The times., 1899-11-03


less. and will be glad when the
championship is decided. Both Sharkey
and Jeffries are confident Of success, and
scout the rumors circulated by the enemies
of each man that they are not in good
condition for the fight. Billy Delaney,
Jeffries trainer, says that the champion
is in as good shape as on the day when
he met Fitzsimmons, and will go into the
ring with as much confidence. James J.
Corbett has selected Jenries to win though
he thinks the champion Will have hard
fight on his hands before he makes his
claim TO the belt good The former cham
pion thinks that Sharkey is more than a
good man. and he believes he will give
Jeffries considerable trouble in the early
rounds on account of his wonderful vitality
and his confidence.
Corbett has fought Sharkey twice, and
boxed with Jeffries before he was thought
Of as a future champion. He says lie
knows what each man is capable OF doing,
and is sure that Sharkey cannot win. The
sailor, he says, is a wonder, but that JEFF
fries is in better condition than ever be-
fore Corbett has placed $1,000 to $500 on
Jeffries, and expects him to get the de-
cision. Plenty Of money has been wagered
on the big fight by the sports 1t is esti-
mated that not less than 100000 is placed
on the fight in this city.
The Odds offered.
There was Sharkey money in sight yes
terday, but the rumors which have been
circulated that Jeffries is in a bad condi-
ton have failed to influence the odds.
Sharkey's hackers are accommodated when
they offer Z to 10. The odds sill remain
at about 10 to on the champion. Shar-
keys hackers feel that Jeffries cannot
stand the punishment Sharkey is able to
inflict, while JefIries men point to the fact
that in California Sharkey tried twenty
rounds and was very nearly whipped. Jei-
fries they say, whipped Fitzsimmons who
played with the sailor when they came to-
gether.
Outsiders who saw Jeffries during his
training for the Fitzsimmons battle, and
who have watched him while he has been
at work at Asbury Park this time, are sat
isfed now that he is in as good trim as
when he won the championship.
When he first came 10 Asbury Park he
did not look like the man who left here on
the morning of the fight with Fitzsimmons
In the first place he was much heavier, and
in addition TO that his skin did not glow
with the ruddy tint that marks good
health. He seemed to be little fiabby,
and altogether impressed one as a man
who had been living high after life Of
some abstemiousness, and that seems
largely to have been his trouble. The hrst
week helped TO clear matters little, but
still he was not the same Jeffries who
fought Fitzsimmons.
IN the last two weeks his work has show
ed for itself, and today he looks like the
Jeffries who won the championship His
face is clear, and there has been absolutely
nothing that would lead a critic Of boxing
to believe that his left arm panied him in
the least when he struck a blow.
During all his training Jefries' conf
dence in himself has never abated. i
knew that l would be all right, and I am
quite well satisfied that I will win the
fight" said he this morning. Il know there
are always possibilities Of defeat. but /
don't stop TO think about them. 1t keeps
me busy 10 figure out how / am going TO
win"
Jeffries was outdoors for time yester-
day but the drizzle that sprang up after
the morning breezes had ceased blowing
sent him back indoors, where he spent his
time with his brother Ryan. and their as
sistants. He toxed in better style than he
has any day for the last week. He let his
arm out once or twice just TO show what
he could do, and the manner in which his
brother grunted suggested that there was
plenty Of force behind the blow
Tommy" Ryan has expressed himself
/ that Jeffries will win, and this seems to be
the opinion of the men who are in the best
! position to know what they are talking
! about.
sharI1ey in Perfect Form.
Never was there a fighter more willing
or more anxious TO put himself in the best
possible condition than Sharkey.
During the long season that he has been
in training here he has walked and run
over one thousand miles. AS a rule he has
taken his spins on the road that reaches
| over the hilltops, back into the interior oi
| the island, a beautiful route, with many
| fine country places on either side. For
seven or eight miles along the turnpike
| he is well known 10 the residents, who have
seen him almost daily in his tramps.
/ He has hit the punching bag hard enough
! to wear out four covers, and the ceiling
from which it is suspended has fairly beer
! polished by reason of the frequency witt
which the big ball has struck 1t. He
has been rubbed kneaded, and pounded by
! his trainer and assistants until every mus
Gle in his body is supple and in perfect con.
dition.
He has lived on the very best food tha
could be purchased, and on a diet tha
could not but put him in the best possible
condition for a long and hard fight witl
the best fighter of the world.
He has been examined by medical ex
perts, who state that he is sound through
out. and perfectly fit TO go into the ring
and battle, no matter how long the contes
or how hard the blows that are delivered.
Bob" Armstrong is thoroughly convinc
ed that Sharkey will win. A large par
Of this estimate is based upon the com
plete and scientific pounding that he ha-
received since he has been Sharkey's train
ing partner. Probably no trainer ever re
ceived more punishment than has fallen t
Armstrong; lot since he has been at Ney
Dorp.
So well satisfied are the Sharkey mel
with his condition and his chances, tha
they have bet all their money that he viii
win. and should he lose they Will be vel
cleared out
Sharkey himself was taciturn this morn
ing. He answered in reply to a question
that he was perfectly satisfied with the out
look, supplementing it by saying that h
was some kind of glad that the trainin
was about over and that he would have
chance to get up TO New York and chang
his style of living inside the next forty
eight hours, If he didn't do anything else
SharI1ey Has No Fear.
Asked his opinion of the fight Sharke
said: i've made up my mind that some tai
I lra TeI