The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-28
GOSSIP OF THE BIG FIGHT
BOTH FITZ AND JEFFRIEs ARE no.
ING SOME HARD WORK.
Lots of Money Is Going ana the
CaIiforninn's Friends Are hack
ing Him Heavily.

The big fight between Fitzslmmons aud
Jeftriea, which rs to be decided at the
Coney Island Sporting club on June 9, Tor
the championship of the world. has finally
secured a strong hold on the sporting men
William A. Brady is authority for the
statement that iifty-three boxes recently
sold brought $3.50. The demand for seats
is already far greater than tho capacity
Of the club house, and even standing room
is at premium.
Wagers involving several thousand dol
lars are being made every day. Brady aud
Julian are betting heavily outside of the
sums they put on their men In the b2-
ginning. Frank Dwyer has Just offered to
put up $4,000 on Jeifries, There arc sew
oTal thousand dollars about town waiting
for takers on both sides. Dave Holland
has $1,000 to bet on Fit2simmons, Louis
Jacobs has $500 more and Eddie Bull has
an additional $3.50 TO put on the champion.
Another of Lanky Bob's admirers is Char
ley White, who offers to bet $1,000 at s
to 5. Sam Thall, the theatrical man, says
he has $500 to bet on Jeffries, but wants
3 to ] for his money
California sports have a big liking for
Jenries chances. The latest load Of
greenbacks from the coast Is on its way
East, In possession OF Harry Corhett jim S
brother, who keeps pool room in Frisco
His stack amounts to 100000 Corbett wiz
be in New York IN few days and the
pile will go on Jeffries at the best ODDS
obtainable.
The reports that come from the training
quarters of the two men say that each man
Is IN excellent shape II these reports
prove to be true, and the Californian's
skill in amy way equals his strength the
fight will be as holly contested as any bat
tie In which Fitz has ever taken part
A feature OF Jeltries' preparation for the
fight Is tho attention the big California
boiler maker is giving to foot work Ha
is following Corbett's tactics closely in
that respect. He spends considerable time
in dancing around and away from an i'm
aginary opponent, and those who have
seen him at practice say he Is not so slow
in his movements as heretofore.
Ysnk Kenney, who is Fitzslmmous'
sparring partner, will box with the cham
pion daily until the day before the battle.
The men who are training Jeffrios at AS
bury Park say that the two weeks that
now intervene before the day OF the fight
viii do the Californian a world OF good.
They say also that Jeffres Is learning a
lot OF new tricks with the bag, and that
he will make a much better showing when
he meets Fitz than many persons think ho
VIII. In practice with his sparring part
ners Jim Is devotng a great deal OF time
to defensive work. He also rows daily on
Deal lake 10 strengthen his shoulder mus
Giles.
Ntzsimmons is beginning to train now
with an eye to business, Between running
and punching the bag the champion inside
of a week ought to show the best form Of
his life, The excellent care that Fitzsim
mons as a general rule has taken Of him
self serves him in good purpose for the
coming fight He is not broken down by
dissipation and late hours, and behind all
else he has that wonderful constitution
that fears neither sickness nor the on
slaught of men engaged In his calling, Tie
is not looking up any new blows Just a,
present. lie does not need them. He has
few all his own that other fighters
have yet 10 learit Very quietly he is shap-
ing himself 10 meet a man much over bis
weight reported TO be quite as fast aud
none too clevei.
II the Californian, by reason OF his
weight should bear In upon FitzsimmonE
and land two or three blows, he might dC
some damage, but 1t is safe 90 say. Ms
Fitzsimmons Is blocking out the campaign,
that Jeffrles Is going to be most warmly
received any time he attempts to min
things up" az close quarters,
Fitssimmons' trainers say he never was
more ht two weeks before tight than he