ADDENDUM: Authentication may not be completed until the final week of the auction.

James J. Jeffries was an American professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion known for his enormous strength and stamina. In his prime, he stood 6' 1½” tall and weighed 225 pounds. Five years after his initial retirement, Big Jim came back to take on the great Jack Johnson in the original "Fight of the Century" in 1910. This first or second generation photo of Jeffries in a shadowboxing pose was taken around that same time. He has autographed and personalized (to "Bill Bessette") the photo on the lower right in lovely black fountain pen. The photo has a significant horizontal crease, but otherwise looks fantastic in clarity and condition everywhere else. The reverse is blank with his name handwritten by someone (the photographer perhaps). The green matte gives the piece very nice presentation.

LOA from PSA/DNA pending for the signature (its submission was delayed). Please note that the photo appears to have been developed from the original negative, but we cannot gaurantee this will get a Type I or II designation from PSA/DNA if submitted.