![]() In 1893 Corbett appeared in a touring stage show written in his honor. In a gracious gesture, Corbett participated in a benefit sparring match with Sullivan at Madison Square Garden in New York City on 17 September to raise funds for the financially-strapped ex-champion. The news that the mighty Sullivan had lost his title to the "young dude" made international headlines. Bloodied but still standing, Sullivan held on until the twenty-first round, when he finally succumbed to a hard right to the jaw. Sullivan kept charging at Corbett but failed to land solid blows, while Corbett dodged and wove as he counterpunched with deadly accuracy. It became evident early in the fight that the younger boxer's nimbleness, combined with a surprising punching force, put him in command of the contest. Meanwhile, Sullivan derided his opponent as a "young dude" and kept an indifferent training schedule.Ĭorbett exuded a flippant confidence as he met Sullivan in the ring, enraging the champion. Corbett slimmed down to 178 pounds for the fight and trained strenuously with Mike Donovan, a leading boxing coach. Next, he challenged the champion to a real match, set for 7 September 1892 at the Olympic Club in New Orleans. Corbett warmed up to the task of dethroning Sullivan by sparring with him in a San Francisco exhibition in June 1891. After wearing the crown for ten years, Sullivan had become sluggish and complacent, his legendary brute strength diminished. It was only a matter of time before Corbett sent out a challenge to heavyweight champion John L. "If I could always keep away where the other fellow couldn't hit me, and jump in and hit him when he did not expect it, it was only a question of how long he could last in front of me." "From the time I began to box I made up my mind that footwork was half the game," he said later in life. His was dubbed "the dancing master" because of his quickness. He championed a "scientific" approach to boxing, emphasizing thorough physical conditioning. Shamelessly aggressive in his promotion of Corbett, Brady would remain with the fighter for the rest of his career.Ĭorbett cultivated an image that emphasized his ring savvy and speed rather than sheer muscle. By that time he had attained a nationwide reputation and acquired a manager, William A. The following year, he fought Peter Jackson to a draw after a three-hour, sixty-one-round battle. His winning streak continued into 1890, when he won a four-round decision over Jake Kilrain. After taking boxing lessons from Walter Watson at San Francisco's Olympic Club, he decided to channel his abilities toward a career in the ring.Ĭorbett turned professional at age eighteen, gaining fame soon after by defeating Joe Choynski in a series of three bouts. Corbett became an impressive sprinter and gymnast during his teenage years and considered pursuing professional baseball for a time. During this time he began to cultivate the dapper, well-tailored look that would earn him the nickname "Gentleman Jim." His job at the bank did not distract him from his love of athletics. Through his father, he found employment at the Nevada Bank in San Francisco, working his way up from messenger to assistant teller. Corbett's father was prone to fits of depression in August 1898 he shot his wife in the head as she lay sleeping before taking his own life as well.Īmbitious from an early age, Corbett disappointed his mother by refusing to study for the priesthood. As Corbett related in his memoirs, his family's home life was troubled. ![]() Corbett's father operated a livery stable in San Francisco while his mother raised their children, ten of whom lived to adulthood. His father, Patrick Corbett, came from County Mayo, while his mother, Katherine McDonald Corbett, had her roots in Dublin. 18 February 1933 in New York City), stylish boxer, renowned for his agility and scientific approach, who held the Heavyweight Champion of the World title from 1892 to 1897.Ĭorbett, one of twelve children, was the son of Irish immigrant parents. 1 September 1866 in San Francisco, California d.
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