The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-02
INTEREST IN THE BIG FIGHT.
BOTH SHARNEY AND JEFFRIEs IN
THE BEST OF TRIM.

They Have Worked Hard for the
Contest and Both Say They Are
Ready-Training Has Practically
CeRsed-sharI1ey Began His work
Before He Came East-sOme big
Bets Have Been Made on the Out
come of the Big Mill.
New York, Nov. Jim Jeffries and Tom
Sharkey have practically ended their train
ing, and save for light exercise will do
nothing more until they face one another
in the arena of the Coney Island Sporting
Club on Friday night.
They have both worked hard for the
contest, and will probably prove to be in
excellent condition. Some doubts have
been expressed as to the form Of Jeffries,
as he has only done about seven weeks
work for the fight, but his manager. Billy
Brady, and his trainers, Tommy Ryan
and Billy Delaney, unite in declaring that
he is in entirely satisfactory shape.
He asserts himself that he is stronger
and better than he was on the night when
he met Bob Fitzsimmons in the same ring
and defeated him.
On the other hand, there is no doubt
about the condition of Sharkey He be-
gan work while in California early last
summer, and he has kept pegging away at
it ever since. He is ambitious to be the
champion pugilist of the world in his class
and does not want the matter of condi-
ton to stand in has way He is in nearly
perfect form.
The eve of the contest sees both men
supremacy confident. Both are calm ana
will go to the fray as veterans into ac-
ton. Thousands of dollars have been wa
gered on the outcome of the fight JEFF
fries remains the favorite, and the pre-
vailing odds are 10 to 8, although some
money is placed at shorter terms than
that.
Odds stiII on Jeffries.
It was expected that the flood of Shar-
key money that came sweeping into town
earlier in the week would make the terms
even by the caH of time on Friday night
but men who follow the books and make
a business of financial risks of a sporting
nature, are tonight predicting that JEFF
fries will maintain his lead in betting
favor
The house promises to be the largest that
ever gathered for a pugilist encounter IN
New York, or anywhere else in this coun-
try. The sale of seats so far has been
tremendous, and if it keeps up the house
will be sold out. The boxes near the stage
went at S35 piece while the best seats
near the ring commanded from SIS to SIS
General admission is to cost S., and it is
expected that the size of the gate ex-
pressed in dollars win Abe close to 500 900
Spectators viii be in attendance from
every state in the Union Several large
delegations from the South and Middle
West got in to-day, and others from Cali
fornia and the extreme West and New
England viii arrive tomorrow. Hotel cor
ridors and cafes ring with fight talk. There
are offers to bet, PREDICT lions as to the
length chat the match will go, speculation
and prophecy as TO victory, and vigorous
arguments from the men who champion
one or the other of the big fighters.
Some Big Bets Made.
Neither of the men did much work to-
day owing 70 the storm.
Many wagers were placed tonight on
the result of the big fight. Jim Wakely.
a stanch admirer of Champion Jeffries
was one of the heaviest bettors to-day.
placing IS, 200 on the CALIFORNIA; chances.
James j. Corbett bet $1,000 against $500 on
Jeffries. with George Kraus. Dick Lane
has IS. 500 to bet on Sharkey against 900.
]. c. Budd, who arrived here to-day from
Cleveland, bet $500 to 81 200 with Chris
BoWan. Budd has 5000 10 wager on JEFF
fries on the same odds Dick Doughertyl
who has a commission of 5000 to place on
Jeffres, bet 5000 tonight against 81, 800
with ]. w. Mason. The remaining 5000
will be posted az the same odds
The articles of agreement under which
Jeffries and Sharkey will fight for the
heavyweight championship Of the world
call for twenty-five rounds. They will
battle for $685. per cent. of the gross re-
ceipts of which the winner will receive
70 per cent.