He was probably the biggest and the best of the old - timers , and he retired undefeated before foolishly trying his hand against Jack Johnson over five years and fifty pounds later .
Sticking to chronological order , James J. Jeffries comes to mind .
James J. Jeffries was probably the biggest and the best of the old - timers , and James J. Jeffries retired undefeated before foolishly trying James J. Jeffries ' hand against Jack Johnson over five years and fifty pounds later .
Sticking to chronological order , James J. Jeffries comes to mind .