On This Day In Boxing History

1866: James J. Corbett Was Born!

James J Corbett

Born: September 1st, 1866

Birth Name: James John Corbett

Birth Place: San Francisco, California

Residence: San Francisco, California

Pro-Debut: 1886-07-03

Alias: Gentleman Jim

Division: Heavyweight

Bouts: 20

Rounds: 232

Career: 1886-1903

Record: 11-4-3, 5Ko’s      

Ko’s: 25%

Stance:  Orthodox

Height: 6′ 1″  

Reach: 73″   /   185cm

World Heavyweight Champion: 1892 Sep 7 – 1897 Mar 17           

Died: Age 66, February 18th, 1933

Inducted International Boxing Hall of Fame – Class of 1990

'You don't need to be a ruffian or a loafer to be a boxer,

and boxing doesn't lower a young man. It makes him better.'

                                            - James J Corbett

James J. Corbett

Born: September 1st, 1866

Birth Name: James John Corbett

Birth Place: San Francisco, California

Residence: San Francisco, California

Pro-Debut: July 3rd, 1886

Alias:  Gentleman Jim

Stance: Orthodox

Height: 6′ 1″  

Reach:  73″  

Record: 11-4-3, 5Ko’s

Died: Age 66, February 18th, 1933

World Heavyweight Champion

1892 Sep 7 – 1897 Mar 17

James John Corbett has been called the "Father of Modern Boxing" because of his innovations that changed prizefighting from a brawl to a scientific art-form.

Corbett won the World Heavyweight Championship by knocking out John L. Sullivan in the 21st round on September 7, 1892. His victory made him the first heavyweight boxer to win the championship under the Marquess of Queensberry Rules, which included the establishment of three-minute rounds, the ten-second count for a knockout and the use of boxing gloves.

During his title reign, Corbett traveled the country boxing exhibitions and starring in plays. His plays included Gentleman Jack and A Naval Cadet.

Corbett lost the title to Bob Fitzsimmons on March 17, 1897, in Carson City, Nevada. Fitzsimmons was dropped in round six, but he came back to knock out Corbett with a body shot in the 14th round.

Corbett tried twice to regain the title, losing both times by knockout to James J. Jeffries.

Following his retirement from boxing, Corbett returned to acting. He appeared on stage and in film.

Corbett published his memoirs in the Saturday Evening Post in six weekly installments beginning on October 11, 1924. The following year, his memoirs were published as a book, The Roar of the Crowd: The Rise and Fall of a Champion.

In 1942, Warner Bros. made Corbett's story into a motion picture entitled Gentleman Jim. Errol Flynn, one of the popular actors of the time, starred as Corbett.

Corbett died at 2:10 p.m. on February 18, 1933, at his home in Bayside, Long Island, New York. United Press reported that Corbett was 67-years-old and died from "a glandular disorder which induced heart disease." However, the Associated Press reported that Corbett died from "cancer of the liver and heart trouble."

Corbett was interred in the Cypress Hills cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

1976: Erik Morales Was Born! 

Erik Morales    

Born: September 1st, 1976

Birth Name: Erik Isaac Morales Elvira

Birth Place: Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

Residence: San Ysidro, California

Pro-Debut: March 29th, 1993

Division: Super Bantamweight

Alias: El Terrible

Stance: Orthodox

Height: 5′ 8″  

Reach: 72″  

Bouts: 61

Rounds: 425

Ko’s: 59%

Record: 52-9, 36Ko’s

Career:

WBC Super Bantamweight Champion

1997 Sep 6 – 2000

WBO Super Bantamweight Champion

2000 Feb 19 – 2000 Feb

WBC Featherweight Champion

2001 Feb 17 – 2002 Jun 22          

WBC Featherweight Champion

2002 Nov 16 – 2003

WBC Super Featherweight Champion

2004 Feb 28 – 2004 Nov 27

IBF Super Featherweight Champion

2004 Jul 31 – 2004

WBC Light Welterweight Champion

2011 Sep 17 – 2012 Mar 23

International Boxing Hall of Fame: Class of 2018

Born into a boxing family on September 1, 1976, in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, Erik Isaac Morales Elvira would go on to become one of the most celebrated fighters in the history of Mexican boxing. Guided by his father and former contender, José Morales, he began his journey at just five years old. An amateur standout, Morales won 11 of Mexico's major amateur titles and finished his unpaid career with an impressive record of 108 wins against just 6 losses.

