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
Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women’s Football League
The authors of “Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the Women’s National Football
Quarterbacks from the 1970s who “Maybe” should be in the Hall of Fame
I know that I will be getting a lot of feedback on this topic,
Super Bowl XXIX (Chargers vs. 49ers): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XXIX, which was held on January 29, 1995, at
NFL Sponsorships and Their Influence on the Online Casino Industry
The National Football League has long been not just a sports organization, but a
Little Big Man: Joey Sternaman of the Chicago Bears
It is now common in the National Football League to have quarterbacks who are
3 Legendary Dirt Bike Events Shaping Riding Culture
The smell of castor oil, the thwap of two-strokes ricocheting off canyon walls, and
The Match Starts at Tea Time: Football Fever and the Numbers Behind Bets
Football fandom here is rarely quiet. It’s the sport that sneaks into daily life:
Football Learning Academy: An Online Resource Of Gridiron History
In this episode, I talk to Ken Crippen about his new company, the Football