By Joan Brown Wettingfeld
Though James John Corbett’s pugilistic history as a world champion in boxing was short, it was one full of honor and acclaim. Born in California, he later made his home in Bayside. His house, only a few blocks from my own home, is still extant.
Unlike others in his profession, he was well-educated. His Irish parents insisted he have a good education and he attended the public schools of San Francisco and later the Catholic College of the Sacred Heart. After college, he worked for the Bank of Nevada and, but for his interest in the manly art of boxing, could have pursued a career in that more respectable occupation.
As to his temperament, it was said that “he was a good fellow to have for a friend, but an enemy to be dreaded.” He naturally excelled in all athletic sports and he made his first appearance as a pugilist in 1884 when he was 18. He won that bout in two rounds.
Corbett, who was engaged to teach boxing, continued to be victorious in contests with a number of noted fighters. Soon he was considered a giant among his opponents and when he went against Jack Burke, known as “The Irish Lad,” they fought to a draw.
From then until December 1884, he was successful against several of the top pugilists of the day, known as Knights of the Ring. He broke his hand in a hard-fought battle of 27 rounds when he fought Joe Choynski on a barge on the Sacramento River.
Corbett continued to teach at the Olympic Club in San Francisco while making periodic tours to fight his opponents, easily winning most of his contests. For example, on one of his tours north he defeated Dominick McCaffrey in the third round of a hotly contested battle.
His first great victory came when he defeated John L. Sullivan of Boston at the Olympic Club in New Orleans. The stake was $30,000 with an additional purse of $25,000 and the title of Champion of the World. The fight, which took place Sept. 7, 1892, ended in the 21st round by knock-out.
Corbett’s next challenge came from English champion Charlie Mitchel Jan. 25, 1894. The two faced off in Jacksonville, Fla., and Corbett defeated his opponent in three rounds, once again securing the title of Champion of the World.
Popular and presentable, Corbett became a successful celebrity under the management of William A. Brady, turning his talents to acting and appearing as Jack Rawdon in the stage drama “Gentleman Jack,” which was written especially for him, in March 1894 at the Old Drury Lane Theatre in London.
He carried the nickname “Gentleman Jim” back to the boxing ring and had many successful fights until, in 1903, he chose to abandon boxing for a career in vaudeville, motion pictures and radio.
It was at this time that he permanently relocated to the East Coast, purchasing a home in Bayside where, in 1925, he wrote his biography, “The Roar of the Crowd: The True Tale of the Rise and Fall of a Champion.” As a Bayside resident, he was an active and well-loved member of our community.
Joan Brown Wettingfeld is an author and freelance writer.
