Hide Article Text (OCR)
JEFF IN CONDITION FOR FIGHT OFr'c- .iA •■'BIG FELLOW fcEVEJ* 'IN BpTTJEiB 8HAPE, 8 AY THE CRITIC8.FAVORITE IN THE BETTINGJohnson Also In Fine Fettle, But Won ried by Quarrels In Hie Camp—Majority of Pugilists Pick Jeffries to Win Battle.' IfBy KNOCKOUT,Jim Jeffries Is In condition and ready fot the fight of his life, which, by the way, he probably is going to have, when he meets Jack Johnson in the ring in San Francisco. July 4.Pugilistic experts from several of the big newspapers, old fight followers and other Bcrappers have seen the big boiler maker In action and all agree that the condition into which Jeffries has gotten himself is the surprise of the ring. When the match was made many expressed doubt whether Jeffries ever would be able to train down to proper weight and still retain hia old stamina. Ed Smith of Chicago, who knows about as much about the puga as any other man in the world, visited Jeff and at once declared him in superb shape. Then came Tad,” another Judge of fighters, who saldr the same thing. Bob Ed-gren next visited Jim and saw him stripped for action. Like the others. Edgren declared Jeffries looked like the Jeffries who downed Bob Fitzsimmons. All were surprised. Other critics have sent out the same kind of stories and agree that Johnson is going to have a desperate time keeping the championship.Meanwhile Johnson has not been idle, and it is doubtful if he ever was in the condition he will be In when he enters the ring with Jeffries. Things have not gone smoothly In Johnson’s camp, however, and he has had much to worry him. The trouble he had with George Little, his manager, has done Johnson no good. These little worries are bail for a fighter. On the other hand, things have been gotng along fine in Jeffries' camp, and the big fellow never was known to be in such good humor while preparing for a fight.Jeffries hates Johnson, and never speaks of him by name. He refers to his opponent as “that coon” or something stronger. A few days ago the big fellow was chuckling good natured-ly as his trainers were nibbing him down.“What are you laughing at, Jim?” somebody asked.I was just thinking how surprised that coon is going to be when he looks over at my corner when he goes into the ring,” replied the retired champion. He has been thinking that he was going to meet an old has been, and here I am in better condition than when I quit the ring.”Nobody has been able to get an authentic statement from Jeffries concerning hlB opinion as to the outcome of the battle. Jeffries never was very i talkative, and while always willing to say that he expected to win, never in any of his former fights made any predictions concerning how long it would take him to win. One report from his camp has Jeffries saying he would put the coon” away inside of eight rounds, but it is hardly likely that Jim ever said such a thing.Sam Berger and Jim Corbett say i the fight will not last more than 15 rounds, with Jeffries the winner. Johnson has been quoted as saying he will take Jeffries’ measure before 20 rounds have passed. Following the reports of his good condition Jeffries became the favorite in the betting, and two , weeks ago the odds were nine to ten. : There has been little betting on the number of rounds the fight.will last,] as the sports regard thiB as a hard match to dope out When Governor GiUett got back to 8acramento he denied that he had given out an interview in Chicago Baying the fight was a frameup, and that Johnson would not be permitted to win. The alleged statement by the California governor did the proposed battle no good and caused alarm In the Jeffries and Johnson camps. Tex Rickard and Jack Gleason, the promoters, feared th^ effect on the box office receipts and got busy with offers to make big gifts to charity If anybody could prove that the battle waa a frameup. Now that Governor Gil* lett has denied the interview It is probable that the attendance will not be affected.One enterprlslng'sporting editor already has canvassed the most prominent pugilists in all classes, and out of 22 who answered 15 said Jeffries would win, one said he did not think there would be any fight, one thought it would end in a draw and five expressed the belief that Johnson will be the victor. It Is a fact well known In prize-fight circles that one scrapper never Is a good judge of the ability of another, even though they have met, and this majority In favor of Jeffri6s may be taken with a grain of salt, bo to apeak. — .*
Newspaper Details
Checotah Times
Checotah, Oklahoma, US
Fri, Jul 01, 1910
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
John H.
IL, USA 21 Feb 2017
Other Publications Near Checotah, Oklahoma
McIntosh County Leader
Checotah Times
Checotah News
Checotah Democrat
McIntosh County Democrat
