May 11, 1900

Three years ago, Jim Jeffries was a sparring partner for heavyweight champ Jim Corbett, the man who knocked out the mighty John L. Sullivan. Today, Jeffries is the champ and seeks to retain his title against his former employer in their scheduled 25-round bout in Coney Island in Brooklyn.

At 33, Corbett shows he's not washed up. Though 27 pounds lighter at 185, he controls the fight, using Jeffries' face for a punching bag as he peppers the champ with stinging jabs. In the 23rd round, a smashing left hook bloodies Jeffries' nose.

An angered Jeffries tries to retaliate, but misses with both his right and left hands. But later in the round, he finally connects. A right followed by a devastating left hook to the jaw flattens Corbett, who is out for five minutes.

"How I got the knockout blow I don't know," Corbett says. "I have no recollection of it landing. It must have been a corker, however, to have put me out."

While Corbett is unscarred, Jeffries has both eyes disfigured, his lips cut and his nose is jammed further into his face.