Jim Corbett
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Corbett was one of the greatest heavyweights of all-time; He has been called the "Father of Modern Boxing" because of his innovations in fighting style
He was clever, agile, and "jack-rabbit" quick; He utilized fast jabs and hooks, and possessed excellent footwork along with slippery head and body movement
Nat Fleischer ranked Corbett as the #5 All-Time Heavyweight and Charley Rose ranked him as the #9 All-Time Heavyweight; He was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990
BORN : September 1 1866; San Francisco, California DIED : February 18 1933; Bayside, Queens, New York HEIGHT : 6-1 1/2 WEIGHT : 173-190 lbs RACE : White; Irish-American MANAGER : William A. Brady
Boxing Record
AMATEUR BOUTSUndated Fatty Carney San Francisco, Ca W -This was a "private" fight 1884 Joe Choynski San Francisco, Ca ND 1 1883-1885 -Corbett received boxing instructions from Professor Walter Watson at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Ca Walter Watson San Francisco, Ca EX "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey San Francisco, Ca EX Mike Cleary San Francisco, Ca EX -Cleary stated that Corbett "got away" from a right-hand punch better than anyone he had ever seen Billy Keneally San Francisco, Ca W 4 Dave Eisemann San Francisco, Ca TK 2 -Corbett knocked Eisemann out of the ring; Corbett was recognized as Middleweight Champion of the Olympic Club; Later, he became Heavyweight Champion of the club -Corbett beat many unnamed minor opponents in the San Francisco, Ca area -Corbett became a Golden Gloves Champion and won Seven Silver Championship Cups in Amateur Boxing on the Pacific Coast -Corbett beat some Professional boxers in the San Francisco, Ca area "Professor" John Donaldson W 4 Martin "Buffalo" Costello W 3 1886 Billy Welch San Francisco, Ca L 4 Billy Welch San Francisco, Ca KO 1 Jul 14 Duncan McDonald Salt Lake City, Ut D 8 -Corbett used the name "Jim Dillon" for this bout; Police intervened Aug Duncan McDonald Salt Lake City, Ut EX 3 -Corbett married Olive Lake (divorced in 1895) 1887 Aug 27 Jack Burke San Francisco, Ca D 8 -Corbett became Boxing Instructor at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Ca 1887-1888 Frank Smith Salt Lake City, Ut KO 2 Duncan McDonald Evanston, Wy W 4 Tom Johnson in California W 4 "Captain" James C. Dailey in California TK 2 Mike Brennan San Francisco, Ca W 3 "Professor" William Miller in California W 6 Bill Hayes in California KO 3 1888 George Atkinson in California W 2 Jun 30 Frank Glover San Francisco, Ca EX 4PROFESSIONAL BOUTS1889 May 30 Joe Choynski near Fairfax, Ca NC 4 -Police intervened Jun 5 Joe Choynski Benecia Harbor, Ca TK 27 -This bout was fought on a barge; Corbett wore two-ounce gloves; Choynski wore skin gloves with seams; Weights: 180 - 172 Jul 15 Joe Choynski San Francisco, Ca W 4 Jul 29 Dave Campbell Portland, Or D 10 -Corbett was easily better Sep 28 "Professor" John Donaldson San Francisco, Ca EX 3 Dec 12 "Australian" Billy Smith San Francisco, Ca W 10 1890 Feb 17 Jake Kilrain New Orleans, La W 6 -Gloves were used for this bout; Weights: 183 - 201 Mar 20 "Professor" Mike Donovan New York, NY EX 3 Apr 14 Dominick McCaffrey Brooklyn, NY (12:20) W 4 Apr 30 "Professor" John Donaldson Sacramento, Ca EX Jim Daly EX -Daly worked as a sparring partner during the fall of 1890 and was active in numerous sparring exhibitions Oct 8 John D. Spreckels San Francisco, Ca EX -Corbett broke Spreckels' nose 1891 May 21 Peter Jackson San Francisco, Ca (4:03:00) D 61 -Weights: 182 - 198 Jun 26 John L. Sullivan San Francisco, Ca EX 4 Aug 5 Jim Hall Chicago, Il EX 4 Oct 8 Ed Kinney Milwaukee, Wi W 4 1892 Jan 18 Mike Donovan Philadelphia, Pa EX 1 -Corbett was easily better Jan 19 Jim McVey Philadelphia, Pa EX 3 -Corbett was easily better; McVey weighed around 240 lbs Jan 20 Jack "Bubbles" Davis