BOXING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9133, Issue 9133, 4 February 1910, Page 7

BOXING.

JOHNSON AND JEFFRIES. With Jeffiies and Johnson doing next ■to nothing <to excite public interest, the American newspapers have taken to printing signed articles by old-time ! heavy-wejghts, in which opinions of the merits of Johnson and Jeffries are set forth. One of these articles, which bears tho caption, "By James J. Corbett, former champion of the world," is remarkably strong in Jeffries' favour. It avers that when Jeffries comes out of the ring next July 4 the world will cheer him as the real champion of the centurv. JIM CORBETT'S OPINION. Says Corbett: "The scoffers who spent months wondering whether Jeffries had lost his punch, or whether he still ha 6 his wind, will wake up and try to dopo out why they over lost their bearings." Corbett is of the opinion that less than one-half of the forty-five rounds mentioned in the articles will be sufficient for Jeffries to dispose of Johnson. Corbett declares that Johnson has only two good punches—both right-hand deliveries —and that the left is of no use to him except for blocking. Jack's specialty, according to Corbett, is the short right uppereut, and modesty docs not deter Jim from saying that Johnson stole this punch from him. He says it was his wallop in his fighting years, and that one day at his quarters he showed it to Joe Gans, and Joe Gans in turn showed it to Johnson. ,

"GREATEST FIGHTER THAT. EVER SLIPPED ON A GLOVE." Just listen to this tribute to Jeffries from the former champion of the world : "I want to go on record as saying that Jeffries is without doubt the greatest fighter that ever slipped on a glove. In my career I have had battles with Sullivan, Sharkey, Fitzsimmons, McCoy, and others. These were famous fighters, but in comparison to Jeffries they were a bunch of children. No matter how hard their wallop was" it was as a gust of wind against a tornado compared to Jeffries' slam," An American writer says it is probable that enthusiasm has carried Corbett off his feet. Among other things Corbett tells that he is to tatac personal charge of Jeffries' camp, and that one feature of the training will be an innovation. He savs: "Several weeks before, the battle Jeffries and yours truly will strip and fight twenty rounds with no one but the seconds for spectators. This 'may happen three times or more, and each time it will be a hummer. To save myself for my family, I will insist that we use big gloves, but that won't stop the festivities. This will bo the severest test that any fighter ever ran up against, and at the same time it will give Jeffries a good idea of just how he stands." Corbett takes a direct 6mack at the "wise-acres," as he calls them, who arc shaking their heads and saying that Jeffries will never get back his wind. In Jim's opinion Jeffries is in almost perfect condition already. CAN'T HURT JEFFRIES. "These weak chaps," says Corbett, "forget that Jeffries is out of the ordinary. Ho is a combination of our ancestors of the Stone Days and this century. What would kill an ordinary mortal wouldn't hurt him _in the least. A month or two in the Sierras, where the air is pure, would get his bellows working perfectly! With those in good shape, he could almost stop training, for there is no need to build up his power, which is tremendous." Jim Corbett, by the way, wants it distinctly understood that when he hooks up with Jeffries it will not be as a paid trainer.

"I have gone too far in theatrical work to step back into_ the activities of the prize-ring," said Jim. "It is true, nevertheless, that I am going to help Jeffries, and in order to be better prepared for the work I am going to begin training myself at once. Over in London Jeffries asked me how much money I would take to train him for the coming "battle, I replied that there was not enough money in circulation, but I told him that I would gladly drop everything and go with him as a friend, absolutely without consideration, wherever he goes, for the last forty days before his fight. Also, that I would bo in his corncr when the big event came off." STATEMENT BY JEFFRIES. In a signed article re his match with Johnson, Jeffries savs:—"l have a right to ask the public to believe me, and I \\ ant to say I will not if I can help it permit that negro to hold the heavyweight title. If I had the least doubt about the result, no amount of money could induce me to fight him. I would not lose to him for all the wealth of the world, and so sure as the sun sets on July 4 I will bring back the championship to where it belongs. I feel that the public is entitled to a contest. As to Johnson, I do not expect a better fight from him than that put up by Jack Munroe. But conditions call for a bout between myself and Johnson, and I am positive that I will finish his career as a fighter on the afternoon of July 4, 1910." Brave words these, but they arc not re-echoed by Tommy Ryan, who takes credit for teaching Jeffries how to lick Bob Fitzsiminons the first time at Coney Island. Ryan says that he would give one of his little fingers to see big 'J un come out on top, but that he feels Mi his bones Jeffries 'is doomed to defeat. Ryan, who has had considerable experience in the matter of retiring and coming back, says there was never a man yet who could let go of any pursuit for a few years and then take it up and perform as well as before. JACK JOHNSON'S HOMECOMINGA despatch in an American' paper says:—"Jack Johnson, world's champion pugilist, who is to contest with Jeffries for the richest purse ever hung up, arrived in Chicago to-day (December 26) to spend the Christmas holidays with his aged mother, Mrs Tina Johnson, whom he has not seen for

seven years, and whom he brought here from Texas. Johnson drove up in his new ten-thousand dollar automobile, and* walked into the mahogany vestibule of his mother's 30,000 dollar home. He removed his mink-lined overcoat and

sealskin cap, embraced his parent, walked up to his wife's room, and presented her with a set of diamond earrings that cost 5,000 dollars, opened a bottle of wine with his manager, and then received a delegation of newspaper men and posed for a number of photographs.'' The further news is forthcoming that Johnson, later in the day, celebrated the first anniversary of his accession to the championship title by a house-warming in the home ho has presented to his mother. SUMMERS OUTFIGHTS UNHOLZ. REFEREE DECLARES A DRAW. Summers, the English lightweight, met Rudolph Unholz, the tricky Boer boxer, at the Stadium,« Rushcutters Bay, Sydney, on Wednesday week. Unholz was suffering from a strained back when he met Frank Thorn, but states that on this occasion he entered the ring in a condition to do justice to himself. He had been assisted in his training by Tommy Burns and his brother, George Unholz. Bill Squires, the cx-heavy weight champion of Australia,, made his first appearance in the ring as a referee, and it is to be hoped that it will be his last (says the Sydney Morning, Herald). Not only did he appear unwilling to make the men break clean, but he j)assed over several actions on TJnholz's part, which would have, if the contest had been in the hands of a different referee, brought about his immediate disqualification. To crown all, he gave his decision as a draw, and that when Summers had, with the exception of the first three rounds, outpointed his opponent by at least three to one. Unholz fought as ho always does, relying on his great staying powers and capacity to take punishment to see him through. Summers, who appeared to find his opponent slightly awkward at -first, was

slightly behind on points at the end of the third round. From that out, however, the issue was never in doubt. Ho outboxed and outfought Unhofz, who, driven to desperation by the punishment he was receiving, attcmpteel on more than one occasion to lose the contest on a foul. Unholz was clean knocked down in the last round, and took six seconds; and at the conclusion of the con test told Summers that he" had met a better men.

Squires then electrified the audience by giving his decision in favour of a draw. Thereupon the crowd howled indignantly, and he left the ring in the midst of a howling mob. Summers appeared quite stunned at the decision, but made no remark. When Summers left the ring he was accorded quite an ovation.