JOHNSON AND JEFFRIES.

West Coast Times, 7 September 1909, Page 1

JOHNSON AND JEFFRIES.

OPINIONS OF KETCHEL.

EX-WORLD'S CHAMPION SAYS JOHNSON "DOGS" IT.

Following Stanley Ketchel' s second victory over Jack O'Brien, the enterprising New York Telegraph interviewed Jack Johnson in Boston, and Jim Jeffries in Montreal on the subject, and we reproduce the remarks of both men. Said Johson: " Ketchel knocked out O'Brien, just as I expected. But that cuts no ice with me. I shall fight Ketchel, and take it from me, 80, I'll give that baby a licking. He thinks he's the whole show in ihe fighting game, but I'll make him have another think.

"Ketchel has a good punch; there's no doubt about that, but it's no use comparing my bout with Q'Brien with the Ketched-O'Brien fight. When I boxed O'Brien both Ketchel and Kaufmann were at the ringside with their eyes wide open and their notebooks in hand. Do you think I was going to be foolish enough to show my hand with them looking on ? "

"I positively will not fight Johnson if Ketchel beats him," said Jeffries.' "If Ketchel wins and challenges me, I will tako/him on. l intend to return to the ring as soon as my footlight en- i gagements are over, but Johnson will have to beat Ketchel before I will give him a chance at my title."

"I believe that Ketchel will beat Johnson, too/ added the big fellow^ " and 1 -wouldn't be surprised if he stopped the big negro inside of five or' six rounds. Ketchel has shown a whole lot of class of late, his two decisive \ictories over O'Brien proving that he must have some champion qualities in his make up."

"Ketchel is game, and that's more than I can say of Johnson. He 'dogs' it every time the going gets warm, and there never would be a fight with him a contestant, unless his opponent'! made it. He is a great man on thej defensive. That much I am forced to admit. But I am sure that if eitljer Ketchel or myself walloped him a few in the midrseetion he would throw up the sponge.

When the latest mails lef£ America Johnson and Jeffries were still fighting with words the battle everybody is despairii,s of ever seeing settled with legitimate instruments of controversy between boxers. When Jeffries is not busy assuring the public from the middle of' the stage that, during the past week, ho has travelled hal^-a-pound on fche road from twenty stone to fighting condition at fifteen stone, and that he will assuredly meet Johnsoli within a year or two, he is just as busily engaged telling reporters that he will never meet Johnson at all ,as the latter is certain to be licked when he meets Ketchell, and so says big Jim, within six rounds. It is interesting to noto, too, that Jeffries still claims the championship, though he, has'nt the slightest claim to it. Between Jeffries and the English sporting press which claims that he lost the championship by drawing out of a signed contract to meet Langfordj ppor Johnson nmpt be wondering what has become of his title at all.