The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-08
SPORTING NEWS.
Fitz Makes a Statement of His
Side of the Case.
LIS Anxious to Be Set Right Be-
fore the Public.
WILL SIGN FOR A FIGHT
Says He Will Not Lay Down
Under ANY Circumstances.
Thinks He Can Give Jeffries an
Interesting Time.

New York. Feb s-Bob Fitzsimmons
is very indignant over the slurs cast
on his professional reputation by recent
statements reputed to have been made
by Champion Jeffries, and made the fol-
lowing statement Friday:
II am anxious to be set right before
the American public. | am not seeking
a fight with Jeffries. All the proposals
have come from the JeffrleS side
Il have not asked for any concessions
The only proposition made to me was
by James Kennedy, and accepted II
I am willing now to sign articles at
once based on the arrangement made
with Mr.. Kennedy, and which was
sanctioned, as l understood, by Man
ager Delaney Now / hear that Jeffries
wants to go back on that arrangement
He wants to side step. Now, want TO
say once for all, that will sign articles
today under the Kennedy proposition
But under no other circumstances VIII
l sign to fight. If Jeffries does not want
to sign articles under those conditions
/ will call all negotiations OFF the pro-
position came from the other side, and
/ had reason to believe that it was a
bona fide offer. accepted in good faith.
Now, Jeffries says l might lay down
II the purse was split evenly. L want TO
say right here that / won't lay down
Jeffries will be the one to do that, and
he will be sent down by me- am thor
0ughly confident that can lick him.
know can.
Il fully believe, too, that L was dOped
when / fought Jeffries before. / made
that statement q the time, and / stick
to it now. I don't, however, blame JET
fries, and 1 have never. / want to get
into the ring again to meet Jefkr1es, and
then L will show the American public
that my dope story is true and not ow-
Ing to my imagination.
Why should JeffrieS balk on the ar
engagements 1 made with Kennedy now?
than he did when the division of the
purse Tor a previous fight was ar
ranged
Il got Go per cent. of the purse at
that time. not 30 per cent, as has been
stated Jeffries would have been glad
TO have got 10 per cent at the time.
was the card then. and, not to be ego
tistical, think l am now. 1 know that
q division OF ore-third to each fighter
and the club would draw more money
for Jeffries in fight with me than the
whole house would amount to with
Jeffries against any other fighter. Then,
why should he side-step kennedy's pro-
position?
Il don't care to go into the ring
again. an living a quiet home life
down at Bath Beach. and have a. lE-
crative business as physical Instructor.
l have already spent 100000 to get eS
tabli-ned- l would be obliged to give
all this up if l made this match. but I
will throw up everything and sign arti-
cles today if Jeffries will agree to ac-
cept the terms offered me by Mr.. Ken
nedy, and which Delaney has sane
toned.
L have agreed to meet Jeffries and
Kennedy at IL O'Clock, but I have
changed my mind. I do not think it
would be wise to meet Jefries in secret
conference 1 want everything to be
above board and the public to know
what is going on
Tom O'Rourlze, discussing the propos-
ed match, said:
Il will guarantee to pull the fight off
inside of four months within 100 miles
of New York City. 1 further will guar
antee there will be no interference.
However, there is only one basis on
which the purse can be split-90 per
cent to the winner and 10 per cent. to
the loser.
II am anxious to see these fellows
meet and settle their differences in the
ring once for all"