoup at 23:01, 7 August 2015

2015-08-07T23:01:15Z

Show changes

Cap: /* Early Years */

2015-07-17T22:22:02Z

Early Years

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:22, 17 July 2015
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	===Early Years===		===Early Years===
	Born to farmers in Carroll, Ohio, Jeffries was the sixth of eight children. The family moved to Los Angeles, California when he was six years old, and as a teenager, he found work in the local mines, doing manual labor that helped to develop his bulky physique. At sixteen, he already weighed over 200 pounds, stood more than six feet tall, and was regarded as the best all-around athlete among his fellow workers. In young adulthood, he left the mining camps and found work shoveling coal for the Santa Fe Railroad. (See also [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085947/1903-10-16/ed-1/seq-6/].) Later, he worked as a boilermaker, shaping, hoisting, riveting, and assembling large sheets of iron and metal. In his free time, he often raced, wrestled, and boxed at a local gym against friends from the boiler making plant. On September 19, 1895, while relaxing at home, Jim was approached by coworkers who pleaded with him to meet and box a black prizefighter who had wandered into town looking for tough locals to test his mettle against. The opponent was [[Hank Griffin]], a traveling heavyweight boxer and veteran of an untold number of unrecorded boxing matches. Griffin, like many boxers of the era, earned a living by traveling to mining, railroad, steel, and farming camps offering to face any man before a paying crowd. Jeffries, who had never had any real schooling in boxing and had never previously fought for pay, accepted the match. Griffin used his obvious advantages in skill and experience to make Jim look ridiculous through much of the fight. Jeffries could do little else but fumble around after his opponent and take a blood-spattered beating. In the ninth round, however, Jim landed a lucky right to Griffin's throat, leaving the visitor stunned. The punch turned the tide of battle as Griffin's energy and confidence continued to wane until Jeffries finished him off with a body blow in the seventeenth round. The unknown Jeffries, not the experienced Griffin, collected the winner's purse.<br><br>		Born to farmers in Carroll, Ohio, Jeffries was the sixth of eight children. The family moved to Los Angeles, California when he was six years old, and as a teenager, he found work in the local mines, doing manual labor that helped to develop his bulky physique. At sixteen, he already weighed over 200 pounds, stood more than six feet tall, and was regarded as the best all-around athlete among his fellow workers. In young adulthood, he left the mining camps and found work shoveling coal for the Santa Fe Railroad. (See also [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085947/1903-10-16/ed-1/seq-6/].) Later, he worked as a boilermaker, shaping, hoisting, riveting, and assembling large sheets of iron and metal. In his free time, he often raced, wrestled, and boxed at a local gym against friends from the boiler making plant. On September 19, 1895, while relaxing at home, Jim was approached by coworkers who pleaded with him to meet and box a black prizefighter who had wandered into town looking for tough locals to test his mettle against. The opponent was [[Hank Griffin]], a traveling heavyweight boxer and veteran of an untold number of unrecorded boxing matches. Griffin, like many boxers of the era, earned a living by traveling to mining, railroad, steel, and farming camps offering to face any man before a paying crowd. Jeffries, who had never had any real schooling in boxing and had never previously fought for pay, accepted the match. Griffin used his obvious advantages in skill and experience to make Jim look ridiculous through much of the fight. Jeffries could do little else but fumble around after his opponent and take a blood-spattered beating. In the ninth round, however, Jim landed a lucky right to Griffin's throat, leaving the visitor stunned. The punch turned the tide of battle as Griffin's energy and confidence continued to wane until Jeffries finished him off with a body blow in the seventeenth round. The unknown Jeffries, not the experienced Griffin, collected the winner's purse.<br><br>
	Jeffries initially returned to his day job, but eventually, the prospect of more money for an hour or so of fighting lured him to San Francisco, the center for fighting and sporting culture in the West. His reputation had not followed him, however, and he initially found it hard to secure a fight. Eventually, he was matched with Dan Long, a promising ~~local~~ pug, on July 2, 1896. After he took Long out with a ~~single punch~~ in the second round, Jeffries won acceptance within the exclusive sporting culture of San Francisco. During February and March of 1897, he was chosen to act as a sparring partner for heavyweight champion [[Jim Corbett]], who was in preparations for his fight with [[Bob Fitzsimmons]]. Corbett was a fast, defensive marvel in the ring and, though he lost the match with Fitzsimmons, the several sparring matches he shared with Corbett proved to be invaluable learning experiences for the younger fighter.		Jeffries initially returned to his day job, but eventually, the prospect of more money for an hour or so of fighting lured him to San Francisco, the center for fighting and sporting culture in the West. His reputation had not followed him, however, and he initially found it hard to secure a fight and ended up as a bar-tender at Charlie Merry's saloon on Downey Street. Eventually, he was matched with Dan Long, a promising pug from Denver, on July 2, 1896. After he took Long out with a barrage of heavy punches in the second round, Jeffries won acceptance within the exclusive sporting culture of San Francisco. During February and March of 1897, he was chosen to act as a sparring partner for heavyweight champion [[Jim Corbett]], who was in preparations for his fight with [[Bob Fitzsimmons]]. Corbett was a fast, defensive marvel in the ring and, though he lost the match with Fitzsimmons, the several sparring matches he shared with Corbett proved to be invaluable learning experiences for the younger fighter.

