The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-30
Jeffries and Sharkey at COney
Island Friday.
Some characteristics of the Big
Sturdy PugiIists.
BOTH MEN ARE READY.
Are Expected to Put Up the
Greatest of Battles.
How They Compare In Their
Measurements.

The eyes of the sporting world are
turned toward the Coney Island Ath-.
letic club, in New York. where the great
battle between Jeffries and Sharkey
viii be pulled off next Friday night.
They are different types of men.
Sharkey is low in stature, with wonder
full knots of muscle over his body, says
the Chicago Tribune. His chest pro-
trudes like the chest of a pouter pigeon.
His short, heavy arms are knOtted from
toll while he was a common seaman on
board the United States cruiser Charles
ton. He has the shortest reach of any
of the big boxers. His waist is COM
paratively small. and his hips seem
weak under the great bulk of muscle
aboveboard. But it is the hips and legs
of Sharkey which have given him his
victories He is one of the fastest men
on his feet in the ring, and uses his
legs like a lightweight while watching
and maneuvering for position from
which to launch knockout blow.
Jeffries towers over Sharkey three
inches, and is a giant in stature. He is
young and new in the ring. Three years
ago he was almost unknown. He fol-
lowed the fortunes of Jim COrbett until
Bob FitzSimmonS made scientific dis
coVery with his left fist during a GER
tain fistfc fuss up at Carson City. At
ter FftzsimmOnS prObed for COrbetts
solar plexus and found it, Jeffries went
COrbett's sparring partners. The son of
the California preacher had ambitions.
Twice, during the training of COrbett,
he had discovered that he, with his huge
strength, was the superior to the then
champion. He knew that with skill adj
ded, he could whip Corbett.
At that time few would have believed
the young giant, but last summer when
Jeffries Outpointed and whipped Fitz-
simmons, knocking out the red-headed
conquerOr of COrbett, nobody doubted.
Sharkey is a vicious fighter. He is
also known as a foul fighter. 1t is
came back with a vicious rush when
Joe Choynski slammed him through the
ropes, and he was then only novice.
He merely looked surprised and jump
ed back for the rest of it when Peter
Maher dropped him with a terrific right
handler. In his memorable fight with
FitzsimmOns. which he won because
Wyatt carp was referee, he took a ter
rife beating and seemed to like it. His
ability to stand punishment surprised
even FitzsimmOns. who said after
ward: Il landed six knockout blows on
the blooming beggar, and he wanted
more" He jumped up fresh and rushed
back upon Kid" Mccoy when the kid"
put him down twice with two whiplike
blows.
Jeffries, too, is game, but he has new
ed yet been called upon to stand the
gait in the prize ring. His short career
has brought him no beatings nor any
winning and securing draws, and was a
prominent aspirant for honOrs until he
broke his hands on big Bob Armstrong
in 1898. He was then derided as an ex-
plOded phenomenon, but he went quiet
ly back to bOilermaking and returned
suddenly to wrest the championship
from Fitzsimmons.
The two men fight in different styles
and change their styles according to
the men they fight. In his battle with
FitzsimmOnS JeffrieS assumed a low,
crouching position, holding the lanky
Australian off with his left labs, with
the arm sticking out in front like the
ram of a ship. He can hardly assume
such an attitude while fighting Shar-
key, for the sailor is a rushing, agrees
Sive fighter, always 'bOr1ng IN, and
never stopping, unless driven back by
a blow, when once he starts a rush. The
sailor must get to close quarters to be
effective, while Jeffries, a long armed,
free armed fighter, will probably want
to skirmish at long range, although JEFF
fries, too, has often engaged in swap
of blows.
Both men are two-handed fighters;
both fight with their left hands while at
close quarters; neither has great sci
ence, although both are clever in block
ing blows; both can deliver terrible
blows, and either can knock out the
other at a single punch.
AS to brains, which, in spite of pub
lie idea, are essential to great fighters,
neither man would be called upon to
settle a Venezuelan boundary dispute,
but both men have average sense.
Sharkey is shreWd, and Jeffries is a
man of good sense and ordinary educa-
ton.
Sharkey is known among the profess
SiOnal pugilists as a Crouch He is
worth more money than any fighter and
is extremely saving. He is not man
of bad habits. Jeffries is a big, good
natured giant, an overgrown boy, full
of spirits and vulgarly healthy. He is
careful Of his health, and is not a
spendthrift, although he spends money
freely. He has good habits and is full
of ambition and is saving money.
Possibly the best way to compare the
men is by their physical measurements.
The following table shows how the
giants will compare when they line up
against each other next Friday:
Jeffries. Sharkey.