Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-18
FITZ- JEFFRIES MILL
ALMOST READY FOR BATTLE IN
WESTERN ARENA.
Early Wagers Favor the Present Cham
pion, Though the Old Fellow
Has a Chance.

work Of preparation that is being done by
James J. Jeffries and Robert Fitzsimmons
to mt them for the contest for the worlds
championship, which will take place in San
francisco week from next Friday night.
In the west this fight has been attracting
much attention, and has been viewed as
something upon which to make heavy
wagerS. ever since the two men began &C
| tive training. In the east little interest has
been taken in the affair until during the
last week, but now it is a theme for coll
slant discussion with those who follow even
casually the game of pugilsm
In spite Of his previous defeat by the pres
ent champion and the potent fact that he
Is good sixty pounds lighter than his adj
versary, the veteran Fitzsimmons has MANY
TRENDS who are willing to risk their money
on MS chance of winning back the laurels
Iost by MIN at Coney Island three years
ago. Still. the Jeffries money is much the
more plentiful, and it is probable that the
big fellow will enter the ring as much of a
1avorite In the betting as Fitzs;mmons was
when they last met.
FltzSimmonS has been doing his work at
Skaggs Springs, Cal, and from that place
reports have been sent out that the Cor
nlshman is as fit as he ever was in his life
He takes to his work like a youngster and
he has little difficulty in making his frain
ing companions cry enough at any game
engaged in. At Hardin Springs Jeffries has
peen DONG what he calls rational training
Jefries' Rational Training.
Instead of getting out in dusty road and
tnere running until he can hardly stand the
champion takes his rifle and, followed by a
pack or hounds, goes out onto a mountain
and there enjoys himself in quest of game,
big and little. He believes that mountain
climbing hardens his limbs better than run
ning. and that his mind is kept fresh and
vigorous by the exercise, while If he en-
gagged In exercise that did not interest him
ne would grow stale. His eye is trained by
rifle shooting, while his lungs are made
strong by the fresh ozone which is pumped
into them during his climbing
TWO men of marvellous parts are these
Many find more to admire in Fitzsimmons
than in Jenries, or, for that matter in any
other man of his profession. Prize fighters
are not things to be admired generally
Most Of them show how thoroughly and
how rapidly a splendid bit of human mech
anfsm can be ruined by dissipation. Fftz-
simmons has demonstrated how strength
and youthfulness can be preserved.
Fitzsimmons is little, If any, younger
than John L. Sullivan, who in his day was
the mightiest Of all fighters. Yet 1t was
eleven years ago that Sullivan went down
to defeat before Corbett, having ruined his
fighting powers by dissipation. Here is
Fitzsimmons still a splendid athlete. the
only man in all the world who is believed
to have a chance to whip the champion
Jeffries. who is twenty years his junior
and giant compared with him.
Can Fitzsmmons whip Jeffries? Prob
ably not II he follows his customary tactics
OF rushing In and exchanging blows. Per-
haps Fitzsimmons can hit as hard as JEFF
fries, and perhaps he Is the more skillful
and the more clever Of the two. 1t remains
fact that the Cornishman will enter
the ring without the recuperative powers
of the younger man.
He will weigh about one hundred and
sixty-f1ve pounds. Jeffries will weigh about
two hundred and twenty pounds. That
means that Jeffries will have the constitu-
ton to absorb punishment. while every
blow landed on Fitzsfmmons will take from
him some Of his strength.
Fitzsimmons' Only Chance.
1t is fresh in the minds Of the public how
Corbett, the nimble went around Jeffries
at Coney Island, and for twenty-five rounds
landed at will. receiving no return. He
made the champion appear like punching
bag. Corbett wore himself out whipping
to land just one blow. One blow was sufn-
cient. Had Corbett possessed anything like
the hitting ability Of Fitzsimmons he would
have beaten Jeffries into a state Of help
leSSness.
If Fitzsimmons can duplicate Corbett's
feat of keeping away from the big fellow,
he can win. If he can stand out of reach
and put his fist into Jeffries' face and upon
last fewer rounds than the articles of
agreement call for. and the championship
will change hands. But that is the kind of
fighting which Fitzsimmons does not like.
He prefers to hit and be hit if necessary.
When he lost to Jeffries at Coney Island
Fftzsimmons attempted to force the fight
Ing. Jeffries waited for him, bent far for
ward, with his huge bulk kept out of the
way Of harm. and when he could do so he
jolted Fitzsfmmons, and when he could not
DO that he fell upon his neck and Rugged
him as though he was his long-lost brother.
1t was firing to have that great body bear
Ing down every few seconds, and gradually
Fitzsimmons gave way and he lost.
Now Jeffries Is the champion. If "tFitz''
wishes he can do the waiting. compelling
the other one to come to him. If he adopts
those tactics it will be impossible for jeff
rfes to hold to his crouching position. and
he will have less opportunity to hug If
the Cornishman can be persuaded to forget
his old tricks and to learn the new ones he
may possibly surprise the public, as he has
done on more than one previous occasion.