	The work with Corbett also introduced Jeffries to Corbett's manager, [[William Brady]]. Impressed by Jeffries' power, will-to-win, and quick learning, Brady agreed to become the youngster's manager as well. Jeffries' next professional fight took place on April 9, 1897 against [[Theodore Van Buskirk]], a fighter out of the revered Olympic Club in San Francisco. Jeffries showed marked improvement in his boxing technique, using a bobbing-and-weaving style to avoid punishment. A hard right finished off the bloodied and frustrated Buskirk in the second round. A month later, he met Chicago's [[Henry Baker\|Henry (Slaughterhouse) Baker]], a man renowned throughout the Midwest because he had allegedly once knocked a steer out with a single punch. Baker proved no match, however, and was himself slaughtered in the ninth.<br><br>		The work with Corbett also introduced Jeffries to Corbett's manager, [[William Brady]]. Impressed by Jeffries' power, will-to-win, and quick learning, Brady agreed to become the youngster's manager as well. Jeffries' next professional fight took place on April 9, 1897 against [[Theodore Van Buskirk]], a fighter out of the revered Olympic Club in San Francisco. Jeffries showed marked improvement in his boxing technique, using a bobbing-and-weaving style to avoid punishment. A hard right finished off the bloodied and frustrated Buskirk in the second round. A month later, he met Chicago's [[Henry Baker\|Henry (Slaughterhouse) Baker]], a man renowned throughout the Midwest because he had allegedly once knocked a steer out with a single punch. Baker proved no match, however, and was himself slaughtered in the ninth.<br><br>

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	==Factoids==		==Factoids==
			*December of 1903 Jeffries was examined by Dr. D.A. Sargent of Harvard University and recorded to be precisely six feet tall.
	*Jeffries' parents were Alexis C. and Rebecca (Boyer) Jeffries. His father was a Methodist minister. His sisters were Lydia, Alameda, and Lillian and his brothers were William, Charles, Jonathan, and Calvin. Charles was also a pro boxer who went by the name [[Jack Jeffries]].		*Jeffries' parents were Alexis C. and Rebecca (Boyer) Jeffries. His father was a Methodist minister. His sisters were Lydia, Alameda, and Lillian and his brothers were William, Charles, Jonathan, and Calvin. Charles was also a pro boxer who went by the name [[Jack Jeffries]].
	*On Monday, September 11, 1899, Jeffries fought a 4x2minute round exhibition against Jack Dunkhurst at the Haymarket Theatre, Beare Street, Liverpool, UK.		*On Monday, September 11, 1899, Jeffries fought a 4x2minute round exhibition against Jack Dunkhurst at the Haymarket Theatre, Beare Street, Liverpool, UK.