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| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | James John Corbett |
| Nickname(s) | Gentleman Jim |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Nationality |  American |
| Birth date | September 1, 1866 |
| Birth place | San Francisco, California |
| Death date | February 18, 1933 (aged 66) |
| Death place | Bayside, New York City |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 25 |
| Wins | 16 |
| Wins by KO | 4 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Draws | 3 |
| No contests | 2 |
James John "Gentleman Jim" Corbett (September 1, 1866 – February 18, 1933) was a heavyweight boxing champion, best known as the man who defeated the great John L. Sullivan. He also coached boxing at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. He stood at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), with a reach of 73 inches (190 cm).
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Dubbed by the media as "Gentleman Jim Corbett," he was rumored to have a college education. He also pursued a career in acting, performing at a variety of theatres. He has been called the "Father of Modern Boxing" because of his scientific approach and innovations in technique. Some think that he changed prizefighting from a brawl to an art form.
On May 21, 1891, Corbett fought Peter "Black Prince" Jackson, a much-heralded bout between cross-town rivals, since Corbett and Jackson were boxing instructors at San Francisco's two most prestigious athletic clubs. They fought to a draw after 61 rounds.
On September 7, 1892 at the Olympic Club in New Orleans, Louisiana, Corbett won the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship by knocking out John L. Sullivan in the 21st round. Corbett's new scientific boxing technique enabled him to dodge Sullivan's rushing attacks, and wear him down with jabs.
In his only successful title defense, January 25, 1894 Corbett knocked out Charley Mitchell of Great Britain in three rounds. On September 7, 1894 he took part in the production of one of the first recorded boxing events, a fight with Peter Courtney. This was filmed at the Black Maria studio at West Orange, New Jersey, in the USA and was produced by William K.L. Dickson. It was only the second boxing match to be recorded.
Jim Corbett lost his championship to the English boxer Bob Fitzsimmons in Carson City, Nevada. Corbett was dominant for most of the fight and Fitzsimmons was badly cut, when Mrs Fitzsimmons called out, "Hit him in the slats, Bob!" where "slats" meant the abdominal area. Fitzsimmons then winded Corbett with a hard punch to the solar plexus, and Corbett could not continue within the count.
Following his retirement from boxing, Corbett returned to acting, appearing in low-budget films and in minstrel shows, wearing blackface in skits and giving talks about pugilism. He authored his autobiography under the title "The Roar of the Crowd"; the story was serialized by The Saturday Evening Post in six weekly installments during October/November 1894. The following year, G.P. Putnam's Sons, published it in book form, marketing it as the "True Tale of the Rise and Fall of a Champion." In 1942, the story was made into a Hollywood motion picture titled, Gentleman Jim, starring Errol Flynn as Corbett.
From 1903 until his death, Corbett lived in a three-story home in the Bayside neighborhood of Queens in New York City.[1]
On his passing in 1933, Corbett was interred in the Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. On its creation, he was elected posthumously to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Corbett's brother, Joe Corbett, was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Corbett was married to Olive Lake Morris from 1886 to 1895.
Corbett's great, great, great nephew, Dan Corbett, was a professional heavyweight boxer from San Antonio, Texas, who won the United States Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization's intercontinental heavyweight titles before retiring.
| Preceded by John L. Sullivan |
World Heavyweight Champion 1892–1897 |
Succeeded by Bob Fitzsimmons |
   | "A High Quality of Life Within the City" - A High Quality of Life Within the City - The New York Times |
| | James J. Corbett's career boxing record - James J Corbett |
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