Evening star., 1902-02-03
Fitzsimmons Willing to Fight JEFF
fries in San Francisco.
Big MONEY FOR TEE SCRAP
Base Ball Middle May Be
Strengthened Out This Week
TER CYCLING STARS

II the latest reports In New York boxing
circles are to be believed. the lovers Of
the fstic game who care to take a trip to
San Francisco will have the opportunity Of
seeing James ]. Jeffries and Robert Fitz-
simmons battle a second time for the
worlds championship. The meeting Of
these two ring giants will be made possible
by the sidetraeking Of Tom Sharkey, the
sailor-pugilist, who was matched to meet
the champion inside Of two months time
and the persistent efforts Of big JIM
Kennedy, the matchmaker and manager of
the Yosemite Athletic Club Of San Fran
cisco.
1t is said that Kennedy has offered Fitz-
simmons terms that suited the lanky boxer
and that he Is willing to sign articles as
soon as the champion states his willingness
to put his name to like document Just
what these terms are has not been made
public, but it Is rumored that the offer Of
$1,000, win or lose, was increased to $4,000,
and that this is the bait which won the
assent of the Cornishman. Kennedy stated
yesterday in New York that Jeffries was
willing to sign articles under the terms Of
ferred to Fitz and all that remains now is
to get the men together and arrange the
Jeffries is expected to arrive in New
York this evening, and as soon as possible
Kennedy will call on him and make arrange
By eeth Jeres and s pe
laney, his manager, to make match with
Fitzsimmons there Is no doubt that JEFF
fries will agree to all that Kennedy has
done.
As it seems to be universally conceded
that San Franciso Is the only point where
a championship battle can be pulled Off,
the men will undoubtedly fight in that city
before the Yosemite Athletic Club. Bill
Delaney said before leaving for the west:
Anybody that tries to dodge Frisco
amt on the level We all know we can
fight there, I'D to say the least. there
would be 81 >lt deal of uncertainty about
pulling off a big fight in any other city in
the country"
Yesterday Fitzsimmons and Kennedy dis
cussed all the phases Of q match, but re-
fused to give out the information as to the
purse. guarantee or anything else. It is
thought that the Yosemite Club is willing
to guarantee Fitzsimmons round sum in
addition to his expenses In case the match
is made. 1t was stated week ago that
F'itz had an offer of 1900 and expenses un-
der consideration and would probably ac-
cept.
The champion announced last week that
his match with Tom Sharkey will go on,
provided Barney Reich, the sailors mana
ger, can make good his offer to find q place
to pull off the fight. This Reich promised
to do when Jeffries comes to town. 1t is
likely that the Jeffries- -Sharkey match will
be sidetracked in short order II the cham
pion is not thoroughly convinced that there
will be no interference. His experience with
Rubin In Cincinnati and the recent Shar-
-Maher f1asco in Philadelphia have
made Jeffries very wary.
Kennedy will arrange for a meeting early
in the week between Jeffries and Fitzsim-
mons jeff will be giving exhibitions in
Brooklyn theater not very far from Bath
Beach, 50 Kennedy's task will be an easy
one, provided both men are as willing to
fight as they seem to be.
In the opinion of sporting men a bout
between Jeffries and Fitzsimmons will at
tract more attention now than did their
first meeting when Fitzsimmons was com.
sidered a one to three shot.