Young Corbett II (October 4, 1880 – April 10, 1927; born William H. Rothwell) was an American boxer who held the World Featherweight championship. He took the name "Young Corbett II" in honor of James J. Corbett, a heavyweight champion. Corbett was posthumously inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1965 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2010.

Pro career

World featherweight champion Corbett became a professional boxer in 1896 and was undefeated in his first 13 fights with a record of 9-0-3-1. In 1901, Corbett defeated George Dixon for the Western featherweight title in Denver, Colorado. In his next fight, Corbett faced world featherweight champion Terry McGovern in Hartford, Connecticut. Corbett knocked out McGovern in the second round and took the title. He defended the title four times, including a rematch against McGovern, which Corbett also won by knockout. During this time he also engaged in a number of non-title matches, including one against Young Erne and two against Jimmy Briggs, both of which Corbett won.

Attempts to match British World Featherweight Champion Ben Jordan with Young Corbett were not successful.

During this time there is some dispute as to Corbett's claim on the featherweight title. Corbett had trouble making the featherweight limit of 126 pounds, and some sources claim he relinquished his title and moved to the lightweight division in December 1902. Abe Attell then claimed the featherweight title. Other sources show that Corbett defended his featherweight title at weights above 126 pounds with Attell defending the title at 126 pounds.

Later career Regardless, Corbett continued to fight. He met future world champion Battling Nelson in two consecutive fights in 1904 and 1905, losing both by technical knockout. He then met old nemesis Young Erne in two more fights in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first fight they fought to a draw. The second fight Corbett lost by decision.

He had a mixed record over the five years remaining in his career. Aurelio Herrera knocked him out in 1906, Harlem Tommy Murphy defeated him via decision, but he defeated Young Erne by decision in 1907. His last professional fight was in 1910, though he fought exhibition matches up until his death in 1927.

Corbett died suddenly in April 1927, dropping dead outside the State Theatre in Denver. His death was attributed to heart disease as he had complained of chest pains to his friends in the week prior to his death.

