Corbett fought just 20 times, but nine of his opponents ended up in the International Boxing Hall of Fame just like him. Prizefighting was still illegal in 21 states during his title reign, which included just one successful defense. A 14th-round KO loss to Bob Fitzsimmons in 1897 in Carson City, Nevada, ended Corbett's run. He challenged twice more for the heavyweight championship in a pair of stoppage defeats to James J. Jeffries.