Morales made his professional debut at 16 in 1993, quickly earning the nickname "El Terrible" for his fierce, aggressive style. In just four years, he established himself as a dominant force in the super bantamweight division, winning the WBC Super Bantamweight championship in 1997 by knocking out Daniel Zaragoza. This victory was the first of his many world titles across four different weight classes: super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight, and light welterweight. Throughout his career, Morales defeated 15 world champions, showcasing his technical skill and strategic versatility.

Morales is perhaps best known for his legendary rivalries with fellow boxing icons Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao. His three fights against each of them are considered modern classics, celebrated for their intensity, skill, and drama. These trilogies earned multiple "Fight of the Year" honors and cemented his reputation as a warrior willing to fight anyone. Beyond his famous trilogies, Morales also secured notable victories over champions like Junior Jones, Wayne McCullough, and Paulie Ayala.

After a long and decorated career, Morales continued to compete at the highest level through the 2000s, ultimately retiring in 2012 with a final record of 52 wins (36 by knockout) and 9 losses. His resilience and willingness to challenge the best made him a fan favorite.

In 2018, Morales was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, a fitting honor that recognized his impact on the sport. Today, he remains a prominent figure in Mexico, serving as a Mexican congressman and a boxing analyst for FOX Deportes. Ranked among ESPN's top 50 greatest boxers of all time, Morales's legacy is defined not just by his championship record but also by his tenacity, unforgettable battles, and his role as an enduring icon of Mexican boxing.

September 1st

1866: James J. Corbett born.

1899: Harry Harris D6 Jimmy Barry

Joe Gans KO10 Eugene Bezenah

1900: James Ferns W15 Matty Matthews

1908: Sam Langford ND6 Joe Jeanette

Tommy Burns KO6 Bill Lang

1919: Pete Herman ND10 Joe Lynch

1923: Rocky Marciano was born Brocton, Massachusetts

1924: Harry Wills ND12 Luis Angel Firpo

1934: Ceferino Garcia KO2 Joe Glick

1937: Sixto Escobar KO8 Eddie Reed

1960: Duillio Loi W15 Carlos Ortiz

1966: Hector Lizarraga born

1973: George Foreman KO1 Joe Roman

Ricardo Arredondo KO6 Morito Kashiwaba

1976: Erik Morales was born in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

1978: Roberto Durán KO2 Ezequiel Obando

1983: Albert Davila KO12 Kiko Bejines

1984: Harry Arroyo KO8 Charlie Brown

1990: Robert Quiroga W12 Juan Polo Pérez

2000: Dingaan Thobela KO12 Glen Catley

2001: Sven Ottke W12 James Butler

Celes Kobayashi W12 Jesus Rojas

2007: Ricardo Torres TKO11 Kendall Holt

Yutaka Niida W12 Eriberto Gejon

2010: Mzonke Fana W12 Cassius Baloyi

Moruti Mthalane TKO5 Zolani Tete

2012: Gennady Golovkin TKO5 Grzegorz Proksa

Daniel Geale WSD12 Felix Sturm

Nadia Raoui  W10 Siriporn Thaweesuk

Panthep Mullipoom WMD12 Nobuo Nashiro

Mario Rodriguez Meza KO7 Nkosinathi Joyi

Moruti Mthalane TKO8 Ricardo Nunez

2013: Tommy Morrison Passes.

2018: Ryan Garcia WMD10 Carlos Morales

2022: Earnie Shavers passed, aged 78
Yuko Kuroki W10 Nanae Suzuki

Mika Iwakawa W10Ayaka Miyao

2023: Dina Thorslund W10 Yuliahn Luna