Jim Jeffries
(James Jackson Jeffries)
(the "Boilermaker")

BORN     April 15 1875; Carroll, Ohio
DIED     March 3 1953; Burbank, California
HEIGHT   6-2 1/2
WEIGHT   206-227 lbs
MANAGERS Billy Gallagher, William Brady
RECORD 18-1-2 (15 KO, 120 EX)

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

Due to early day reports, there is much question as to whether some bouts were exhibitions or actual wins; The knockouts in England during 1900 are not included in his statistics

Many boxing people rated him as the best heavyweight ever - Jack Dempsey, Jack Johnson, Jim Corbett, Tommy Burns, Tom Sharkey, Jack Root, Willie Ritchie, Patsy Haley, Dan Morgan, Joe Woodman, DeWitt Van Court and Hugh Fullerton - to name a few

Nat Fleischer ranked Jeffries as the #2 All-Time Heavyweight; Charley Rose ranked him as the #5 All-Time Heavyweight; Jeffries was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990

 


Jeffries Training/Sparring #1 Video Clip

Jeffries Training/Sparring #2 Video Clip

Jeffries-Fitzsimmons #1 1899 Re-Enactment Fight Video Clip

Jeffries-Sharkey #2 1899 Fight Video Clip   !!!

Jeffries-Ruhlin #2 1901 Fight Video Clip   !!!

Jeffries-Sharkey-Ruhlin Brief Fight Video Clip - (from Jamie Pritchard)

Jeffries' Career Record Summary Video Clip

How Good Was Jim Jeffries ? Video Clip

How Does Jim Jeffries Rank Among The All-Time Heavyweights ? Video Clip

Jeffries - The Final Analysis Video Clip

(Press the  button at the top of the screen to return)



Reported But Not Confirmed
 
       Frank Childs                                                KO   
       Kid Cotton                                                  KO   
       "Denver" Ed Martin                                          KO   
 
Undated
 
       Jim Barber                                                  KO  2
          -In an interview with Nat Fleischer, Jeffries claimed
            the fight took place, but in the book, Two-Fisted Jeff,
            he said it was not a real boxing match, only a "rough
            and tumble wrestling" match on Santa Monica beach:
            "One Sunday we [Jeff and Barber] went to the beach
            in Santa Monica and were loafing around in our bathing
            suits. In some way we starting scuffling, grabbed hold
            of each other, and from play we went at it to see which
            was the better man. We fought and wrestled all over that
            beach, tore up half an acre of sand and gravel and when
            we were finally finished we were skinned from head to 
            foot where the sand and gravel had rasped us like a file. 
            We were both all in, but Barber, panting, said: 'By gosh,
            Jim, it's lucky they didn't get us to fight. You're a
            better man than I am.' Until then I had thought of him
            as the strongest man in California and to beat him at
            rough and tumble wrestling settled the matter. That 
            night I made up my mind finally, to be a fighter. If 
            I was strong enough to beat Jim Barber, I need fear 
            no one."

1895
Sep 19 Hank Griffin               Los Angeles, Ca                  KO 14
Oct 29 Hank "Kid" Lorraine        Los Angeles, Ca                  KO  2
          -Jeffries once said this was an exhibition bout
 
1896
Jan 10 V.A. Magnin                Los Angeles, Ca                  EX  3
          -Some reports state that Magnin fought "Bill Jeffries"
            but this was probably "Jim Jeffries"
 
          -According to Billy Gallagher, he and Jeffries toured
            Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico; Jeffries
            took on all-comers; Jeffries later said this tour never
            took place
 
Jul  2 Dan Long                   San Francisco, Ca                KO  2
 
1897
Feb    James "Soldier" Walker     San Francisco, Ca                EX   
Feb 22 Jack Stelzner              Los Angeles, Ca                 SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           Stelzner injured his back
Feb 25 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX   
Feb 26 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX   
Feb 27 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX   
Mar  1 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  2
Mar  5 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  1
Mar  5 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  1
Mar  5 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  1
Mar  5 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  1
          -The previous 4 sessions were held the same date
Mar  6 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX   
Mar  7 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  3
Mar  8 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  4
Mar  9 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX   
Mar 10 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  4
Mar 11 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  3
Mar 12 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  1
Mar 12 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  1
Mar 12 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  1
          -The previous 3 sessions were held the same date
Mar 13 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  1
Mar 13 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  1
Mar 13 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  1
Mar 13 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  1
          -The previous 4 sessions were held the same date
Mar 14 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX  1
Mar 15 Jim Corbett                Carson City, Nv                  EX   
Mar    Theodore Van Buskirk       San Francisco, Ca               SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but postponed;
          Jeffries was ill with infleunza (or pneumonia);
          Van Buskirk accused Jeffries of being scared
Apr  8 Billy Woods                Oakland, Ca                      EX  3
Apr  9 Theodore Van Buskirk       San Francisco, Ca                KO  2
Apr 27 Billy Woods                Los Angeles, Ca                  EX  6
May 19 Henry Baker                San Francisco, Ca                TK  9
Jul 17 Gus Ruhlin                 San Francisco, Ca                 D 20
Nov 30 Joe Choynski               San Francisco, Ca                 D 20
 
