James J. Corbett
James John Corbett, born September 1, 1866 in San Francisco, California, United States – died February 18, 1933 in Bayside, New York, was a heavyweight boxing champion. He was best known as "Gentleman Jim", the man who defeated the great John L Sullivan. He also coached boxing at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.
Dubbed by the media as "Gentleman Jim Corbett," he was college educated and in addition to boxing, pursued a career in acting, performing at a variety of theaters. 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, because the reigning John L. Sullivan wouldn't fight Jackson because he was black. Corbett and Jackson 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.
For his only 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 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 New Zealand boxer Bob Fitzsimmons on March 17, 1897 in Carson City, Nevada.
Following his retirement from boxing, Corbett returned to acting, appearing on stage and in film. He authored his autobiography under the title The Roar of the Crowd that was serialized by The Saturday Evening Post in six weekly installments during October/November of 1924. 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, Gentlemen Jim, starring Errol Flynn as Corbett.
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. (Monroe Books)