BOOK REVIEW
Tracy Callis
IN THE RING WITH JAMES J. JEFFRIES
By Adam J. Pollack
Adam J. Pollack’s fourth book, In The Ring With James J. Jeffries, is an outstanding work, a monumental effort. It is thoroughly researched and focuses on Jeffries' career in the ring. Like previous books by the author, this book reports the content of local next day newspaper articles to describe and discuss each ring encounter. This latest book by Pollack reports many facts that have not come to light before.
As one reads this book, it can be seen that the young and powerful Jeffries begins as a talented but crude, unpolished slugger who commits many mistakes in the ring. But, over time, working with the outstanding trainers, Billy Delaney and Tommy Ryan, sparring with Jim Corbett, Bob Armstrong, Jack Jeffries (his brother), Ryan and others - and engaging in the ring battles of his career, he gains experience and learns the principles of sound fighting in the ring. With each bout, Jeffries learns and grows until he reaches the point at which he is virtually unbeatable.Key facts, with extensive discourses, of each and every bout of Jeffries' career up to his retirement in 1905 are included. Both contests with Bob Fitzsimmons, Jim Corbett, Tom Sharkey, Gus Ruhlin, Jack Munroe and Hank Griffin are discussed as well as the bouts with Joe Choynski, Peter Jackson and other contests (Theo Van Buskirk, Henry Baker, Joe Goddard, "Mexican" Pete Everett, etc). In addition, there are chapters on Corbett-Sharkey II, Corbett-McCoy, Fitzsimmons-Ruhlin and Fitzsimmons-Sharkey II.
Further, there is a chapter on the controversy surrounding Munroe and chapters describing Jeffries' rigorous training regimen leading up to important fights. Numerous photos (over 100) are intermixed with the text throughout the book.
As one reads, he can "feel" the ruggedness of "Sailor" Tom Sharkey, the talent and quickness of "Gentleman" Jim Corbett, the all-around boxing skills and punching power of Bob "Ruby Robert" Fitzsimmons, the determination of Gus Ruhlin and the cleverness of Joe Choynski.
Pollack follows his highly commendable procedure of gathering, analyzing and utilizing next day newspaper accounts as data sources in order to be as accurate as possible. The book contains 688 pages and includes the text of the chapters, hundreds of footnotes, an index of topics, the career record of Jeffries and a biographical sketch of the author. This writer was amazed at the in-depth descriptions included in the text.
The text contains, in remarkable detail, a very thorough coverage of most of Jeffries' ring encounters - "before and after" comments by the fighters themselves as well as the opinions of the managers, trainers, sparring partners, and past opponents; also "pre-fight and post-fight analyses" by referees, newspaper reporters and various other fighters. The actual, true weights of the fighters, ring size, glove size, round-by-round and blow-by-blow accounts, purses and interesting surrounding events associated with the bouts are also covered.
In summary, this book is well-written, detailed, thorough, extremely interesting and informative and will become the major source of facts regarding the powerful James J. Jeffries. Boxing historians and fans must obtain and read this book. Referring to it, I will update my Jeffries record on the Cyber Boxing Zone.
Adam J. Pollack is a staff writer for the Cyber Boxing Zone, chair of USA Boxing’s Judicial and Rules and Regulations Committees, a boxing coach, and an attorney living in Iowa City, Iowa.
To order this very detailed book, e-mail info@winbykopublications.com
Also, visit the website www.winbykopublications.com
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In The Ring
With James J. Jeffries Adam J. Pollack over 100 photographs, 924 footnotes and an index 688 pp. hardcover 2009 Description
This is Adam Pollack's 4th book in
his heavyweight champion series. It describes in meticulous
detail James Jeffries' bouts from the 1890s up to 1905
(including round by round accounts as well as pre- and
post-fight analysis), his opponents, and his training
regimen. It discusses the time's heavyweight scene,
including contenders, pre-fight hype and negotiations,
political and legal obstacles, and the color line. Chapters
also include descriptions and analysis of Corbett-Sharkey
II, Fitzsimmons-Ruhlin, Fitz-Sharkey II, and Corbett-McCoy,
as well as controversies surrounding several bouts. The book
is based on next-day local newspaper accounts, comparing and
contrasting their descriptions and analysis in order to
provide an authentic view of how heavyweight boxing was
perceived at the time. The use of local primary sources
gives readers a rare opportunity to relive Jeffries' career
as if they were reading about it at the time he was
fighting. The book also includes Jeffries' career record,
$42.95.
To order, contact info@winbykopublications.com
Table of Contents
Preface: The Undeniable Talent 5
1. Foundation of Strength:
Establishing a Local Reputation 6
2. Hank Griffin and the
Professional Hiatus 12
3. It Wasn't Long 21
4. Sparring with the Champion 27
5. Driving the Van Downtown 49
6. How the Baker Got His Goose
Cooked 55
7. The Closer 60
8. The Master Veteran 70
9. No Show 90
10. The Legend 99
11. Mexican Pete 111
12. The Shark 120
13. The Cost of High Expectations
142
14. A Strange Ending 160
15. Road to the Crown 185
16. The Championship 215
17. Exhibition Tour 250
18. A Snag in Preparation 262
19. Reaching Deep Into the Inferno
281
20. The Impact of Film 324
21. A Thriving Sport Under Attack
335
22. The Road to Corbett 344
23. Trial of Will 363
24. The Bevy of Battles as the
Horton Era Ends -
Ruhlin, Sharkey, and Fitzsimmons 399
25. Hell Hath No Fury… 433
26. Boxing's Old Nemesis 450
27. Getting Sharp Again - Griffin
and Kennedy 462
28. The Road to Ruhlin 475
29. Ruling Ruhlin 486
30. On the Horizon 501
31. Championship Training 513
32. The War, the Bandages, and the
Speaking Knockdown 524
33. Media Creation or Legitimate
Performance? 557
34. Building the Intrigue 578
35. Leaving No Doubt 597
36. Justifying Challenges 619
37. Setting the Record Straight 634
38. Leaving the Game 655
Appendix: James J. Jeffries' Record
667
Acknowledgments 680
Index 681
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Jeffries is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of
all-time; He was not a polished boxer but was blessed with enormous
strength, power, stamina, chin and determination |
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