In 1931, former heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries, known as the "Boilermaker", converted a dairy barn located on his 107-acre property on the corner of Victory Boulevard and Buena Vista Avenue into a gym and recreation center where he trained boxers and worked as a fight promoter. He promoted many fights out of "Jeffries Barn", also known as Jeffries Center, and held Thursday night boxing matches until his death in 1953. After his death, the barn was dismantled and moved to Knott's Berry Farm amusement park. World heavyweight boxing champion from 1899-1905, James Jackson Jeffries is considered to be one of the great heavyweight boxers of his era, perhaps the best of all time; he retired undefeated in May of 1905. He was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Four views of various youth activities at the Jeffries Center in Burbank. In these photos James Jeffries is seen in various stages of recreation with several youth; hanging on to "monkey bars", running, and possibly relating his boxing stories to eight riveted young men.
Jeffries, James J.,--1875-1953 Jeffries Barn (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Recreation centers--California--Burbank (Los Angeles County) Exercise for youth--California--Burbank (Los Angeles County) Burbank (Los Angeles County, Calif.)
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