The herald., 1897-04-12
THE RING
and Ritter

The many friends of big Jeffries of the
east side are highly pleased over the
easy victory of their favorite over Van
Buskirl, at San Francisco, the Los
Angeles man scoring a clean Knockout
in the second round. This is the second
ring contest in which Jeffries has taken
part. and in both instances he easily de-
feated his opponents. both of whom were
men of much more actual experience
than Jeffries, who Is really only now
ice, but who is regarded, not only by his
Los Angeles admirers, but by such as
tute fistic experts as Billy Delaney, Billy
White and others as the coming cham
pon. Jeffries was one of Corbetts
sparring partners while the latter was
training for his fight with Fitzsimmons,
and even that distinguished exponent
of pugilism conceded that for "a green
one he was the best man that he had
ever gone up against. Shortly after
Jeffries entered Corbetts service there
were rumors that on more than one oc-
casion when the then champion told his
pro tempore punching bag to go in and
slug he took him at his word, the re-
suit being disastrous for the time be-
ing to his employer. On one occasion
it was claimed that Jeffries had not
only knocked Corbett down and out,
but when the other trainers rushed in
| to floor him they were likewise rem
! dered hors de combat in short order. Be
| that as it may, Jeffries was loyal to
\ Corbett while he was in his employ, and
I either denied the stories or said nothing.
But now that the great fight is over and
no harm can result to the ex-champion,
Jeffries is beginning to talk. He Is
| naturally of a very retiring disposi-
ton, and all that he would say in a week
would not make fifteen minute spiel
for the average pug" But what he
does say he means. and it can be relied
| upon as being the truth. While JEFF
fries comedies that Corbett is wonder
full boxer. the best exhibition sparrer,
perhaps the world ever saw, he does
not have much of an opinion of his hit
ting powers lie also comedies that he
learned a great deal from Corbett dur
ing the time he was with him, and has
adopted to a certain extent his ring tao
tics and general style but he does not
consider that any first-c!ass man III
good condition is in much danger from
a knock k-out blow at the hands Of the ex-
|
while Corbett can land pretty much
when and where he pleases he cannot
punch hard enough to do any material
damage. AS Jeffries modestly puts it
when talking of his experiences at Car
son, 1--WE mixed up pretty frequently
and I generally came out ahead as often
as the other fellow" From his record
UP to date and when it is known that
in strength Jeffries is the equal, il mol
the superior, of any man that evei
stepped into the ring, it is not beyonc
the range of possibilities that, with
proper training ard handling, he MAY
get to the top even sooner than his mos
sanguine admirers have hoped for.
Since the reports that the kintoscop
pictures of the Corbett- -FitZeimmon
fight at Carson have proved failure
have been given out. the impression
seems to be gaining ground that anothe
match may now be arranged betweel
the two men. 1t is known that boil
fighters counted on larger gains from
this source than any other, and If it ha
failed there is nothing left for them t
do but fight again. Al present they ar
both doing fairly well giving exhibitions
but this will not continue long, for jus
as soon as the novelty wears off tn
drawing powers will drop to nil. as tn
public will not pay to see either an ex
champion or a retired champion 0
champions even when there is no pros
pect of their ever coming together again
This Is particularly true Of Fitzsimmons
who, for some reason, has never been
success from a theatrical standpoint
He is a fighter pure and simple, and ca
90 nothing else unless he returns to hi
trade of blacksmithing. ard this is no
TO be expected. AS soon as the box of
flee receipts drop off overtures for an
other match will be made to revive in
terest OF course the actual fight wi
he postponed as long as possible, but tn
chances are one hundred TO one that be
fore he is 40 years old Fitzsimmons wi
have to administer another drubbing I