Professional boxing record All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as "no decision" bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes111Loss59–13–12 Willie BeecherTKO4 (10)Oct 20, 1909 110Loss59–12–12 Dave DeshlerKO5 (12)Oct 5, 1909 109Win59–11–12 Muggsy SchoelKO15 (20)Aug 20, 1909 108Loss58–11–12 Johnny FrayneTKO8 (25)Jul 17, 1909 107Win58–10–12 Mike FlemingNWS6Jun 8, 1909 106Loss58–10–12 Sammy SmithNWS10Jun 4, 1909 105Loss58–10–12 Dick NelsonNWS10May 17, 1909 104Win58–10–12 Harry ScroggsPTS15May 11, 1909 103Win57–10–12 Bert KeyesNWS10Apr 23, 1909 102Draw57–10–12 Bert KeyesNWS10Mar 25, 1909 101Win57–10–12 Cy SmithNWS10Mar 9, 1909 100Draw57–10–12 Johnny MartoNWS10Mar 2, 1909 99Win57–10–12 Bobby WilsonNWS10Feb 15, 1909 98Loss57–10–12 Mull BowserNWS6Feb 9, 1909 97Win57–10–12 Harry FernsKO11 (20)Jan 24, 1909 96Draw56–10–12 Phil BrockPTS10Dec 12, 1908 95Loss56–10–11 Kid SullivanKO11 (15)May 3, 1907 94Loss56–9–11 Young ErneNWS6Apr 27, 1907 93Loss56–9–11 Harlem Tommy MurphyNWS6Jan 9, 1907 92Draw56–9–11 Terry McGovernNWS6Oct 17, 1906 91Draw56–9–11 Eddie JohnsonNWS6May 29, 1906 90Win56–9–11 Dick HylandTKO5 (20)Apr 30, 1906 89Loss55–9–11 Aurelio HerreraKO5 (10)Jan 12, 1906 88Loss55–8–11 Charley SiegerNWS3Nov 30, 1905 87Win55–8–11 Charley SiegerKO3 (?)Nov 18, 1905 86Loss54–8–11 Unk RussellNWS6Nov 4, 1905 85Draw54–8–11 Kid GoodmanPTS15Oct 31, 1905 84Win54–8–10 Joe TipmanRTD8 (15)Oct 27, 1905 83Loss53–8–10 Young ErneNWS6Oct 25, 1905 82Win53–8–10 Maurice ThompsonTKO10 (20)Jun 13, 1905 81Loss52–8–10 Eddie HanlonPTS20Jun 2, 1905 80Draw52–7–10 Young ErneNWS6Apr 3, 1905 79Draw52–7–10 Kid SullivanPTS10Mar 31, 1905 78Loss52–7–9 Battling NelsonTKO9 (20)Feb 28, 1905 77Loss52–6–9 Battling NelsonTKO10 (20)Nov 29, 1904 76Win52–5–9 Frank GeorgeKO3 (?)Nov 26, 1904 75Win51–5–9 Tommy MowattPTS6Apr 2, 1904 74Loss50–5–9 Jimmy BrittPTS20Mar 25, 1904 73Win50–4–9 Dave SullivanTKO11 (20)Feb 29, 1904 72Win49–4–9 Eddie HanlonTKO16 (20)Dec 29, 1903 71Win48–4–9 Hugh MurphyKO11 (15)Oct 27, 1903 70Draw47–4–9 Tim CallahanNWS6Oct 21, 1903 69Win47–4–9 Kid SteinNWS6Oct 10, 1903 68Win47–4–9 Jack O'NeilKO5 (6)Jul 29, 1903 67Win46–4–9 Billy MaynardKO1 (6)Jul 24, 1903 66Win45–4–9 Jimmy BriggsPTS10Jul 22, 1903 65Win44–4–9 Sammy SmithNWS6Jul 6, 1903 64Win44–4–9 Jimmy BriggsPTS10Jun 29, 1903 63Win43–4–9 Hugh MurphyKO6 (12)Jun 25, 1903 62Win42–4–9 Jack O'KeefeKO3 (?)May 19, 1903 61Draw41–4–9 George MemsicPTS4Apr 23, 1903 60Win41–4–8 Terry McGovernKO11 (20)Mar 31, 1903 59Draw40–4–8 Eddie HanlonPTS20Feb 26, 1903 58Draw40–4–7 Billy MaynardNWS6Feb 2, 1903 57Win40–4–7 Austin RiceTKO18 (?)Jan 14, 1903 56Loss39–4–7 Crocky BoyleNWS6Nov 17, 1902 55Win39–4–7 Young ErneNWS6Oct 27, 1902 54Win39–4–7 Joe BernsteinTKO7 (10)Oct 16, 1902 53Win38–4–7 Eddie LennyNWS6Oct 7, 1902 52Win38–4–7 Kid BroadPTS10May 23, 1902 51Win37–4–7 Frankie DowneyKO5 (?)Jan 1, 1902 50Win36–4–7 Terry McGovernKO2 (?)Nov 28, 1901 49Win35–4–7 George DixonPTS10Aug 16, 1901 48Win34–4–7 Kid BroadPTS10Jul 26, 1901 47Win33–4–7 Oscar GardnerTKO6 (10)Jun 26, 1901 46Win32–4–7 Eddie SantryKO2 (10)Apr 12, 1901 45Loss31–4–7 Kid BroadKO4 (?)Mar 22, 1901 44Draw31–3–7 Whitey WatsonPTS10Mar 10, 1901 43Win31–3–6 Joe BernsteinTKO7 (10)Jan 18, 1901 42Win30–3–6 Reddy CooganTKO3 (20)Dec 14, 1900 41Win29–3–6 Kid DowningTKO3 (?)Dec 7, 1900 40Win28–3–6 Jim Kid McGuireKO2 (?)Dec 7, 1900 39Win27–3–6 Reddy CooganNWS10Nov 29, 1900 38Draw27–3–6 Benny YangerPTS10Nov 27, 1900 37Win27–3–5 Jimmy ReillyKO3 (10)Oct 23, 1900 36Win26–3–5 Jimmy CooganPTS20Oct 6, 1900 35Draw25–3–5 Jack KanePTS20Sep 28, 1900 34Draw25–3–4 Jimmy ReillyPTS10Sep 21, 1900 33Win25–3–3 Larry LaceyKO1 (?)Aug 27, 1900 32Win24–3–3 Kid LeeKO4 (?)Jul 28, 1900 31Win23–3–3 Roy StreeterKO2 (?)Jul 5, 1900 30Win22–3–3 Frank NewhouseKO17 (?)May 28, 1900 29Win21–3–3 Jimmy CooganPTS6May 4, 1900 28Loss20–3–3 Benny YangerKO8 (10)Apr 13, 1900 27Win20–2–3 Colorado Jack DempseyKO3 (20)Feb 26, 1900 26Win19–2–3 Kid KellyTKO2 (?)Feb 23, 1900 25Loss18–2–3 Colorado Jack DempseyKO2 (?)Feb 12, 1900 24Win18–1–3 Fred FairmanKO1 (?)Jan 10, 1900 23Win17–1–3 Kid BennettKO4 (20)Dec 22, 1899 22Win16–1–3 Ray LeeKO6 (6)Dec 12, 1899 21Win15–1–3 Billy BrownPTS4Oct 6, 1899 20Win14–1–3 Al RiversKO4 (?)Oct 4, 1899 19Win13–1–3 Billy HarrisKO2 (?)Sep 3, 1899 18Win12–1–3 Jack FlintPTS6Sep 1, 1899 1711–1–3 Eugene TurnerND6Aug 24, 1899 16Win11–1–3 Paddy HughesKO1 (?)Aug 19, 1899 15Win10–1–3 Jack MunsonKO2 (?)Aug 4, 1899 14Loss9–1–3 Billy RotchfordPTS20Jul 24, 1899 13Draw9–0–3 Colorado Jack DempseyPTS20Jun 12, 1899 12Win9–0–2 Abe SpitzKO4 (10)May 24, 1899 11Win8–0–2 Billy IrwinKO4 (12)Apr 17, 1899 10Win7–0–2 Tom GlennKO5 (12)Mar 27, 1899 9Draw6–0–2 Abe SpitzPTS20Feb 7, 1899 8Win6–0–1 Dago MikeKO2 (25)Dec 16, 1898 7Draw5–0–1 Fred O'NeilPTS20Nov 14, 1898 6Win5–0 Fred O'NeilTKO4 (4)Jul 23, 1898 54–0 Tom DelaneyNC4 (4)Jun 1, 1897 4Win4–0 Julius SegilKO4 (?)Mar 3, 1897 3Win3–0 Kid HarrisKO4 (?)Feb 2, 1897 2Win2–0 Bert CraterKO3 (?)Jan 1, 1897 1Win1–0 N. SmithKO7 (?)Apr 19, 1896

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.