1898
Feb 28 Joe Goddard                Los Angeles, Ca                  TK  4
          -Some sources report "TK 3"
       Jack Stelzner              Oakland, Ca                      EX   
          -This bout was held during Feb-Mar 1898
Mar 22 Peter Jackson              San Francisco, Ca                TK  3
Apr 22 "Mexican" Pete Everett     San Francisco, Ca                KO  3
May  4 Jack Stelzner              Oakland, Ca                     SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled;
           Stelzner was ill and could not fight
May  4 Jack Jeffries              Oakland, Ca                      EX  3
May  6 Tom Sharkey                San Francisco, Ca                 W 20
May  9 Jack Stelzner              Oakland, Ca                     SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled
May  9 Jack Jeffries              Oakland, Ca                      EX  3
          -This bout was part of the play, The Prisoner of Algiers,
          that ran from May 9-14, 1898; Jim and Jack likely sparred
          each night
Jul    Tom "Stockings" Conroy                                     SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled;
           Conroy was ill and could not fight
Aug  5 Bob Armstrong              New York, NY                      W 10
Aug  5 Steve O'Donnell            New York, NY                    SCH   
          -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled for the same
            evening; Jeffries injured his hand on Armstrong's
            head; The O'Donnell bout was then cancelled
 
1899
Apr  5 Jim Daly                   Kansas City, Mo                  EX  3
Apr  6 Jim Daly                   St. Louis, Mo                    EX  3
Apr  8 Jim Daly                   St. Louis, Mo                    EX  3
Apr  8 Jim Daly                   St. Louis, Mo                    EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Apr  9 Jim Daly                   Chicago, Il                      EX  3
          -The previous 4 bouts consisted of one minute rounds
Apr 17 Jim Daly                   Philadelphia, Pa                 EX  3 
Jun  9 Bob Fitzsimmons            Coney Island, NY                 KO 11
          -Heavyweight Championship of the World
Jun 10 Jim Daly                   Philadelphia, Pa                SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jun 12 Jim Daly                   Coney Island, NY                SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jun 17 Bob Fitzsimmons            Coney Island, NY                SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jun 19 Tommy Ryan                 Coney Island, NY                SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jun 24 Jack Jeffries              Louisville, Ky                   EX   
Jun 25 Jack Jeffries              St. Louis, Mo                    EX  4
Jun 26 -Jeffries umpired a baseball game between local
            teams the afternoon before the exhibition
Jun 26 Jack Jeffries              Chicago, Il                      EX  4
          -In the fourth round, Jack and Jeff "re-created"
            Jeff's knockout of Fitzsimmons - according to
            the Chicago (Il) Tribune; After Jack faked
            taking a ten count from Referee George Siler,
            Jeffries walked over and kicked him in the
            fanny to the delight of the crowd
Jun 28 Jack Jeffries              Kansas City, Mo                  EX  5
Jul  3 an unnamed opponent        Salt Lake City, Ut               EX   
Jul  6 Alec Greggains             San Francisco, Ca                EX  3
Jul  6 Jack Jeffries              San Francisco, Ca                EX  4
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jul  8 Jim Daly                   San Jose, Ca                     EX  4
          -Some sources report "EX 3"
Jul  9 Jack Jeffries              San Francisco, Ca                EX   
Jul 10 Jack Jeffries              Los Angeles, Ca                  EX  4
Jul 10 Jack Jeffries              Los Angeles, Ca                  EX  4
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jul 14 Jack Jeffries              Oakland, Ca                      EX   
Jul 15 Jack Jeffries              Sacramento, Ca                   EX  4
Jul 27 -Jeffries sailed for Southampton, England
       Jack Jeffries              London, Eng                      EX  4
       Jack Jeffries              London, Eng                      EX  2
       Arthur Morris              London, Eng                      EX  2
       Jack Jeffries              London, Eng                      EX  2
Aug  7 Ed Dunkhorst               London, Eng                      EX   
Aug  7 George Chrisp              London, Eng                      EX  3
          -Sources give the same date for the previous 2 bouts
Aug  8 George Chrisp              London, Eng                      EX  3
Aug  9 George Chrisp              London, Eng                      EX  3
Aug 11 George Chrisp              London, Eng                      EX  3
Aug 12 George Chrisp              London, Eng                      EX  3
Aug 15 Jack Scales                London, Eng                      EX  3

