The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-07-25
PREPARATIONS FOR JEFFRIES-
FITzSIMMONS CONTEST
BOTH men IN fine FORM
The Event VIII Take Place on FRI
day Night at San Francisco-Indi-
cations Point To Tremendous
Crowds-Jefries Feels Better Than
He Ever DId-Fitzsim mons VIII
Box in Private from Now On-Bet-
ting is 1" t" 4 in F"HoF of the
Champiou-A Defect in the Ring,
Has Been Remedied

San Francisco, July 2S.-E:yerything is
now in readiness for the Jefferies- -Fitz-
simmons contest on Friday night and
the attendance promises to tax the ca
pacity of the arena. 1t is not likely
that Jeffries will follow his usual rou-
tine of exercises from now on. He is
at his best and will do just as he pleas
eS.
He is particularly partial TO sprinting
ar this stage of the game, as he believes
that by footing it over short stretches
OF highway he gains in speed and
strengthens his wind. Jeffries is better
natured than he was a week ago. He
declares that he feels stronger and bet
ter than he ever did before going into
any fight and those who have been
watching him during his training in
sist that he is faster than ever.
Fftzsimmons has also tapered off in
his work. having passed the point where
preliminary exercises will cut any fig
ure. He says that hereafter he will do
his boxing in private. After experience
ing a temporary boom in betting circles
Fitzsimmons chances have receded in
the estimation of spectators until the
original odds of 10 to 1 are now prevail
ing.
A slight defect in the ring has been
found, but it will be remedied before
the fight. The heavy timbers which
support the frame work about the ring
were found to be rather too close to
TIL ropes. If there was a struggle in
any of the four corners there was a pos
sibility of either the heads or the hands
of the boxers being injured. To avoid
this a rope will cut off one foot of each
corner, making the ring octagonal in
stead of square. The posts Will be pad
ded as an extra precautiOn.
Soldier Tom Wilson who came from
The east to act as Fitzsimmons SPAR
ring partner but who was shelVed in
favo- of Hank Griffin will not see the
fight He received orders to join his
regiment at Fort Monroe, Va. by July
18th and will leave tonight.
Jeffries INDUCED in but light exercises
today at the Reliance Club in Oakland.
He arose early and skipped the rope
1600 times, finishing the ordeal with no
visible sign of exhaustion. He then
spent the lunch hour in comparative
quiet, with Delaney and his retinue of
trainers, and in the afternoon took a
row on the Lake Merritt. He tipped
the beam at 217 pounds tonight, but ex-
poets to weigh 21S when he enteres the
ring on Friday night.
FitZsimmons took a jog along the
drives at Golden Gate park this morn
ing and was rubbed down It the Ter
miral hotel after which he partook OF
a hearty luncheon and spared with
Griffin and Andy Gallagher at the
Olympic Club. Experts on the scene
declare that there is apparently moth
ing further to be desired in the condi-
ton of the men.
The concensus of opinion seems TO be,
however, that FitZsimmons age and the
difference in weight is against the Cor
nishman, and that Jeffries is the logical
winner. The receipts, the club mana
gers state, have almost reached the $50
600 mark. The betting odds show JEFF
fries still a favorite al 2 to l and 10 to
- to 4 with much FiGsimmons money
in sight. Sporting men from all over
the country are arriving and several
excursions are expected to reach here
tomorrow.