Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-08-17

Now IL Jeffres's talent as fighter
was grossly moderated when he boxed
Armstrong. is it not possible that his
showing with the Corllishman may
have caused his fistic abilities to be
slightly exaggerated? In a time like
this it may smack of lese majestic to
hint ut such a thing, but | throw out
the suggestion merely to remind my
readers that it is poor rule that won't
work both ways.
When the boilermaker earned the
championship he fought carefully and
cleverly. but it must be remembered
that after the first few rounds the 9TH
er fellow threw caution to the winds,
thus making Jeff's task much easier.
The principal lessons taught by the
FitzsimonsJ effries fight are that JEFF
fries possesses marvellous left hand,
and that his power to resist punish
mcnt is pretty nearly abnormal. FitZ-
simons bit the dust while trying to
get past that left, and Fitzsimmons
lost courage because his own left hand
punches had no more effect on Jeffries
than fly kicks.
Jeffries's left was always power in
the ring. 1t had the speed of bul-
let in his prentice days. 1t came from
every direction. sometimes soaring and
plunging like the bowsprit of wind
driven yacht but more often swaying
and sweeping like the jib of n mighty
crane To Tommy Ryan. | understand.
is due the credit Of drilling JEFF in the
matter of hitting straight. but what
ever the source of this added accom-
plishment, the fact remains that JEFF
fries possesses n highly educated left
The man who expects Ia win from
him Mt outfighting must be veritable
Napoleon at the glowing game.
The kind of man most apt to beat
Jeffrics I think is n man of great ply
steal strength who is seasoned enough
to stand a battering and clever enough
TO break past that terrible left M times
and indulge in exchanges of broadsides.
Not having had opportunities of siz-
ing up John L. Sullivan when the old
time king of the ring was at his best
l am not in a good position to insti-
tute comparisons between the two big
fellows. l incline to the belief though
that Sully. with his cannon ball rush
es and his indifference to violent re-
bluffs, would have forced a passage
past the boilermaker's left and scored
"A victory after a savage spell OF breast
to breast work If Jeffries has weak
point | think it will develop during in
fighting.
Between Sullivan's day and Jeffries's
day there fourshed a number of
heavyweights. any one of whom taken
at the food, might have done for Mr..
Jeffries. OF these fellows they were
simon pure products of the Queensber-
ry system--Jim Corbett and Peter
Jackson were the pick. They were
wizards at feinting. footing, timing
and swatting and they made careful
diagnosis of each case they handled.
Sometimes they wore man down
gradually, at others they dropped him
suddenly with merciful thwack on
the point" but whatever the style OF
finish they INDUCED in they were ar
fists i'm their line.
These brilliant performers are in the
sere and yellow. while jeff is in the
green leaf and one has to bridge a gap
IN order to make comparisons. / am
wondering however, if, after all. JEFF
fries's rapid, rangy left might not have
proved effective foil to all the nimble
tricks of these dancing Deryishes. I'll
admit that | want to see more of the
boiIermaker's favorife fist before being
thoroughly satisfied that either Corbett
or Jackson knew enough to discount it.
Until such time it is my D@lief that
''tbe man most apt to beat Ieffries" is
counterpart of Sullivan, Jackson or
Corbett.
This is somewhat of poser. The
Sullivans, the Jacksons and the Cor
belts have passed out and a quick
sweep of the pugilistic horizon sug-
In getting our new champion licked.
Not that we are particularly DESTROYS
of seeing him hammered and humbled.
but because we are always on the aui
vive to discover that better" man
who Is supposed to be lurking some
where in the shadows whenever a
good" man deveio's.- ~. w Naught-
or.