BOXING NEWS.

West Coast Times, 23 June 1909, Page 3

BOXING NEWS.

The Christchurch Sports Club is in communication with Mr W. F. Corbett, of Sydney, with reference to a match between Sid Sullivan and Tim Tracey. The club offers £15 for the Australian's expenses, and a purse of £65 (divided, £40 and, £25), and the dates proposed are August 24, October 8, or 27. This rather looks as though the Christchurch people have wiped the eye of the local association, as this is one of the matches that has been mooted as likely to prove a good drawing card at Christchurch. In any case, it is high time that Tracy was given a match locally. Another attempt was made recently to pin Jack Johnson down to a math — tin's time with ex-champion Jack O'Brien. The bout was to have been vi six rounds duration, and was to 'live occurred on May 19 last, at the.National Athletic Club, of Philadelphia. I Referring to the match, an Anw'xa.i exchange says: "There was maci fiddling and side-stepping on the part of both, as O'Brien wanted more money than Johnson was willing to ailov him. and Johnson said he did not care much for the match, as he did not want to take a chance in hurting his hands with a possible fight with Jeffries in sight. Finally the club managiprs got -the terms arranged. Tiafh man put up 1000 dollars guarantee to be in the ring. XI is said that they have been guaranteed 5000 dollars, 70 per cent of which goes to Johnson, win or Jose, but this neither will admit." Anyhow, the match will not be taken very seriously, as O'Brien is recognised as a back number, since his gruelling at the hands of Stanley Ketchell, and, as for Johnson, the great American public seem to be "fed up" on Johnson, and will only look at him in the light of a meal for Jim Jeffries, whenever the latter announces that he is ready to eat. Until he is ready, the big fellow is giving his exhibitions at various musichalls, and intends making a European tour, taking the baths at Cai'lsbad, and, if it can be arranged, showing for a short, season in Itoudou, Meanwhile^ Johnson stands

; by and scoffs. Says the "coon" £ "Jim Jeffries will never fight me. He is a- — fraid of me. He knows I can; ulrip him He doesn't want me to get into condition, for if he did he would have to fight me." Then after wisely shaking his head, Johnson remarked : ] "No, sir; you can gamble on i that, Jeff will never fight me. He would H not recognise my existence when he s was champion, and I would like nothi" ing better now than to show him what I could do to him." t» According to another account, he de- ? livered himself thus, on being told - that Jeffries had decided to come aftei * him: "Well," he said, "surely I am tickled to death at the news. I figW 3 Ketchell in Otcobor, and whea I have knocked his head off, Jeff and yours ' truly will hook up. You can bank on my putting him to sleep. He was a 1 wender once, but bis day is past. Every pitcher has gone to the well once too often, and Jeffries will take his 1 last trip to the watering place when he enters the ring with me."