Philadelphia, Pa EX -Corbett was easily better Jan 21 Bob Caffrey Philadelphia, Pa EX 3 -Corbett was easily better Jan 22 Mike Donovan Philadelphia, Pa EX 3 -Corbett was easily better Jan 23 Bob Caffrey Philadelphia, Pa SCH Jan 23 Jim McVey Philadelphia, Pa SCH -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled the same date; The outcomes are not known Feb 11 Charley Mitchell New York, NY -This bout was scheduled but cancelled; Negotiations fell through Feb 16 William Spilling New York, NY (1:55) EX 1 -Corbett knocked Spilling out; Spilling was 5-11 and 185 lbs Feb 16 Bob Caffrey New York, NY (0:55) EX 1 -Corbett knocked Caffrey out; Caffrey was heavier than Spilling Feb 16 Joe Lannon New York, NY EX 3 -Corbett was easily better; Lannon was 5-11 and 227 lbs; The previous 3 bouts were held the same date Mar 2 Jim Brady Philadelphia, Pa EX 4 -Corbett was easily better Mar 3 Billy McLean Philadelphia, Pa EX 4 -This was a friendly session since McLean was 59 years old; Corbett was easily better Mar 4 Tommy Monoghan Philadelphia, Pa EX 2 -Corbett knocked Monogahn out Mar 5 Jim Daly Philadelphia, Pa EX Apr 6 Jim Daly New Haven, Ct EX 3 Apr 8 Jim Daly Buffalo, NY EX 3 Apr 13 Jim Daly Rochester, NY EX Apr 23 Peter McCann Chicago, Il SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Apr 23 Jim Daly Chicago, Il EX 3 May 24 Jim Daly Los Angeles, Ca EX 3 May 30 Jim Daly Trinidad, Co EX Aug Jim Hall Chicago, Il EX 4 Aug 20 Jim Daly Newark, NJ EX 3 Aug 20 John McVey Newark, NJ (5:00) EX -This bout was a wrestling contest Aug 20 Jim Daly Newark, NJ EX 3 -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date Aug 25 Jim Daly Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 29 Jim Daly New York, NY EX Aug 29 Jim McVey Newark, NJ EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Sep 2 Jim Daly Asbury Park, NJ EX -This bout was a wrestling match; Corbett and Daly got rough and an argument ensued Sep 3 Jim McVey Philadelphia, Pa EX -This was a wrestling match - a 30 minute session Sep 5 Jim Daly near Spartanburg, SC EX -This bout was held on a "training car" which was part of a southbound train Sep 5 Jim Daly near Gainsville, Fl EX Sep 5 Denny Dillon near Gainsville, Fl EX Sep 5 Mike Donovan near Gainsville, Fl EX -The previous 3 bouts were held on a "training car" which was part of a train going from Gainsville to Atlanta, Ga Sep 5 Jim Daly New Orleans, La EX -This was a wrestling match Sep 7 John L. Sullivan New Orleans, La (1:30) KO 21 -Heavyweight Championship of the World; Five-ounce gloves were used for this bout; Some sources report a time of 1:45 of round 21; Weights: 178 - 212 Sep 12 Jim Daly New York, NY EX 3 Sep 12 Joe Choynski New York, NY SCH Sep 12 an unnamed opponent New York, NY SCH -The previous 3 bouts were scheduled the same date; The outcomes of the last two are not known Sep 14 Jim Daly Philadelphia, Pa EX 3 Sep 15 Jim Daly Providence, RI EX Sep 16 Jim Daly Boston, Ma EX Sep 17 John L. Sullivan New York, NY EX 3 -Corbett was easily better Sep 19 an unnamed opponent Hartford, Ct SCH Sep 20 an unnamed opponent Hoboken, NJ SCH -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled; The outcomes are not known Sep 21 Jim Daly Waverly, NJ EX Sep 22 Jim Daly Brooklyn, NY EX Sep 23 Jim Daly Waverly, NJ EX 3 Sep 23 Jim Daly Newburgh, NY EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Sep 26 Jim Daly Albany, NY EX 3 Sep 29 Jim Daly Buffalo, NY EX 3 -One minute rounds were sparred Oct 4 "Professor" John Donaldson Wilmington, De EX 3 Oct 5 "Professor" John Donaldson Asbury Park, NJ EX -This bout was part of the play "Gentleman Jack" 1893 Jim Daly Chicago, Il EX Sep 4 "Professor" John Donaldson New York, NY EX 3 Oct 4 "Professor" John Donaldson Wilmington, De EX 3 Oct "Professor" John Donaldson Interlaken, NJ EX Nov "Professor" John Donladson Cleveland, Oh EX -This bout was held during November 20-25 1893 Nov 27 "Professor" John Donaldson Buffalo, NY EX Dec 12 an unnamed opponent Augusta, Ga EX 1 Dec 16 John McVey Mayport, Fl EX -This was a wrestling match Dec 16 Dan Creedon Mayport, Fl EX Dec 16 Tom Tracey Mayport, Fl EX Dec 16 "Professor" John Donaldson Mayport, Fl EX -The previous 4 bouts were held the same date Dec 31 "Professor" John Donaldson Mayport, Fl EX Dec 31 Dan Creedon Mayport, Fl EX Dec 31 Tom Tracey Mayport, Fl EX -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date 1894 Jan 8 an unnamed opponent Mayport, Fl EX Jan 18 "Professor" John Donaldson Mayport, Fl EX Jan 18 Dan Creedon Mayport, Fl EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Jan 19 "Professor" John Donaldson Mayport, Fl EX Jan 19 Dan Creedon Mayport, Fl EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Jan 25 Charlie Mitchell Jacksonville, Fl KO 3 -Heavyweight Championship of the World; Weights: 184 - 158 Jan 28 an unnamed opponent New York, NY -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Feb an unnamed opponent Mobile, Al EX Feb 12 "Professor" John Donaldson Philadelphia, Pa EX -This bout was part of the play "Gentleman Jack" Feb 24 Charlie Mitchell New York, NY EX 4 -Corbett was easily better Apr 9 "Professor" John Donaldson Philadelphia, Pa EX 4 -This bout was part of the play "Gentleman Jack" May 13 an unnamed opponent Paris, Fr EX May Jim Daly Paris, Fr EX May Charlomat Paris, Fr -This bout was scheduled but cancelled; Charlomat was a Savate Champion Aug 16 an unnamed opponent Trenton, NJ EX -This bout was part of the play "Gentleman Jack" Sep 7 Peter Courtney Orange, NJ EX 6 -Corbett knocked Courtney out; This bout was filmed by Edison's Kinetoscope; It was one of the first motion picture fights; Two-minute rounds were fought due to film reloading requirements Sep Steve O'Donnell Boston, Ma SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known 1895 Jan 4 Jim McVey New Orleans, La EX 3 -Corbett knocked McVey out; McVey weighed 225 lbs Jan 6 Steve O'Donnell New Orleans, La SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Jan Steve O'Donnell Nashville, Tn EX -This bout was part of the play "Gentleman Jack" Jan 16 -Corbett spoke at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tn on the topic of physical development Feb 2 Steve O'Donnell Minneapolis, Mn EX Feb 18 Steve O'Donnell Philadelphia, Pa EX -Corbett and O'Donnell sparred nightly during Feb 18-23 Feb 28 Steve O'Donnell Scranton, Pa EX Mar 5 -Corbett appeared at the Temple Theatre in Camden, NJ; It is not known if he sparred Mar 7 -Corbett appeared at Frankford, Pa; It is not known if he sparred Mar 7 -Corbett appeared at West Chester, Pa; It is not known if he sparred Mar 11 -Corbett was scheduled to appear at New Brunswick, NJ; It is not known if he sparred Mar 12 -Corbett was scheduled to appear at Elizabeth, NJ; It is not known if he sparred Mar 13 -Corbett was scheduled to appear at Hoboken, NJ; It is not known if he sparred Mar 14 -Corbett was scheduled to appear at Yonkers, NY; It is not known if he sparred Jun 8 Jim McVey New York, NY EX Jun 27 John L. Sullivan New York, NY EX 3 Aug 13 Jim McVey Buffalo, NY EX 3 Aug 13 Jim Daly Buffalo, NY EX 3 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Aug 15 -Corbett married Miss Stanhope Sep 30 "Professor" John Donaldson New York, NY EX 1 Sep 30 Jim Daly New York, NY EX 1 Sep 30 Steve O'Donnell New York, NY EX 3 -Corbett had O'Donnell bleeding from the nose; The previous 3 bouts were held during the afternoon Sep 30 Tom Forrest New York, NY EX 3 -Corbett cpould have finished Forrest at any time Sep 30 Steve O'Donnell New York, NY EX 3 -The previous 2 bouts were held during the evening Oct 31 Bob Fitzsimmons Dallas, Tx SCH -Heavyweight Championship of the World; This bout was scheduled but not held; Negotiations fell through Nov 11 -Corbett retired (only to return later); He presented his title to Peter Maher following