Waterbury Democrat., 1902-07-17
NTH IHE AMATEURS.
Betting is Now Nearly Three to
 One on Jeffries.

Fitzsimmons Says He Is In Better
 Condition Than He Ever Was-A
 Preliminary Bout Arranged for the
 Affair -McGovern Will Not Go To
 New London Right Away Erne Not
 Good Enough, Says Britt.
 Skaggs Springs, Cal, July 17.-Fitz- simmons still keeps up his arduous training. Despite the hot weather the Cornishman shows no let up in his hard work.
 To the observer Fitz is still the Fitz of old, and he declares he is as good as he was six years ago. His flesh is Drowned and tanned and he is quick and catlike in his movements. Fitz is training in twenty-four foot ring with his sparring partners. This is the reg ulat1on ring, and as he is to meet Jeff fries in squared arena of this size he Is accnstoming himself to the ad- vantages of foot work in a larger ring than he has been used to. He frankly admits he must have stepping room to get around in when he goes up against a man two inches taller and seventy pounds heavier.
 Fitz has as sparring partners George Dawson, Hank Griffin and Soldier Wilson. Fitzs spars about ten rounds a day. He makes it practice to take on each in turn for three three-minute rounds, and his instructions to his handlers are for them to go at him hammer and tongs, Fitz contenting himself with defensive work.
 Despite the fact that all his sparring helpers are handy with the mits, none of them has been able to give Fitz any punishment. 1t is quite apparent that Fitz is mapping out 8 careful plar Of combat and that he intends to fight a long distance battle. He knows full we'll that infghting with Jeffries lost him his last battle with the champion. He intends to keep the boilermaker at long range and by boring in frequently on the big fellow attempt to wear hfm down until he has him in state where he can afford to close in.
 The COrnishman is not too san2uine of forthcoming victory. He says, how ever, that he will put up the battle of his career, and that he will certainly reverse the showing he made IT. his previous contest with Jeffries. He says he is also worth a good bet and will himself wager heavily at odds on his own chances.
 F1tz intends to remain here until just previous to the fight, although tie club officials have attempted to prevail upon him to move closer into San Francisco, as Jeffries will do. the con- tention being that their presence would stimulate interest in the forthcoming mill zoo
 Jeffries will transfer his training quarters from Harbin Springs to Oak dale. He is reported to weigh 219. pounds. and Fitz says he is more than fifty pounds lighter.
 Telegrams received yesterday state that q we'll known sporting man made wager of S4O0 to $1,O00 on F'itz. The bet was made in Harry Corbett's pool room. This bet was made at odds of 273 to l, but there is every prospect that,the odds will be all of 8 to 1 at the ringside.
 One of the preliminary bouts of the Jeffries- Fitzsimmons battle on July 25 will be between Dave Barry and Harry Foley. The inducement will be purse Of S2OO, all to go to the winner
 Eddie Connolly, the lightweight. will soon sail from England to fill three en- agreements clinched for him in this country. Two of his bouts will be with Tom Couhig and Martin Duffy.
 Eddie santry and Young MoNatt. who put up slashing bout in Indian apoI1s some time ago, resulting i'll San try getting the decision, have agreed to meet again, at 126 pounds, at the hn
 The International A. c. of Fort Erie IS trying to cHnch an encounter be- tween Martin Duffy, the best light welght Ill Chicago, and Frank Erne. Duffy is willing to face the Buffalo man man at l56 pounds for twenty rounds The former lightweight champion is to be heard from.
 Terry McGovern changed his mind very suddenly about going to New London to train. He intended to leave Tor that place on Tuesday night. but will not start until next week. He will be at Rockaway Beach during the remainder of the week. showing in comedy boxing act with Joe Hum phries, sam Harris and his brother Hughey.
 Out in San Francisco there is a ne"CiSHI HaluSu Jimmy !5rtt. He claims to be the champion of Cali forn1a, which is not very d!stin l gulshed honor. A responsible club has offered to match either Joe Cans ar Frank Erne against him, but Britr says he does not want to have any, thing to do with colored men, and will not fight Erne because he is not good enough. The latter is the most amaz ing thing heard in tha nucriliStio 1ina for long time.