July 25, 1902 – James J. Jeffries is an interesting character in boxing history. Big Jim was the epitome of what fight fans wanted their HeavyWeight Champion to be, large, solidly built, and ruggedly tough. The Carroll, Ohio native was all of that and a box of crackers.
He stood 6 foot 1″ tall and weighed over 200 pounds. Bob Fitzsimmons was the world champ and he held the title close to his vest. Fitzsimmons at the end of the 19th century insisted he would put the title on the line against no man until someone had proven himself as the undeniable leading contender for the crown.
“Boilermaker” Jeffries after decisions over top contenders Peter Jackson and Tom Sharkey earned that honor and in 1899 defeated Fitzsimmons for the belt. 3 years after winning this title from the Englishman Fitzsimmons, the American Jeffries repeated as the belt carrier with an 8th round KO in San Francisco for the heavyweight crown in the highly touted rematch on this date in 1902.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
A Brief History of the New York Yankees of the Early 60s (1960-1964)
In a span of ten years, from 1949 to 1958, the New York Yankees
Go West Young Man: The Chicago Cardinals First Extended Road Trip
In the early days of the National Football League, it was not uncommon for
Wayne Maki and Ted Green: A Gruesome Night In Hockey History
Hockey has always been a game that is played with emotion. Within a moment
Super Bowl XXVI (Bills vs. Redskins): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XXVI, which was held on January 26, 1992, at
Super Bowl XXVII (Bills vs. Cowboys): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XXVII, which was held on January 31, 1993, at
My 5 Biggest Upsets In Boxing History
In this segment Ladies and Gentlemen, I am going to discuss upsets throughout Boxing
Miracle on 33rd Street: Remembering the 1975 Baltimore Colts
The 1974 Baltimore Colts were a typical losing team. They suffered from poor coaching,
Why Pat Harder Belongs In The Pro Football Hall of Fame
When an incredible football player is consistently overlooked for inclusion in the Pro Football