JEFFRIES-JOHNSON CONTEST.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1057, 9 June 1910, Page 10

JEFFRIES-JOHNSON CONTEST.

SOME INTERESTING SIDELIGHTS. Considerable attention is being paid nowadays to Jack Johnson, outside the petty arrests and annoyances he has been subjected to, and I am justified in saying that the belief is now prevalent that the negro will “ give Jeffries a fight” (wrote the New York correspondent of the London “ Sportsman” on April 5). Indeed, there is no talk now of “ Jeff.” being an overwhelming favourite, and some of the most astute sporting men agree that if the fight is on the level Johnson should only be an even-money chance. The Jeffries camp will hardly be big enough for all the men Berger has engaged to work with the big fellow, when he returns from his present hunting trip. The other night the “ live” newsvendors reaped a harvest selling papers with the announcement that “ Jeff” had broken his arm, and, of course, later reaped again with the contradiction.

Jack Gleason is in New York, arranging for the sale of tickets which will be carried out on an elaborate plan. In fact, every railroad office

in the country will be a booking office for the fight, and it is estimated now that the receipts will be at least £75,000. Johnson has been working quietly in Chicago, and reports from there state that already the negro is beginning to look fit. He realises that a number of charges preferred were made purely to annoy and hinder him, and, therefore, does not mind them. In a long and interesting interview, Johnson, amongst other things, has just stated: — “ Perhaps you’ll think I’m kidding, but what I’m going to say is in dead earnest. As sure as the sun shines on us to-day I expect to knock out Jim Jeffries within 18 rounds, or you can make it 20, to be exact. It ma, take a trifle longer than I look torBut not a minute over 20, and tnat goes. “ Of course, Tommy Burns and Jim Jeffries are two very different persons, but the principle’s the same. I know that Jeffries figures on taking the heart out of me early in the game. He thinks he can bull me all over the ring in the first eight rounds and have me hanging on for dear life. And that’s the idea a good many of his friends have, too. “ Well, the man doesn’t live on this earth who can throw me around just as he wants to- Jim Jeffries is a strong fellow, all right, but when he bumps into me he’ll be buckling up with a man that’s every bit as strong as he is- Where do some of these dopesters get the hunch from that I’m a chicken compared to him ? I know I don’t look the part, and you can ask anyone I’ve boxed with if I’m an easy guy to maul around at close quarters. Also, you can bet your last dollar that this fight is going to be different from any other I’ve taken part in. “ It’s the truth that never yet, since I’ve passed my novice days in the ring, have I been fully extended- I never had to bring every pound of punching power in my muscles into play, and I’ve always had plenty of reserve force to fall back on if I needed it. But it happened that I always won with something considerable to spare. Therefore, I don’t think it’s boasting when I slay that nobody has ever got a complete line on what I can do. This time I mean to let out every link in my body, and there’ll be some astonished faces at the ringside when they see me going my full gait.

” Jeffries won’t be able to feaze me in the opening rounds, as he hopes to. When he finds that he hasn’t got me scared to death, and am getting back at him with punch for punch and several over for good measure, he’ll get some discouraged. Then is when I mean to do some rough mauling myself. I ll set him the fastest pace he was ever up against in his life, and, believe me, he won’t be able to stand it. You often hear folks who think they know it all say that I lack punching power. The fact is I’ve never been obliged to cut loose with all there’s in me up to date. When I do, you’ll hear something drop, and drop heavy.” A message from San Francisco, dated April 1, says the Church Federation has engaged Mr. Carlos White, one of the ablest lawyers in California, to initiate proceedings and opposition against the heavy-weight championship fight between Jeffries and Johnson, to be held at Emeryville, Oakland, Cal., July 4. Sir R- Perks, M-P., has been advocating this course in speeches throughout the States for the past 10 days. The promoters declare that there will he no interference with the championship fight between Johnson and Jeffries. The arena will be in the heart of San Francisco. Jack Johnson was 32 years old on March 31, having been born in Galveston, Texas, March 31, 1874. His birthday anniversaries have not been all of the rose-tinted variety, as the following record shows: — 20th Birthday—Working at odd jobs r.nd dreaming of becoming a fighter. 23rd Birthday—Had realised his ambition by standing up before Joe Choynski for two rounds. 24th Birthday—ln San Francisco, where his ability as a fighter was beginning to attract some attention. 25th Birthday—On his way from the west to Boston to meet Sandy Ferguson, whom he defeated in a 10round bout. 26th Birthday—On his way west to meet Sam McVey, whom he knocked out in the 20th round in San cisco27th Birthday—ln San Francisco, recovering from the effects of his unsuccessful battle three days previously with Marvin Hart. 28th Birthday—ln New York, enjoying the proceeds of several victories

