World heavyweight boxing champion, 1892-1897. Inducted into the
International Boxing Hall of Fame, 1990.
Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, 1980.
Generally considered the first scientific fighter because he used his
speed and knowledge of his opponent's strengths and weaknesses to
develop a strategy for a fight rather than brawn and volume of punches.
On 21 May 1891, Corbett fought Peter Jackson, an Australian who
couldn't get a fight against the reigning champ, John L. Sullivan,
because he was black. The match went 61 rounds before it was declared a
no-contest.
Fought his brother, Tom, a total of 8 times from July - August 1898. In
their 10 August 1898 bout, Jim badly damaged Tom's nose.
His bout with Steve O'Donnell was stopped when Corbett was told of the
deaths of his parents. Patrick Corbett had bet his net worth on Jim's
17 March 1897 title defense against Bob Fitzsimmons. Jim's defeat
ruined the elder Corbett, whom, police concluded, shot his wife then
himself in a fit of dementia. (16 August 1898)