          -Jeffries knocked out 6 other opponents in England
 
       Jack Jeffries              Paris, Fr                        EX  4
       M. LaBlahe                 Paris, Fr                        EX   
       Jack Scales                Paris, Fr                        EX  4

          -Jeffries took on all-comers in Scotland
          -Jeffries took on all-comers in Ireland

Oct    Ernest Roeber              Asbury Park, NJ          (15:00) EX   
          -This was a wrestling bout
Oct 24 Tommy Ryan                 Asbury Park, NJ                  EX  6
Oct 24 Ernest Roeber              Asbury Park, NJ          (15:00) EX   
          -This was a wrestling bout;
           The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Oct 27 Jack Jeffries              Asbury Park, NJ                  EX   
Oct 27 Tommy Ryan                 Asbury Park, NJ                  EX  6
Oct 27 Ernest Roeber              Asbury Park, NJ          (15:00) EX   
          -This was a wrestling bout;
           The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
Oct 31 Tommy Ryan                 Asbury Park, NJ                  EX  6
Nov  3 Tom Sharkey                Coney Island, NY                  W 25
          -Heavyweight Championship of the World
Nov  6 Jack Jeffries              New York, NY                     EX   
Nov    Tom Sharkey                Brooklyn, NY                     EX  1
          -Jeffries and Sharkey fought a one round "retake"
            of the last round of their title fight, which
            had not been captured by the cameras
 
1899-1900
          -Jeffries toured the United States and took on all-comers;
            He also gave theatrical performances in a play,
            The Man from the West
 
1900
Apr  6 Jack Finnegan              Detroit, Mi               (0:55) KO  1
          -Heavyweight Championship of the World
May 11 Jim Corbett                Coney Island, NY          (2:11) KO 23
          -Heavyweight Championship of the World
May 17 Jack McCormick             Reading, Pa                      EX  4
Jul 30 Charles "Kid" McCoy        New York, NY                    SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
            Final details could not be agreed upon
Aug 27 Jack McCormick             Norfolk, Va                      EX  3
Aug 29 John L. Sullivan           New York, NY                     EX  3
 
1901
Feb 15 Gus Ruhlin                 Cincinnati, Oh                  SCH   
          -Heavyweight Championship of the World;
            This bout was scheduled but not held;
            Governor Nash of Ohio prevented the bout
Sep 15 Jack Jeffries              San Francisco, Ca                EX  3
Sep 16 Jack Jeffries              San Francisco, Ca                EX  3
Sep 17 Hank Griffin               Los Angeles, Ca                  EX  4
Sep 21 Jack Jeffries              Fresno, Ca                       EX  3
Sep 24 Joe Kennedy                Oakland, Ca                      KO  2
          -Some sources report "EX 2"
Sep 25 an unnamed opponent        Stockton, Ca                     EX   
Oct  2 Jack Jeffries              Bakersfield, Ca                  EX   
Oct 25 Jack Jeffries              Harbin Springs, Ca               EX   
Nov 11 Bob Armstrong              Oakland, Ca                      EX   
Nov 11 Jack Jeffries              Oakland, Ca                      EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Nov 15 Gus Ruhlin                 San Francisco, Ca                TK  5
          -Heavyweight Championship of the World
Dec 20 Young Corbett II           Denver, Co                       EX   
Dec 25 Jack Jeffries              Kansas City, Mo                  EX  6
 
1902
May 11 Jack Jeffries              Los Angeles, Ca                  EX   
Jul 22 Joe Kennedy                San Francisco, Ca                EX  4
Jul 22 Jack Jeffries              San Francisco, Ca                EX  4
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jul 25 Bob Fitzsimmons            San Francisco, Ca                KO  8
          -Heavyweight Championship of the World
 
          -Jeffries toured the western United States   
            with Bob Fitzsimmons; Both men took on
            all-comers
 
Dec 19 Jack Munroe                Butte, Mt                        EX  4
 
1903
Feb  7 Bob Fitzsimmons            St. Louis, Mo                    EX   
Feb 12 Bob Fitzsimmons            Evansville, In                   EX   
Feb 19 Bob Fitzsimmons            Nelsonville, Oh                 SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           The mayor threatened to arrest both men
Mar  2 Bob Fitzsimmons            Philadelphia, Pa                 EX  3
Mar  3 Bob Fitzsimmons            Chester, Pa                      EX  3
May 21 -Jeffries refereed the Dixie Kid-Al Neill bout
           at Los Angeles, Ca
Aug  1 Bob Fitzsimmons            Harbin Springs, Ca               EX   
Aug  1 Joe Kennedy                Harbin Springs, Ca