Maher's knockout win over Steve O'Donnell at Maspeth, NY -Corbett divorced Olive Lake during the year and married Jessie Taylor, an actress, known as Vera Stanwood 1896 Apr 15 Boyd Frazer Chicago, Il (5:00) EX 1 -Frazer was wearing a padded suit; The round lasted about five minutes because the timekeeper neglected to notice when three minutes were up; Corbett landed about 100 blows to six for Frazer Jun 24 Tom Sharkey San Francisco, Ca D 4 -Police intervened; Weights: 178 - 177 1/2 Aug 7 Billy Woods Cripple Creek, Co EX 4 Dec 14 Jim McVey New York, NY EX 3 1897 Jan 20 Jim McVey St. Louis, Mo EX 3 Jan 21 Jim McVey St. Louis, Mo EX 3 Jan 22 Jim McVey St. Louis, Mo EX 3 Jan Gus Ruhlin Chicago, Il SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Jan 24 Jim McVey Chicago, Il EX Jan 24 Jim McVey Chicago, Il EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date as part of the play "A Naval Cadet" Jan 25 Jim McVey Chicago, Il EX Jan 25 M.B. Pine Chicago, Il EX Jan 25 Jim McVey Chicago, Il EX -This was a wrestling match; The previous 3 bouts were held the same date Jan 26 Jim McVey Chicago, Il EX Jan 26 Jim McVey Chicago, Il EX -This was a wrestling match; The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Jan 29 Jim McVey Chicago, Il EX Jan 29 M.B. Pine Chicago, Il EX Jan 29 Jim McVey Chicago, Il EX -This was a wrestling match; The previous 3 bouts were held the same date Feb 8 Jim McVey Denver, Col EX Feb 9 Jim McVey St. Louis, Mo EX Feb 18 Billy Woods Carson City, Nv EX Feb 18 Jim McVey Carson City, Nv EX -This was a wrestling match; The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Feb 24 Billy Woods Carson City, Nv EX Feb 24 Joe Corbett Carson City, Nv EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Feb 25 Jim Jeffries Carson City, Nv EX 3 Feb 26 Billy Woods Carson City, Nv EX Feb 26 Jim Jeffries Carson City, Nv EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Mar 1 Billy Woods Carson City, Nv EX Mar 1 Jim McVey Carson City, Nv EX Mar 1 Jim Jeffries Carson City, Nv EX Mar 1 Al Hampton Carson City, Nv EX Mar 1 Joe Corbett Carson City, Nv EX -The previous 5 bouts were held the same date Mar 5 Jim Jeffries Carson City, Nv EX 3 Mar 5 Billy Woods Carson City, Nv EX Mar 5 Edgren Carson City, Nv EX Mar 5 Jim McVey Carson City, Nv EX -This was a wrestling match; The previous 4 bouts were held the same date Mar 8 Billy Woods Carson City, Nv EX Mar 8 Jim Jeffries Carson City, Nv EX 4 Mar 8 Edgren Carson City, Nv EX Mar 8 Joe Corbett Carson City, Nv EX Mar 8 Jim McVey Carson City, Nv EX -This was a wrestling match; The previous 5 bouts were held the same date Mar 10 Billy Woods Carson City, Nv EX Mar 10 Jim Jeffries Carson City, Nv EX Mar 10 Jim McVey Carson City, Nv EX -This was a wrestling match; The previous 3 bouts were held the same date Mar 13 Billy Woods Carson City, Nv EX Mar 13 Jim Jeffries Carson City, Nv EX 3 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Mar 17 Bob Fitzsimmons Carson City, Nv (1:40) LK 14 -Heavyweight Championship of the World; Weights: 183 - 167 Apr 8 Jim McVey St. Louis, Mo EX 3 Apr 9 Jim McVey St. Louis, Mo SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Apr 10 Jim McVey St. Louis, Mo SCH Apr 10 Jim McVey St. Louis, Mo SCH -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled the same date; The outcomes are not known May 14 Jim McVey Buffalo, NY EX 4 an unnamed opponent Ogdensburg, NY EX 1898 Charles Lawler EX Jul 27 Jim McVey Asbury Park, NJ EX Jul 27 Ray Doyle Asbury Park, NJ EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Jul 28 Ray Doyle Asbury Park, NJ EX Jul 28 Tom Corbett Asbury Park, NJ EX Jul 28 an unnamed opponent Asbury Park, NJ EX Jul 28 an unnamed opponent Asbury Park, NJ EX -The previous 4 bouts were held the same date (morning) Jul 28 Jim McVey Asbury Park, NJ EX Jul 28 George Green Asbury Park, NJ EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date (afternoon) Jul 29 Jim McVey Asbury Park, NJ EX -This was a wrestling match Jul 29 Tom Corbett Asbury Park, NJ EX Jul 29 an unnamed opponent Asbury Park, NJ EX -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date Aug 1 an unnamed opponent Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 2 Jim McVey Asbury Park, NJ EX -This was a wrestling match Aug 2 Ray Doyle Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 2 Tom Lansing Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 2 an unnamed opponent Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 2 an unnamed opponent Asbury Park, NJ EX -The previous 5 bouts were held the same date Aug 4 Tom Corbett Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 4 Tom Lansing Asbury Park, NJ EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Aug 6 George Considine Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 6 Tom Corbett Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 6 Jim McVey Asbury Park, NJ EX -This was a wrestling match; The previous 3 bouts were held the same date Aug 7 Tommy Rice Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 7 Tom Corbett Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 7 Jim McVey Asbury Park, NJ EX -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date Aug 9 Tom Lansing Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 9 Billy Lavigne Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 9 Tom Corbett Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 9 A.L. Rice Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 9 Jim McVey Asbury Park, NJ EX -This was a wrestling match; The previous 5 bouts were held the same date Aug 10 Tom Lansing Asbury Park, NJ EX -Corbett knocked Lansing out Aug 10 Tom Corbett Asbury Park, NJ EX -Corbett badly damaged his brother's nose; The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Aug 13 Tom Lansing Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 13 Steve O'Donnell Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 13 an unnamed opponent Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 13 Jim McVey Asbury Park, NJ EX -This was a wrestling match; The previous 4 bouts were held the same date Aug 14 Steve O'Donnell Asbury Park, NJ EX 6 -Corbett hit O'Donnell with devastating blows Aug 15 Tom Lansing Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 15 Billy Lavigne Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 15 Tom Corbett Asbury Park, NJ EX -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date Aug 16 an unnamed opponent Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 16 an unnamed opponent Asbury Park, NJ EX Aug 16 Steve O'Donnell Asbury Park, NJ EX 6 -This bout was stopped when Corbett received the news of the deaths of his parents; His father killed his mother and then himself; The previous 3 bouts were held the same date Sep 10 Charles "Kid" McCoy Buffalo, NY -This bout was scheduled but cancelled Nov 22 "Sailor" Tom Sharkey New York, NY LF 9 -Corbett lost by disqualification when his second, Jim McVey, came into the ring in protest of Sharkey's rough, wrestling tactics 1900 Mar 20 "Professor" Mike Donovan New York, NY EX 3 Apr Gus Ruhlin EX -Corbett sparred Ruhlin during March - April 1900 in preparation for his bout with Jim Jeffries May 11 Jim Jeffries Brooklyn, NY (2:11) LK 23 -Heavyweight Championship of the World; Weights: 188 - 218 Aug 30 Charles "Kid" McCoy New York, NY KO 5 -It seems certain that McCoy faked the knockout loss to win bets 1902 Dec 8 Tommy Burns Detroit, Mi EX 3 1903 Aug 14 Jim Jeffries San Francisco, Ca LT 10 -Heavyweight Championship of the World; Weights: 190 - 220 1910 Mar 4 Jack Dillon Indianapolis, In EX 3 Jun Jim Jeffries Moana Springs, Ca EX 1925 Gene Tunney New York, NY EX 3
Master Index
The CyberboxingZone Journal Article on Corbett (May 1999)
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