SQUIRES-JEFFRIES MATCH.

NZ Truth, Issue 84, 26 January 1907, Page 2

SQUIRES-JEFFRIES MATCH.

Knocked on the Head. I Right from the outset there was a ! doubt m the minds of some people as ito whether the proposed meeting of Squires and Jeffries would ever take place. The opinion was expressed that Jeffries might elect to sticli to his quiet farm life m preference to undergoing the -severe course of training that would have been . necessary to fit him for a big Championship battle, or to bring him hack to anything lika his original fighting weight. Of course, everyone hoped that when the • time . came, Jeffries would be found willing to go on with the contract, but, as previously stated, there were those who SCOUTED THE IDEA of such a match ever taking place, and ventured the opinion that M Squires ever l&ft for America at all it would be to fight one of the lesser lights, and not Jim Jeffries. Unfortunately, these fears nave been only too well grounded. An exchange of cablegrams between Australia, and America has had the effect of clearing up the situation to this extent— that Squires, whoever he may face on reaching the land oi Uncle Sam, will certainly not face Jeffries. Mien it came to tying himself down to the battle, hard and fast, by • , ' . THE SIGNING OF ARTICLES, Jeffries 'backed down from tho Squires' contract, and the probabilities are that. the big fellow, never seriously entertained the match from the beginning. And why should he? Having conquered the world, so to speak, before retirins;- from -the fighting '"business, what' had he to gain by a meeting with Squires, even though the Australian met the fate of all his earlier opponents ? On the other hand, defeat would have spelt blue ruin to the ex-champiori's reputation, for m that 'event all his former GLORY WOULD HAVE DRPART- . ED m one act. As it is, Jeffries can still look after his farm, and poso as the "boss pimchist" of modem

times. He might not have done so had the maton with Squires taken place, for the Australian's big advantage m the matter of condition alone would have kept the Yankee moving. '

It is understood that Squires will still go , oh' with his American trip, the MH^lown of Jeffries, notwithstanding. : And if negotiations, alre.idv m progress, are brought to a satisfactory 'issue,- lie may yet have Jack O'Bfira for an opponent, m which case there would he more than on even-moneTv chartce of the world's champioOHWr* . coming back to 'Australia. v Jeffries, back to his best form, might have got away with Squires, but, taking a line through O'Brien's fights recently with Sam Berger and Tommy Ryan, the Philadelphian • IS NOT THE MARVEL that he was once thought to be. Boxing experts on the spot, while .giving him credit for his great cleverness, declare O'Brien to., be several removes behirid the Jeffries type, and easy game; .even for a good middleweirfit such as Bob Fitzsimmons or Jim Hall m their best day. Other Yankee authorities have gone so far as to say that O'Brien is not over anxious for a meeting with Squares, and that if ever the couple do meet Souires will only need, to *""*&*. ■with-'n measurable distance of. his reputation to the. bis: end 'of the' purser .But.- •Mrcfwever that' may be. the' fact : rem a ins tha.t th« decision ol ■'.Jewries to stick to his pi«rs and poultry v-.h/il « "other fools" do the. "'ilehtinp' h^K TOT^ovri-i th« ecreatest obsfarlp . that'i fito^d between Souires and thtvacfria?, world's ohampions'hip.