Gentleman Jim conquers the great John L

The conqueror of the “Great John L” was born on September 1, 1866, in San Francisco, CA.

Called “Gentleman Jim,” Corbett exhibited a classier veneer, which attracted a different type of fight fan.

Soon after becoming the heavyweight champion, Corbett capitalized on his fame. He boxed several exhibitions, highlighted by a benefit for Sullivan.

The former champion needed the money badly. Corbett was happy to oblige, likely seeing some good PR as well.

In October 1892, Corbett began appearing in Gentlemen Jack. The play was on the road for over a year. Corbett likely enjoyed acting more than boxing. He recognized the money he could make.

Ranking contenders threw challenges Corbett’s way. He ignored all of them except one. Loudmouth Charly Mitchell was determined to get Corbett’s goat. He didn’t just call out Corbett – he insulted him every chance he got. After one encounter, before Corbett was champion, Mitchell, known for his salty mouth, went off on Corbett.

Corbett, born with a hair-trigger temper, had to be restrained. The antagonists would meet on January 25, 1894, in Jacksonville, FL.

Mitchell-five inches shorter than Corbett and over 20 pounds lighter, could fight. He floored Sullivan in their first encounter and lasted 39 rounds in a rematch. His tactics were debatable, but Mitchell, born in Birmingham, Eng, was crafty. His unofficial record going into the Corbett match was 26 wins in 28 bouts, with ten draws.

The oddsmakers made Corbett a 2-1 favorite. Mitchell aggravated Corbett additionally by making him wait in the ring. The champion was seething and refused to shake Mitchell’s hand.

In the opening round, a raging Corbett attacked. The crowd was stunned. The boxer had turned brawler. Mitchell ducked most of the blows and grinned. He popped Corbett with a jab that surprised the champion. Corbett floored Mitchell in round two with several jabs and hooks. In round three, Corbett punished a woozy Mitchell some more, drawing blood from the Englishman’s nose, and knocked him down. Seconds later, another right ended matters.

Several days after punishing Mitchell, Corbett returned to touring in Gentleman Jack. Corbett talked of fighting Australian Peter Jackson in a rematch. Their first bout, held three years before, was a competitive rollercoaster that was eventually called a draw after 61 rounds of hell. Corbett broke Jackson’s ribs and his right hand.

A sequel seemed natural, but it never happened. Corbett moved on to an easier opponent. Inventor Thomas Edison had propositioned him about filming his next fight. Edison would use his newly created kinetoscope. Corbett readily agreed. Interestingly, they offered John L. Sullivan the chance to fight Corbett before the cameras, but he declined. Peter Courtney was hardly qualified to fight Corbett, but the chance to make history beckoned.

Two years to the day after defeating Sullivan, Corbett met Courtney at the Edison Laboratory. The fight, as it was, was directed by Edison. Corbett won by a knockout in round six. Easy money.

Corbett would fight middleweight champion Bob Fitzsimmons next. But not immediately. He appeared in the play A Naval Cadet and briefly talked about retirement. Nobody took him seriously. Corbett fought tough Tom Sharkey on June 24, 1896, in a four-rounder. Corbett admitted his soft living and touring had rendered him out of shape. Four rounds were a realistic goal.

Sharkey was squat and powerful. Later in his career, he battled champion James J. Jeffries tooth and nail. Corbett did well early against Sharkey but quickly grew tired. Sharkey roughed him in rounds three and four. The fight was declared a draw.

Corbett finally signed to fight Fitzsimmons. The place would be Carson City, Nev. Corbett knew Fitzsimmons was a top fighter. Inactivity was a problem. In the five years since winning the heavyweight crown, Corbett had fought three times. One fight was impressive. Two were not.

Fitzsimmons, nicknamed Ruby Robert and a native of Cornwall, had won the middleweight crown in 1891. He still was a middleweight when he fought Corbett. Corbett outweighed him by nearly 20 pounds. Fitzsimmons didn’t care. Size meant nothing to him.

Fitzsimmons could punch. Before being controversially disqualified against Sharkey the year before, Fitzsimmons had knocked out five straight opponents.

Corbett and Fitzsimmons met on March 17, 1897. Fitzsimmons was nervous, but Corbett was cool. The defending champion was favored. The bad blood between the two participants boiled. No handshake before the opening bell. Corbett dominated from long range. His jab couldn’t miss. He avoided Fitzsimmons counter punches easily. The punishment was consistent. Fitzsimmons absorbed it. In round six, Corbett knocked Fitzsimmons down with a left hook. The fight looked over. Fitzsimmons’s face was red. Blood dripped from his nose and mouth. Corbett was unmarked.

Fitzsimmons was up at nine and went into a defensive shell. Corbett tried to finish him but could not. In the seventh round, Fitzsimmons landed a damaging blow to Corbett’s midsection that bothered the tiring champ. Corbett’s celebrated footwork and movement had slowed. In round 14, Fitzsimmons found pay dirt with another vicious shot to Corbett’s belly. In boxing lore–referred to as the solar plexus punch, Corbett collapsed to the canvas. Conscious and in pain, Corbett tried to get up, but his legs would not cooperate before referee George Siler counted to 10.

Devasted, Corbett told himself that the blow that relieved him of his beloved title was a lucky punch. He demanded a rematch. Fitzsimmons, still enraged at Corbett’s pre-fight insults, declined the offer.

Corbett would box only four more times. He’d win one controversially. His challenge of heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries, who had knocked out Fitzsimmons twice, was noteworthy because of how close he came to regaining the title. Jeffries was nine years younger and 30 pounds heavier. Corbett was confident he could outbox his old sparring partner.

They met May 11, 1900, in Coney Island, and for 22 of 25 rounds, Corbett dominated, but as they say, all it takes is one. In round 23, Jeffries landed the one, a short left hand that rendered Corbett unconscious.

Jeffries had cleared out the heavyweight division by 1903. Corbett, now 37, wanted to fight Jeffries again. Corbett threw himself into training with his usual energy, but changes were apparent. Corbett had slowed down. His sparring partners were doing something unheard of, hitting him. On fight night in San Francisco, Jeffries tried to end things quickly. He fired heavy blows that Corbett managed to evade, but not for long.

A deadly left hook to the side forced Corbett to take a knee in round two. He beat the count (admitted by most to be slow) and hung on. Jeffries beat on Corbett for the next several rounds. Corbett, suffering from pain in his side, couldn’t stand up straight. Whatever advantage he might have had was gone. Corbett tried to slug with Jeffries. But the man mountain wouldn’t crack.

The last round of James J. Corbett’s boxing career was number 10. Guts and guile were keeping him in the fight. Corbett had managed to rally in round seven, cracking Jeffries with blows but quickly realizing he could not hurt him. The crowd sensed the end was near. Jeffries knew it was well. He stalked after Corbett, letting fly with his favorite punch, a left hook to the body. Corbett, with injured ribs, managed to turn away, but the blow still caught him in the midsection. Down he went. Corbett was up at “nine” but down again from a combination seconds later. His corner threw in the sponge. The fight was over.

After congratulating Jeffries, Corbett said he’d never fight again. He didn’t, but almost came back a year later. Corbett returned to the stage and later acted in silent movies.

Corbett died in 1933, aged 66.

Nine years year later, Hollywood made a fictionalized movie about Corbett called Gentlemen Jim. Errol Flynn portrayed Corbett with gusto. The movie was a box-office smash.