James J Corbett Scientific Boxing 1912 PDF
James J Corbett Scientific Boxing 1912 PDF
-Kirk Lawson
RICHARD K. FOX
SCIENTIFIC
BOXING
BY JAMES J. CORBETT
FOULS.
Holding............................................................................... 73
Using the Elbow................................................................. 75
Hitting When Down........................................................... 77
Misuse of the Glove........................................................... 79
Butting................................................................................ 81
Another Foul...................................................................... 83
HOW TO STAND
Usually the first question the amateur boxer
asks is:
How shall I stand ?
While he may be taught how to hold his
hands in a manner which will best suit the
purposes of offense and defense, yet the posi-
tion he will eventually settle into is one which
will come natural to him.
Plate No. 1, opposite, posed for by Billy
Britt, once the amateur champion lightweight,
is business-like as well as simple. It is well
set, with the right ready for instant and effec-
tive action, but it is not really of the modern
school, in which footwork plays a most im-
portant part. It is the position of a man who
is there to hold his ground and swap punches.
PLATE No. 2.
BOXING. 27
A GOOD POSITION
Here is the pose of the alert, resourceful
boxer, both of whose hands are in readiness
to deliver a blow at an instants notice. It
is well balanced and well protected. The
stomach is partly covered, and the raising of
the left shoulder will guard the jaw. It shows
Jimmy Britt at his best. The left is in a
position to do its most effective long range
work, because it is in the best possible position
for reach.
PLATE No. 3.
BOXING. 29
THE CROUCH
Here it is assumed he is meeting the
onward rush of an opponent. He blocks the
first blow or two and then makes that attack
with both hands on the stomach, for which
Jimmy Britt, Terry McGovern and Frankie
Neil are famous, and which has invariably
proven terribly effective, even against the
most clever opponents.
PLATE No. 5.
BOXING. 33
BLOCKING
Never block with the closed hand, as the
open hand furnishes as much protection again
as the clenched fist, and the proportion is even
greater when the gloves are on. The illus-
tration on the opposite page shows how to
block a lead or a swing for the jaw, and the
left hand is drawn back ready for a counter
or a drive to the stomach.
PLATE No. 6
BOXING. 35
DUCKING
There are many cases where it is advisable
to duck a lead for the head, and it is illus-
trated here. It also shows the boxer, while
the blow intended for him has gone harmlessly
over his head, reaching his opponents stomach
with a straight left, except that in this in-
stance the knuckles of his hand are thrown too
far back. The result of a blow of this kind,
if properly delivered, cannot be underesti-
mated.
PLATE No. 7
BOXING. 37
ON GUARD
And now on guard. Dont think you have
got to land the first punch, although it is
policy to do so, if you can, without leaving
yourself open for a damaging counter. Study
your opponent carefully; note the position of
his feet and how he holds his hands. Study
out and discover, if you can, his weak points
and plan out your mode of attack. If he guards
hight, lead low, and vice versa, as he will
usually guard his most tender spot. A clever
boxer can cause a man to shift his guard at
will.
PLATE No. 10.
BOXING. 43
DUCKIKNG A LEAD
The art of ducking to guard a blow is one
that must be thoroughly practiced. Avoiding
a lead by ducking is one thing and running
into an uppercut is another, and it takes a
good man to get away with it. In the illus-
tration opposite the boxer (Jimmy Britt), who
has assumed a crouching position, has taken
advantage of his move to land a right to
to body. It would be just as well to figure
this out in advance and try it at the first left
lead.
But look out for the uppercut.
PLATE No. 14.
BOXING. 51
SIDE STEPPING
A good way to avoid a blow is to side-step,
which, as the word implies, means to step
from in front of an opponent making a lead to
one side of him, To be effective and success-
ful it must be done smartly and decisively,
without any suggestion of feinting, which will
defeat its ultimate object. In side-stepping a
punch intended for the head, the cool boxer
will usually find an opening for the body,
where a swinging or half arm left can very
readily be placed.
