The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-11-01
JEFFRrEs IS TIPPED
TO Win in His Fight With sharkey
Friday Night.

Champion Jim Jeffrles will defeat
Sailor Tom Sharkey Friday night at the
Concy Island Sporting Club, and thus
retain the championship Of the world,
asserts the Chicago Record man. That
Is The opinion shared by majority of
the critics who profess to form intelli-
gent opinions on pugilism. but even so,
among the minority are many keen
Judges OF fighters. All agree that it
will be one OF the hercest battles ever
waged for the championship, both COM
batants being typical specimens OF
great strength and both being possessed
Of wonderful hitting powers.
Jctfries on form Is rightfully the IA
yorltc. and the prevailing odds of 100
10 50 and 100 to 70 seem about correctly
10 represent the chances OF the two
men. In the first place, Jeifries has a
twenty round decision over Sharkey to
his credit OF course, too much reli-
ance cannot be placed upon that as both
men have improved Wonderfully since.
that time.
Again, Jeffries is the champion, and
has defeated FitZsimmons That gives
him prestige True, Sharkey has prac-
,icaly defeated Cortett and knocked out
Mccoy IN ten rounds, but those who saw
"Fitz" summarily dispose OF Thorne in
one round at Tattersalls Saturday night
do not think either would have much
chance against the kangaroo fighter.
Jenries put out "Fitz" In eleven rounds.
Thus. on recent form, although dam
ccrous thing to go by In the prize-rinG.
JCirries has decided shad..
Next in order Is a physical COMPARE
son. Jcffries should enter the ring
weighing about 21O pounds. while Shar-
key probably will fight at about 1856,
This gives the champion an advantage
of twenty-five pounds, which will cut
quite figure II the battle is prolonged.
"Fitz" found to his sorrow that weight
cuts big figure In pugilistic contest.
Sharkey Is over four inches shorter thar
the champion, and his reach Is fully six
inches less. Both OF these facts are to
his disadvantage, f9H,s
Sharkey's chances. then. without un-.
foreseen accidents, would seem to lie in
greater cleverness or In greater hit
ting power. The sailor has slightly
larger arms, but there Is no special rea-
son to suppose that hetputs, greater force
into his blows. AS to cleVerneSS, JET
fries would naturally be expected to
rank above the able seaman. He has
been under the tutelage of Tommy Ryan
one of the greatest tactlcians in the
ring. and Jeffries certainly showed good
generalship in his battle against Fltz-
simmons. So the champion seems to
have the advantage on all points, ex-
cept the unsettled one of which hits the
harder blow. - 10
Radically different views are held as
to the probable length of the fight. Some
assert the limit is likely. while others
predict o short battle. The latter seems
the more reasonable superstition. The
very fact that Sharkcy's reach iS short
er will force him to seek intighting and
will probably induce him to force mat !.
tiers, otherwise Jefrries would be able to
jab Sharkey's head off. a fact to which
Tommy Ryan Is not insensible. With
Sharkey rushing matters, and two
strong. hard hitters at work, the end is
pretty sure to come speedily. And when
the end comes the champion will stand
In class by himself. On the fistic
horizon Is no one, unless 1t be FitZsini
mons, who seems capable of giving the
winner a hard battle.