The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-03
SPORTING NEWS.
Jeffries and FitzsimmOns May
Yet Be Matched.
Prospects For Fight Between
the Two Are Frightening.
DELANEY'S NEW OFFER
Says If Bob Doesn't Want q Big
Side Bet
May Agree For Winner to Take
Entire Purse.

New York, Jan S-When Delaney and
Kennedy were shown the disquieting re-
ports from San Francisco to the effect
that the club managers out there were
weakening on the Jehries- Sharkey
match there was an instant revulS' on
Of feeling. Asked point blank if the
Sharkey match was liable to stand, De-
1aney said that he thought there was
a chance of match being made With
F1tzsimmons, in which case Sharkey
would be shelved for a time. "You see.
there would be a lot of money in it if
we could induce Fitz to give US fight"
was Delaney's simple explanation of the
affair.
Jim Jeffries offers to fight Bob Fftz-
simmons for a $50, 600 side bet, the entire
gate receipts and the heavyweight
championship of the world.
Billy Delaney made this statement
when asked what the inducements were
that Jefries has been saying he would
hold out to Fitzsimmons if the latter
would agree to box him again
Delaney further said that, in his opin-
ion. Fitzsimmons was lodging a fight
with Jefries. He said that he had trav-
eled 1000 miles to try to bind a match
with the big Cornishman; that Fitz had
been advised OF his coming, had been
invited to meet him and talk over a
match and had purposely stayed away
from the appointed place, and at the
same time announced that he was ready
to fight Jeffries.
IF he really wants fight" said De-
1aney, these are our terms Let him
put up or shut up
The remarks were carried to Fitzsim-
mons, who was down town during the
afternoon. Bob laughed queerly. 1t
was evident that he was getting to the
point faster than he had anticipated
he would He waited to get the JEFF
dies end of the argument and then
Maid:
There is no use of their talking about
a side bet of $4,000 to me- 1 haven't,
and never had, that amount of money,
and If did have I wouldn't bet it on
such a risky thing as a glove fight. All
said about JeffrieS was that 1 thought
all his talks about coming to New York
to offer me inducements to fight were
bluffs That I still maintain. No in
ducements have been offered me. 1
thing"
Are you willing to fight again?"
well. you hear what say. I wish
somebody would show me something 1
am not averSe to trying again, although
have said that I would never fight
any more But moneys a great thing,
and like it and need it about as bad
~ as anybody. Just let them show
Later Delaney said:
In making the offer to bet $4,000 or
$4,000 that Jeffries can beat Fitzsirl-
mons was acting in good faith. Fitz-
simmons announced that if Jeffries
would consider an offer to fight again.
and thought he would gladly jump at
the offer.
But 1 have another proposition to
the former champion If the amount
we suggested as a side bet is too much
then l win consider a match with
side bet of SO 600 I don't think Fitz-
simmons viii experience any difficulty
in securing backing for that amount
If he prefers no side stake we may con-
slider a fight, winner to take all of the
gate receipts and the championship.
am tired of all the talk the match has
caused, and hereafter we will let the
other fellows do the talking.
In the meantime will draw up a set
of articles which I think will be ap-
proved by Fitzsimmons when he sees
the papers. Jefries' agreement to give
him 65 per cent of the gate receipts
If he wins and IS per cent if he loses
still holds good, but if Bob prefers we
may make winner take all. Fitz, if he
is sincere, cannot well ignore these
terms. Jeffries will meet Fitz with ev-
cry consideration. and if Bob means
business there is no reason why we
should not clincA a fight within an
hours time"