PLATE No. 18.
BOXING. 59
HOOK BLOWS
A hook is, as its name implies, a short, sharp
jolt delivered with either hand, and it is only
used at close quarters. The illustration oppo-
site shows a right hook to the jaw, which was
made possible by stepping inside a left lead.
To be effective the full force of the upper part
of the body should be behind a hook. Being
a short arm blow it docs not call for the
same amount of accuracy or judgment of dis-
tance as a swing or a straight lead, but it can
be perfected with practice.
PLATE No. 19.
BOXING. 61
INFIGHTING
On the opposite page Frankie Neil demon-
strates that series of blows which has come
to be known as infighting, in which both hands
are used against the body of an opponent, usu-
ally with telling effect. The best way in
which to deliver these blows is to work close
in and set a fast pace. Wait for a lead and
step inside of it, and then stay there. But
never attempt it unless you are inside the
other fellows guard.
PLATE No. 20.
BOXING. 63
BLOCKING A SWING
When you see your opponent is about to
swing there are several things to do, but they
must be done quickly. In the first place it can
bc stopped just after it starts, as shown on the
opposite page; it can be blocked by the glove
just before it lands; it can be ducked, or you
can step in and let it go around your neck.
In the latter case, you can usually land a stiff
body punch as you step in. If it is stopped
before it is well under wayand only a quick
boxer can do thatit usually throws the
man who starts it off his balance, and a speedy
boxer can smother him with blows before he
has a chance to set himself.
PLATE No. 20.
BOXING. 65
SIDE STEPPING
Too much cannot be said of the value of
side-stepping, and it is here exemplified again.
But simple side-stepping to avoid punishment
is like a job half done. The man who uses
his head as well as his hands and feet will
usually figure it out so as to deliver a blow at
the same time he avoids one. That is shown
in this instance, where a short arm jolt reaches
the stomach.
PLATE No. 24.
BOXING. 71
HOLDING
When you do box, box clean. Don't hold
or take an unfair advantage. The placing of
your hand around your opponents neck, as
shown on the opposite page, constitutes hold-
ing, and is a foul. When you get in a clinch
break clean. Read the rules and abide by
them, and bear in mind that boxing is not
fighting. Learn the science of the game. The
inflicting of needless punishment upon an in-
ferior opponent doesn't add anything to your
laurels, and it tends to lower the high status
of the game.
PLATE No. 26.
BOXING. 75
BUTTING
It quite frequently happens that during a
bout one boxers head will come in contact
with the head of an opponent, and in many
cases the foul was intended. There is an incli-
nation, however, on the part of many box-
ers to butt, which ought to be discouraged.
The man with a cool head never makes any
mistakes like that, and the fellow who uses
his head would do anything that was unfair.
PLATE No. 30.
BOXING. 83
ANOTHER FOUL
Dont put the palm of your glove over an
opponents nose to stop his breathing, or dont
use it to push his head back, as shown by the
accompanying illustration, for both are foul.
Remember that boxing gloves are made to
punch with.
TOMMY RYAN,
Ex-middleweight Champion.
BOXING RULES
MARQUIS OF QUEENSBERRY RULES
1. To be a fair stand-up boxing match in a
twenty-four-foot ring, or as near that size as
practicable.
2. No wrestling or hugging allowed.
3. The rounds to be of three minutes dura-
tion, and one minute time between rounds.
4. If either man fall, through weakness or
otherwise, he must get up unassisted, ten sec-
onds to be allowed him to do so, the other
man meanwhile to return to his corner, and
when the fallen man is on his legs the round
is to be resumed and continued until the three
minutes have expired. If one man fails to
come to the scratch in the ten seconds allowed,
it shall be in the power of the referee to give
his award in favor of the other man.
5. A man hanging on the ropes in a helpless
state, with his toes off the ground, shall be
considered down.
6. No seconds or any other person to be al-
lowed in the ring during the rounds.
JOE GANS,
Ex-lightweight Champion.
BOXING. 87