The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-29
Explains Few Points of Fight
With Sharkey.
SAILOR NOT TOO BIG.
He Would Like to Meet Jeffries
in the Ring.
Would Insist on MARQUIS of
Queensbury Rules.

airy many theories have been advanced
by sporting men as to what afterward
comprised my defeat, when in the
third round it appeared that I had the
sailor hOpelessly beaten. Some of the
spectators of the battle have declared
that victory would have been mine had
L followed up my advantage, when I
had Sharkey staggering about the ring
in the round mentioned.
Some of my friends meet the above
arguments with the claim that the of
fetal time-keeper's watch differed with
theirs in time, and that I was not sig
nailed that the round was near at end
supplement this with the assertion
that future history will disclose some
inner details of my battle with Sharkey
which will tell a different tale to the
one now generally believed by the
world. I refrain from any detailed
statement about that battle, which is
past, for the good of the game. Well
Informed persons know that l was then
and am today Tom Sharkey's master,
and no man living pays a more fiat
| tering testimonial as to my fighting ca
pacity than the sailor
[ have more than once in my life had
the worst of a contest, and my expert
ence has taught me that nothing is
gained by explanations and statements
after a battle is over. 1t is the future
that principally exercises me.
What has annoyed me particularly IS
the impression that has been created
by those directly interested with that
match, that Sharkey was and is too big
LOT me, ana IndI L am 700 IlSnL Ia
weight and physically incapacitated
from fighting the heavy weights, I in
sist that this story was deliberately
circulated through the newspapers of
this country for obvious reasons.
The existing situation necessitates
that I make an explanation, over my
own name, as to just what standing I
have among the heavyweight pugilistS
of the world.
More than ever am I persuaded that
am, at least, the peer of any pugilist
living. I have taken the measure of
Tom Sharkey; [ have insisted publicly
for over year that I could beat Bob
F'itZsimmOns, and having witnessed the
battle between Jeffries and Fitzsim-
mons, I am grieved that [ was not in
either one of their places that night.
1t is not my desire to detract from
the credit due the new champion but
expressions emanating from him rela-
tive to my challenge, issued before the
fight, have placed me on the defensive.
1t i'll becomes a. man like Jeffries, who
is a newcomer in the pugilistic world,
to belittle my challenge, backed by ST.
900 of my own money, with slurring re-
marks, intimating that I was only bluff
f1ng.
1 have been in the boxing business
from early youth, and there is nothing
in my record that will show that have
not been ready to meet any and all
corners, after had once said would
fight. My career has been gradual, and
there is not a middle weight of any
pretension whom I have not beaten de-
cisively, unless it is Bob Fitzsimmons.
1t is but little over a year ago that I
entered the heavyweight class, and |
have beaten Gus Rubin, Joe Goddard
and Joe Choynski My other contest
was with Tom Sharkey. -
JEFFRIES FOUGHT ONLY TWICE.
In the same length of time, beginning
from May 20, 1898, the date Of my first
Fought tWTice. He lee esssyed to to- beat BOB
10 rounds He managed to secure a de-
CiSiOn Armstrong, fourth class
man, in 10 rounds but was unable to go
His next effort was with Bob Titzsim-
mons
much Iauded ability. He is Justified in
reaping all the benefit he can by the
tunity. It is admitted BY those who saw
Fitz in his fight with Jeffries. as we'll as
former champion, almost throughout his
last contest, displayed form that would
amateur boxer Whether it was owing to
prepared to assert. Perhaps it was |
pubic IS 10 state tn gv whg h bee1e that
would have an excellent chance against
too big for me. as 1 like them that way, |
for they are hard to miss.
In the first place a man of Jefferies'
build and avoirdupois cannot execute his |
science as quickly as a man Of my. weight |
can take two steps while he is taking one, |
and my first step would bring me into |
regain his balance. He could not gather |
himself as quickly and is entirely too slow |
lustrate, make the comparison that it |
E E9gd a gs 5ke Mig Taes
In meeting a man like Jeffries [ should |
quis of oueensbury rules. which prohibit |
hugging roughing, clinching and wres- |
tific and modern boxing contests.
1t is my belief that contests under med |
tend to injure the sport. Wrestling and |
ticed is step backward to the old Lon |
sTPERIoR IN sC G951ST DEVELOP
I do not claim to be Jeffries' equal in |
strength or mnseu5aE mt b but b at
master and have my money up to sup
ability to defeat him under the Marquis Of
Queensbury rules, as al championship
nevertheless a fact, that the last four or
fought under different rules and agree
ments than those originally entered into;
referee. and it is the truth that no two
referees Interpret the rules alike
0pP p + ny n g gh S. JIM }eries
E9rlds fhamponshiP' # he is not beaten
I was, first in the field with my money
tight, ana again am ready with my
offer, to take the place of either man
Jeffries-Sharkey fight scheduled for Oc-
tober
When Jeffries reaches Denver 7 will pay
him my respects and personally make the
above offer I have also written Tom
O'Rourke that I will take Jeffries' place
a gainst Sharkey if the boilermaker is not
ready.
This will enable me to prove that little
men are the masters of big men under
some circumstances, especially where sci
ence and intellect oppose Drawn and
muscle, with all other things equal;
Challenger of the World.