The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-15
VIII EndeaYor to Make a Match
With Champion.
TO START WEDNESDAY.
Declares He Was Promised a
Return Fight
After Defeat at COney Island by
BOilermaker Jim.

New York. April 15.-5ames ]. Cor
bett will leave New York on Wednes-
day to meet Champion James j. JEFF
fries. He goes to attempt to arrange
match in the prize ring. Gentleman
James intention was to leave unher-
aided and without press agents. In
fact, no one would have known any
thing OF his intended departure, or OF
his trip to the coast. had it not been for
a slip of the tongue to q correspondents;
1t is COrbetts intention TO quietly can
upon JeffrieS and to try and arrange
a 20 or % round bout to occur in Cali
fOrnia. He viii endeayor to insist upon
JEFF making good the promise he gave
him after the champion defeated him at
the Coney Island club. 1t Will be re-
membered that in that battle up to the
twenty-third round Corbett made JeI-
fries look like the yertest novice, MT
ting him where and when ne pleased
and outpointing him It every turn ana
twist. Then with victory within his
grasp, for the only decision that could
have been rendered would have been
in COrbetts favor. Gentleman Jim be-
came over confident. and Jeffries man
aged to get in terrible blow that
proved the fatal one, and Corbett went
down ana out. After that battle JeL-
fries promised Corbett a return match,
but afterward declined to meet him.
COrbett believes that if he can have
private talk with Jeffries he can IN
duce him to make good his word. At
least he is willing to go to the coast
and make the trial
Il am not going TO trust to letters,
gO-DetWeens, managers, or Geographic
messages, said Corbett when pressed
this afternoon to explain his intentions.
Neither am ! going to do any talking
about it, l shall leave for San Fran
cisco on Wednesday, and directly upon
my arrival there l shall hunt up JEFF
fries. 1t is for the purpose of seeing
him that I am making the trip I shall
have a talk with him and endeaVOr to
persuade him to meet me in the ring.
/ have right on my side, as Jeffries
promised TO give me a return match.
He is a square fellow. and / believe
when I personally put it to him in the
right way he viii see the justice of my
claims and agree to meet me in the
ring Amy way. I shall do all can TO
have him do So"
How many rounds viii you fight
him ?" was asked.
He is the champion. you know, and
viii dictate terms said Corbett. #
would like to meet him in a contest of
not less than 20 rounds nor more than
%. The former. I think, would be pref
cradle. I am in the best of condition
now and if we are matched I will be
able to enter the ring in better cOndi
ton than 1 was ever in for any battle.
How has your season on the road
been2" was asked.
The best 1 ever knew" said Cor
bett. but it is about over now. I have
made a great deal of money this past
season, and I like stage work. But there
is one thing I like above all other
things- / would like to be champion
again. I believe. too, that I can gain
back the title if Jeffries win give me
another chance. There will be no over
confidence this next trip. If we are
matched I will start active training at
once and then watch for the result"