James J. Jeffries KOs Bob Fitzsimmons for the heavyweight title

Background. James J. Jeffries was an American professional boxer who became world heavyweight champion in 1899. On his way to the title, he knocked out Peter Jackson in 1898. Bob Fitzsimmons, a Cornish-New Zealand boxer, was the first British-born fighter to hold the World Heavyweight Championship, having won it in 1897 by knocking out Jim Corbett.

The Bout. On June 9, 1899, in Brooklyn, New York, James J. Jeffries defeated Bob Fitzsimmons by knockout in the eleventh round to win the Heavyweight Championship of the World. This victory established Jeffries as the champion, succeeding Fitzsimmons who had held the title since 1897.

Context. Coney Island is a neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Between about 1880 and World War II, Coney Island was the largest amusement area in the United States, attracting several million visitors per year.