BOXING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1075, 13 October 1910, Page 12

BOXING.

echoes of the johnsonJEFFRIES BATTLE.

There is not a great deal to add in the aftermath of the contest between Jack Johnson and James J. Jeffries, (says a writer in the “Sporting Budget”). The negro has been accused of having a “yellow streak,” and he always laughs when he hears the suggestion, and one of the things that pleased him most after his victory was the fact that he had shown the world that he wasn’t to be scared by even the mighty Jeffries. “Did I back up?” he asked while he was donning his street clothes in his dressing-room. “Did I run away? Who did most of the leading? Who made the first lead? Oh I like to hear these fellows like Corbett and some others talk about my lack of courage. I was as sure of winning that fight as I ever was of anything in my life, and if anybody thinks that I’m afraid of any man alive, I have a lot of money to bet that they can’t show me him.” The everlasting triumph of youth will be continued in history. Johnson is only human, and at his age, thirtythree, he must expect retrogression to commence shortly. All the former kings of the gloving game who were present at the ringside and made the greatest gathering of world renowned fistic celebrities ever gathered together had their turn, and gave way to younger men. Sullivan, Corbett, Fitzsimmons, and lastly, Jeffries, all had their day, and the thousands of followers of the game of boxing will now be watching for the man who is to be fortunate enough to catch Johnson in the downward grade and meet him where he can give him the shove that will land him on the pile of “has beens” at the bottom. When will it be? We require a prophet or somebody with knowledge and power to see into the future, but that gift is denied human beings- How many people ten years ago would have thought that Jeffries would eventually meet with decisive defeat Many pessimists might have been found who would have declared that Jeff, stood a chance of being beaten on points, but by a knock-out? Perish the thought. Why, not one judge in a thousand of a boxer’s points would

have allowed the thought to have crossed his mind. How are the mightly fallen! Hero worship is one of the most peculiar components of human nature. To-day, when a man carries all before him, we publicly proclaim and cheer him, give banquets to his honour and glory, and generally make life a burden to the champion. But should defeat come his way! It is surprising how the hitherto warmest supporter will find something more attractive to discuss, and when he does condescend to speak of his late hero, it is only in words of censure at the audacity of allowing himself to be beaten. “Tis a strange world, and many the people who are fickleminded —especially in sport. Just imagine the scenes of enthusiasm that would have been manifested had Jeffries defeated Johnson at Reno (if only half as easy as Jeff was). Alas! no brass bands or crowds greeted the white man’s return to Los Angeles. There was a “multitude” numbering fourteen persons to welcome him home. His world tour, which would have been unparalleled in pugilistic history had he won, has been cancelled, and as every sane man must know, Jeff, will not look for a return fight. Surely the publicity merchants have done quite enough damage, without heaping coals of fire on the head of him who, unsuccessful, tried to remove the white man’s burden- Quite a contrast was the gladness with which Johnson was received. The much maligned negro was met upon his arrival in New York by a crowd of 6,000 coloured persons and given rousing receptions wherever he appeared. At a music hall in the city Johnson was accorded as much attention as if he had been Mr. Roosevelt. Jeff, will quickly drop out of the picture, and from what I can judge of his character, the ex-boilermaker will rest content in his own private affairs, and will never again want to discuss much about boxers or boxing. The big fight will soon be forgotten, but in the meantime interesting developments keep cropping up. It was a gigantic scheme, but the wise-heads who framed the whole affair are men who played the advertising game for all it was worth, and, what is more, they were overwhelmingly successful.