Young Corbett II
Encyclopedia
Young Corbett II is a boxer
who held the world featherweight
championship. He was He took the name "Young Corbett II" in honor of James J. Corbett
, a heavyweight champion.
for the Western featherweight title in Denver, Colorado
. In his next fight, Corbett faced world featherweight champion Terry McGovern
in Hartford, Connecticut
. Corbett knocked out McGovern in the second round and took the title. He defended the title four times, including a rematch against McGovern, which Corbett also won by knockout. During this time he also engaged in a number of non-title matches, including one against Young Erne
and two against Jimmy Briggs, both of which Corbett won.
During this time there is some dispute as to Corbett's claim on the featherweight title. Corbett had trouble making the featherweight limit of 126 pounds, and some sources claim he relinquished his title and moved to the lightweight
division in December 1902. Abe Attell
then claimed the featherweight title. Other sources show that Corbett defended his featherweight title at weights above 126 pounds with Attell defending the title at 126 pounds.
Regardless, Corbett continued to fight. He met future world champion Battling Nelson
in two consecutive fights in 1904 and 1905, losing both by technical knockout. He then met old nemesis Young Erne
in two more fights in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. The first fight they fought to a draw. The second fight Corbett lost by decision.
He had a mixed record over the five years remaining in his career. Aurelio Herrera knocked him out in 1906, Harlem Tommy Murphy
defeated him via decision, but he defeated Young Erne
by decision in 1907. His last fight was in 1910.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who held the world featherweight
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
championship. He was He took the name "Young Corbett II" in honor of James J. Corbett
James J. Corbett
James John "Gentleman Jim" Corbett was an Irish-American heavyweight boxing champion, best known as the man who defeated the great John L. Sullivan. He also coached boxing at the Olympic Club in San Francisco...
, a heavyweight champion.
Pro career
Corbett became a professional boxer in 1896 and was undefeated in his first 13 fights with a record of 9-0-3-1. In 1901, Corbett defeated George DixonGeorge Dixon (boxer)
George Dixon was the first black world boxing champion in any weight class, while also being the first ever Canadian-born boxing champion.George was born in Africville, Halifax, Nova Scotia...
for the Western featherweight title in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. In his next fight, Corbett faced world featherweight champion Terry McGovern
Terry McGovern (boxer)
Terrible Terry McGovern , born John Terrence McGovern in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States, was a boxer who held the world bantamweight and featherweight titles.-Professional career:...
in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. Corbett knocked out McGovern in the second round and took the title. He defended the title four times, including a rematch against McGovern, which Corbett also won by knockout. During this time he also engaged in a number of non-title matches, including one against Young Erne
Young Erne
Young Erne is an American boxer from Philadelphia, PA. In his first 36 fights he had a record of 28-2-6.Young fought Tommy Love in Philadelphia, PA. Tommy won by decision....
and two against Jimmy Briggs, both of which Corbett won.
During this time there is some dispute as to Corbett's claim on the featherweight title. Corbett had trouble making the featherweight limit of 126 pounds, and some sources claim he relinquished his title and moved to the lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
division in December 1902. Abe Attell
Abe Attell
Abraham Washington "Abe" Attell , known in the boxing world as Abe "The Little Hebrew" Attell, was a boxer who became known for his record-setting six-year reign as World Featherweight Champion...
then claimed the featherweight title. Other sources show that Corbett defended his featherweight title at weights above 126 pounds with Attell defending the title at 126 pounds.
Regardless, Corbett continued to fight. He met future world champion Battling Nelson
Battling Nelson
Oscar Mathæus Nielsen, also known as Battling Nelson, was a Danish boxer who held the world lightweight championship on two separate occasions...
in two consecutive fights in 1904 and 1905, losing both by technical knockout. He then met old nemesis Young Erne
Young Erne
Young Erne is an American boxer from Philadelphia, PA. In his first 36 fights he had a record of 28-2-6.Young fought Tommy Love in Philadelphia, PA. Tommy won by decision....
in two more fights in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. The first fight they fought to a draw. The second fight Corbett lost by decision.
He had a mixed record over the five years remaining in his career. Aurelio Herrera knocked him out in 1906, Harlem Tommy Murphy
Harlem Tommy Murphy
Harlem Tommy Murphy is an American boxer from New York, NY. In his first nine first, he was undefeated, winning six and getting three draws. He fought many great fighters in his long career, which lasted from 1903 to 1919...
defeated him via decision, but he defeated Young Erne
Young Erne
Young Erne is an American boxer from Philadelphia, PA. In his first 36 fights he had a record of 28-2-6.Young fought Tommy Love in Philadelphia, PA. Tommy won by decision....
by decision in 1907. His last fight was in 1910.