recently won in short bouts in eastern cities. 29th Birthday—tin Australia, having a rather hard time earning enough to furnish meal tickets for himself and manager. 30th Birthday—ln England, trailing Tommy Burns, whom he was to meet and defeat in Australia later in the year. 31st Birthday—ln New York, drawing £2OO a week appearing in vaudeville at the Victoria Theatre. 32nd Birthday—Congratulating himself on keeping out of gaol and incidentally trying to make up his mind to begin training for the Jeffries fight. A London cable says: —The New York correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” reports in regard to the approaching championship boxing contest that Johnson, who is considerably too fat, is so confident that he is delaying engaging in hard work beyond running and sparring. The cable adds that Jeffries, by dint of much dieting and skipping, has reduced his weight, but his friends fear that it is impossible for him to regain his skill, speed, and strength. Tex Richards, one of the promoters, has been appointed the referee of the Johnson-Jeffries fight.

Word has been received in Melbourne that Jim Griffin intends landing there about August next, on another “clean up.” The last match fought by Griffin in Melbourne was when he was defeated by Bill Lang in six rounds. A couple of matches followed in Sydney in which the decision also went against him, and, realising that he had gone stale, he wisely retired for a time.

Arthur Douglas, the South African light-weight, who, not so long ago, undertook to stand before Ed. Williams for 20 rounds, has now suggested a match with the present middle-weight champion of Australia, Arthur Cripps. Such a contest would be absurd, Douglas being fully two stone the lighter man.

Sam Langford and Stanley Ketchell may be brought together before the former encounters Tommy Burns. A strong effort is being made to match the men to try conclusions at San Francisco on July 2, when the city will be full of “sports,” to see the title battle between Johnson and Jeffries on the following Monday.

A quartette of notable men in the boxing world left Sydney this week by the Marama for San Francisco to witness the Jeffries-Johnson fight, Mr. Hugh Mclntosh, Tommy Burns, Bill Lang and Bob Fitzsimmons having sailed by the Vancouver liner on Monday for the scene of the world’s championship battle. Mr. W. F. Corbett, the well-known Sydney boxing writer, will also leave Sydney in time to reach San Francisco for the fight.

News from America states that Kaufmann is to be in the Johnson camp, to which he will attach himself at once. Kaufmann’s weight, strength, and endurance should operate well in the black’s interests against Jeffries.

Bill Lang, who recently concluded negotiations for a world’s tour under the management of Mr. Hugh Mclntosh, left Melbourne for Sydney on Monday of last week. Lang’s hand is now quite right again, and he is hitting strongly with it. He intends to do steady work during the voyage. Lang anticipates reaching America in time to witness the contest between Attell and Driscoll, which takes place a week before the Johnson-Jeffries fight.

“I have seen a good deal of Jeffries, (says the boxing writer of the “New York World.”) He is getting into very good shape, as far as I can see. I’ve been with him a good deal. Jim tells me that he never would have thought of fighting Johnson if he hadn’t been cocksure that he could get into shape again—his best shape. He told me very emphatically that he’d do his level best to put his fist through Johnson and knock him out in a round, and that if he couldn’t do that he’d try his best for a knockout in two or three rounds. I’ll hit him in the ribs so hard I’ll break his backbone, said Jeff. I won’t waste a single punch. I won’t try to beat down hi s guard, but when I do find an opening every blow is going to be for the knockout. I have never hit a man as hard as I could in my life, but this time I’ll let every punch go. If Johnson is able to fight within a year after I get through with- him I won’t be satisfied with my job.”