BOXING.

NZ Truth, Issue 103, 8 June 1907, Page 3

BOXING.

- » BILL SQUIRES. Bill Squires thus unbosomed himself . to the fight reporter of an American exchange :-..'.. "I have come to America *to light my way to the world's championship. If I can. '"I don't believe that on my past performances the American public will admit that I 'have a genuine chance to whip Jeffries, and I don't blame them. In their place I would say 'ths same. VI . therefore want to fight my way to the right to meet Jeffries. "I want to show that I am entitled to a match with this great champion ofoliampions for the crown he wears. CROSSES THE WORLD TO MEET JEFFRIES. "I do not -say that I can whip him; . That I have confidence m my ability to do this you must realise when you consider that I have crossed half the World to fight Jeffries ; but before t meet Jeffries I am going m to whip every man m the heavy-weight class ;in America that is entitled to .consideration m the division, and when I" have fought my way to the : front I". can, then^sayj to J Jeffries": T""Kave';'w'tiiPoed 'every fighter m America that the critics, have suggested as worthy of contesting for . the title of heavyweight champion. I now want to meet you for the -title 6f world's champion which you alone hold.': "While I recognise, tha-t 'Jeffries has retired, and retiring ceded his title to Buran, I -still .consider this wonderful fighter the champion of champions, amid shall not rest until' I have met him m the ring and measured blow for blow, strength for strength, cleverness for cleverness, endurance for endurance, with ; James J. Jeffries. . ' i SAYS JEFFRIES IS GREATEST .. FIGHTER. ; "Then if I am whipped I will go back to my people, and say I have i met defeat, but 1 have been beaten by the greatest fighter the world has ever produced. And this I am willing to say now of Jeffries. I have always ' considered him the mightiest pugilist the ring has ever turned out. ' ' \ "If I whip him, which I devoutly hope I may, I shall take the credit for whipping a man that has had no equal m ring history. "I want to fight Tommy Burns, Jack O'Brien, Al ;Kaufman, Mike Schreck, Jack Ro6t,' any of the fighters that are considered high class. I have not drawn the color line m the past, but should I win the champipnshiip I shall refuse to meet a colored fighter^ because, like Jeffries and John L. Sullivan, I do not believe a white champion of the world should take chances m losing a fight to a negro. It is a matter of race- honor, and race should prevail, . ! • "If Jack Johnson comes hack to America before I fiphj; Jeffries and the fighting public ■• thinks I ought to meet . him I am willing to do so, but after I have fought Jeffries and if I should win I will refuse to do SO. .•• ' (■-. - '.:' . :. :. ., <; .TO CHALLENGE WINNER OF, BTJRNS-O'BRIEN GO. i"I hope to meet the winner of the Burns-Q'Brietn battle,' which I shall witness -when it takes place next month at Los Angeles. From the ringside I shall challenge the winner, and if I whip him I shall be ready to fight the, next good man the public selects -for me and so on until the critics agree that v - 1 am entitled to fight Jeffries. "Then the battle for which I have waited so long, the. chance for which every hig man m the ring hopes and prays— the . chance to fight for the champic*ship of the world.''

It was a big field .of sprinters sent out to corn-test the /Telegraph Handicap at OtakiU; A good start was effected by Mr iCameron, and Warlock and Chattel took up leading positions, followed by Playmate and Idealist. Warlock defied all efforts to reach him, and proved himself to be a good mud horse by, winning by a length.. •"•/ Huiimoana jumped fiett'er at Otaki than he had been doing preyiibusly, but he is "capable of. more improvement. He certainly had an advantage .m the straight, when Bonheur Ibea'ti him, and another horseman might have secured a vie- * tory for. the • blue jacket*