Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-02
THE BIG FIGHT.
Jeffries and Sharkey Have
Both Stopped Training.
Each Man Claims He Is in the
Very Pink of Condition.
Odds 10 10 8 on Icfiries With Plenty Of
Money in Sight.

New York, Nov Jim Jeffries ana
Tom Sharkey have practically ended
their training and save for light eXer-
else will do nothing more until they
face one another in the arena OF the
Coney Island Sporting Club, 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
trainers. Tommy Ryan and Billy De-
laney, unite in declaring that he is in
entirely satisfactory shape. He him
self asserts that he is satisfied that he
is stronger and better than he was on
the night when he met Fitzsimmons in
the same ring and defeated him.
On the other hand there is no doubt
about the condition of Sharkey. He
began work while in California early
last summer and 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 condition to stand in his
way. His trainers, Tim McGrath and
Bob Armstrong. and his manager, Tom
ORourke, have been compelled to
watch him to guard against going over
the mark where he would be strong
As It Is he Is in nearly perfect FORM
Jeffries may spend the night before
the fight in New York. He is very
anxious to see viii Curley, the English
bantam, in his fight with George Dixon
at the Broadway Athletic Club, to-
morrow night. and unless serious OBJ
lection is made by those who have him
in hand will come up from Allenhurst
where he has trained, tomorrow. He
has been warned that there is danger
Of exposing himself to the night air
and if he does not change his plan it
will be Friday noon before he leaves
for the scene of the battle. His plan
now is to reach Coney Island, Friday
afternoon, and take his dinner at one
of the resorts there. Sharkey will not
leave New. Dorp. until Friday after
noon. He may spend part of the af-
ternoon at Martins hotel, at 10th street
and Broadway, but it is more probable
that he will go directly to Coney Island.
The eve of the contest sees both of
the men calm and supremacy confident.
Thousands of dollars have been waged
on the outcome of the fight. JeffrieS
remains the favorite and the prevail
ing odds are 10 to eight, although some
money is placed at shorter terms than
that. 1t was expected that the flood
of Sharkey money that came sweeping
into town earlier in the week would
make the terms even by the call of
time, Friday night but men who follow
the books and make a business of risks
Of sporting nature, are, tonight. pre-
dieting that Jeffries will maintain his
lead in betting favor.
The house promises to be the big
gest that ever gathered for pugilistic
encounter in New York or anywhere
else in this country. The sale of seats
50 far has been tremendous and if it
keeps up the house will be sold out.
The boxes near the stage went at SO
apiece while the best seats near the
ring commanded from $15 to $20. Cen
eral admission is to cost 50 and it is
expected that the size of the gate eX-
pressed in dollars will be close to $780,
600 Spectators will be in attendance
from every state in the union. SeVera
large delegations from the South and
middle West arrived. today, and others
from the extreme West and New Eng
land will arrive. tomorrow. Hotel cor
ridorS and cafes ring and echo with
fight talk.
Neither of the men did much, today.
owing to the storm Sharkey'S phySi
clan. Or. Frank T. Butler of New
York examined the pugilist, today,
and declared that the latter was in
perfect condition.
Many wagers were placed, today and
tonight. on the result Of the fight. Jim
Wakelcy. a ataunch admircr Of champ
ion Jeffrics, was one of the heaviest
bcttcrs. placing 5000 on the Cali
fornians chances. James ]. Corbctt
bet $1,000 against $500 on J"ffrils. with
George Krauss. Dick Lame has $500
to bet on Sharkey against $4,000. J. G..
Budd of Cleveland. bet $500 to $500
with Chris Boylan. Budd is u we'll
known Western sporting man and has
$4,000 to wager on Jeffries on the same
odds Dick Doughtery, who has a com
mission of $4,000 to place on Jeffries.
bet $4,000. tonight. against $1,000 with J.
w Mason The remaining $4,000 will be
posted at the same odds.
The articles of agreement under
which Jeffries and Sharkey will fight
for the heavyweight championship of
the world call for - rounds. They will
battle for 66 % per cent. Of the gross
receipts. Of which percentage the Win
ner will receive - per cent.