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
Super Bowl XX (Patriots vs. Bears): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XX, which was held on January 26, 1986, between
How I Remember Pro Wrestling in the 1970s
There was a time in my life when I was a big fan of
The Story Of When George Halas Finally Retired For Good
For those who remember George Halas, we might think of him in his later
The Story of the First-Ever Monday Night Football Game
The 1970s ushered in a new birth of competition in pro football. As with
(Mark Pattison) Former NFL WR Conquers Earth’s Seven Summits
In this episode, I talk to Mark Pattison, former NFL wide receiver. I first
Minnesota Vikings of the 1960s and 1970s
From the late 1960s through the late 1970s, the Vikings’ storyline was great promise
1983 Boxing History – A Brief Overview
The World Boxing Association WBA President was Gilberto Mendoza and the World Boxing Council
Super Bowl XIX (Dolphins vs. 49ers): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XIX, which was held on January 20, 1985, Inauguration