The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-21
SPORTING NEWS.
Clever Middle Weight Ryan De-
nies a Fear of Mccoy.
Says He Will Fight Any Man at
156 Pounds.
ANXIOUS FOR A GO.
Declares Jim Jeffries Willing to
Meet Sharkey
And VIII Do So as Soon as His
Arm Heals.
FOR A GO.

Cincinnati, Dec 21-CIever Tommie
Ryan, the acme Of ring grace and clev-
erness. dropped into town yesterday on
his way from Syracuse to West Baden.
The fast middle weight isn't at all
pleased with the numerous intimations
that have recently been made to the
effect that he is afraid to meet KID
Mccoy That is the old gag" said
Tommie, but there was never anybody
at 15S pounds that I wouldn't gladly
give a match If Mccoy thinks 1 won t
hight him, why don't he show me up
He could do it easily enough. All ne
has to do is to post a forfeit, and II
don't cover it, why, then it will be time
to say 1 am afraid of him. 1 don't say
can lick him, simply insist that L
would like the chance"
Tommie Ryan helped prepare Jenries
for both Of his recent championship
battles. The Syracusan thinks jeff is a
wonderful man. When went TO
work with Jeffries for his battle with
F'itz, I could best it all over him in
boxing. He wasn't the least bit clever.
It didn't take him long to learn L
worked him with all the tricks knew
about F'itz's fighting. Before the fight
came could do nothing with Jen- he
was on to all my curves and used to
block me very cleverly-
He didn't fight so well against Shar-
key was suggested
I know he didn't" said Ryan. He
forgot all his c1everness. At that I
don't believe Sharkey would have lasted
ten rounds if JeffrieS hadn't lost the use
of his left arm
Was his left arm in bad shape?"
Very bad, indeed" said Ryan. TT
was hurt before 1 Joined him. The mus
cles were strained near the elbow 1t
was hurt by the tossing of the medicine
ball in training. 1t was better when he
went into the ring, but he hurt it in
the second round, and didn't have the
use of it the rest of the fight. AS it
was. Sharkey couldn't possibly have
lasted much longer"
DO you think JEFF will give sharkey
another fight?'
Certainly he will, and that is what
he should do right away" was the re-
ply. If Jeffries had his way he would
be matched against Sharkey right now.
Brady is holding Jeff back. He would
fight without delay if his manager said
so. Before he fights again he should
get his left hand in good fettle. 1t
isn't we'll, or wasn't the last time I saw
him. It will take it some time to come
around. Jeff has = wonderful left hand.
He used it almost exclusively on Fitz.
1t was a big handicap for him to have
to fight Sharkey with his best hand
crippled. The fight was a bad one. JEFF
did all of his work with his right, and
most of his blows were on the body.
Had he started that right for the body,
and lifted it up over the guard for
Sharkey's jaw he would have put the
sailor out early in the engagement. Al
though Sharkey did a great deal of the
leading he was wild, and most of his
blows were blocks, or went around the
neck. Jeff was inside of his guard most
of the time
Tommie Ryan said yesterday that he
had secured the Ohio and Indiana right
to exhibit the fight pictures. Jack jeff
partner of Ryan in the fight picture
business.