The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-23
SPORTS
HARD WORK IS OVER.
Jeff and Fitz Taper Down to Light
Gymnastics.
MRS. FIrz PLANS CAMPAIGN
Will Sit In Her Husbands Corner II
the; Club omcials VIII
49, r>-1r-&s- Permit. T...


Jeffries- FitZsimmons contest in San
Francisco on Friday night, and the at
tendance promises to tax the capacity OF
the arena. 80 - ..'.1sa '.7'l~' 20, 81, .E
It is mot likely that Jeffries will follow
his usual routine of exercises from now
as he pleases. He is particularly partial
to sprinting at this stage Of the game, as
he believes that by footing it smerrily over
short stretches of highway he gains speed
and strengthens his wind. ~
Jeffries is better natured than he was a
week. ago. He declares that he feels
stronger and better than he ever did be-
fore going into any fight, and those who
have been watching him during his train
ing insist that he is faster than ever:
Fitzsimmons also has tapered off in his
work, having passed the point where pre-
ltminary exercise will out any figure. He
says that hereafter he, will do his boxing
in private. .n 49,.
After experiencing temporary boom in
betting circles, Fitzsimmons chances
have receeded in the estimation of spec
ulators, until the original odds Of ten TO
to four now prevail. A slight defect In
the ring has been found, but it will be
remedied before the fight. The heavy
timbers which support the framework
above the ring were found to be rather
too close to the ropes. If there was
struggle in any one of the four corners
there was possibility of either the
heads or the hands of the boxers being
injured. To, avoid this rope will cut off
one foot of each corner, making the ring
octagonal instead of square. The posts
will be padded as, an extra precautton.
Soldier Tom Wilson, who came from
the east to act as Fitzsimmons' sparring
partner, but who was shelved In favor OF
Hank Griffin, will not see the fight. He
received orders to join his regiment at
Fort Monroe, Va, by July 49, and will
leave tonight.
Mrs. Fitz Plans Campaign.
= Mrs. Robert Fitzsimmons, provided the
San Francisco Olympic club grants per-
mission, will be in, her husbands corner
when he enters the ring with Jeffries, to
beat or get beaten, Friday night. Mrs
F1tz says that she has told her husband
Just what tactics to pursue in putting
away the big champion, and she thinks
that if Bob gets ratified ard forgets his
line Of campaign, her conIubial counsels
will call him back to earth again.
The plan Of battle, as outlined for Fltz
by Mrs. Fftz, is to make Jeffries do the
leading, and prove that he is a genuine
champion. In. the mix-up, Mrs. Fitz be-
lieves that nobody has chance with
my Bob.
- Yesterday afternoon the champion went
eight rounds with his brother, Jack, and
Joe Kennedy, his sparirng partner. Prom
tnent business men OF Oakland witnessed
the bout
During the bout Jim nearly knocked
Kennedy out, and the latter retaliated by
landing heavy right on Jeffries' nose,
drawing blood. Jeffries instructed his
trainers to give him a battle and they
did SO to the best Of their ability.
Eddie Graney, the referee Of the big
contest, was in the ring and gave prac-
to-, Nf hn, he yn1,11 ODD
toward the contestants, He refrained
from going bet the fighters, but or
dered them to break, and they did SO. -
=. Jeffries will do light work for the next
fow days. He will take no chances of
injuring his hands and will therefore re-
frain from boxing.
Fitzsimmons took a short jaunt through
the park yesterday morning ands boxed
at.the Olympic club in the afternoon. He
spared with two clever amateurs and
wound up by going three fast rounds with
Hank Griffin. Fitzsimmons will confine
his work for the next three days to light
gymnastic work. Both men are ready to
enter the ring = .~.}
Jeffries' Father May See Fight.
REV. Mr.. .Jeffries, who. was to have
sailed for Australia yesterday, has de-
.cided to postpone his time of sailing.
Asked whet her he would attend the fight,
Mr.. Jeffries declared that only under one
condition would he go to the arena on
the night of the contest. He said that if
Greggains would agree to keep the sports
Inside the arena for half an hour after
the battle and permit him (the elder JEFF
fries) to talk to that mob and convince
them of the errors of. their ways he
would stop to see his son win or lose.
He's the champion of one cause, lost
though 1t be; l am the champion Of an
other"
I 1t is evident that Jim Jeffries has. the
utmost confidence in his ability to de-
feat Bob Fitzsimmons next Friday night,
for a commission of $1,000 has been re-
ceived from him by Fred Block, the San
Francisco sporting man. The money rep
resents the contributions of several Cali
fornia sporting men. .: ="
: Despite the fact that Jeffries is an over
whelming favorfte there are a number of
sports who are ready to take chance on
the small end. ..