James J. Corbett

 

his record

 

The Cyber Boxing Zone
 

BORN : September 1 1866; San Francisco, California
DIED : February 18 1933; Bayside, Queens, New York

HEIGHT : 6-1 1/2 WEIGHT : 173-190 lbs
MANAGER : William A. Brady

AMATEUR BOUTS

Undated
---    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  4

PROFESSIONAL BOUTS

1889
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 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 Joe Choynski                New York, NY                  SCH   
Sep 12 an unnamed opponent         New York, NY                  SCH   
Sep 12 an unnamed opponent         New York, NY                  SCH   
       -The previous 3 bouts were scheduled the
        same date; The outcomes 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   
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 Charley 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 Charley 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 the first motion picture fight; 
        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             
       -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
Mar 17 Bob Fitzsimmons             Carson City, Nv         (1:40) LK 14
       -Heavyweight Championship of the World;
        Weights: 183 - 167
May 14 Jim McVey                   Buffalo, NY                    EX  4

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 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

1925
---    Gene Tunney                 New York, NY                   EX  3

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