The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-25
SPORTING NEWS.
Fitz Says He Will Play Sly in
This Battle.
Underrated Jeffries' Strength
In Last Fight.
WILL LAST 10 ROUNDS.
The Big B0ilermaker Will Not
Admit His Defeat.
In Splendid Condition and Sees
But One Ending.
WILL LAST 10 ROUNDS

San Francisco, CAL July 25.-Roth
Jeffries and F'itzsimmons express them
selves as confident of winning tonights
contest for the heavyweight champion
ship of the world. The public, how
ever, favors Jeffriess and the betting is
still quoted at 10 to in his favor. Re
garding his plans for the fight, Fitzsim-
mons is quoted as follows:
Il made a mistake when I met JEFF
fries before. won't make it this time
I moderated his strength and ability.
This time I an going to dodge his
strength and play to his weakness
Il believe there is not another man
in the world as big as Jeffries who
can handle himself as WELL For that
reason 1 don't know man who has
chance to beat him in a standup. give
and take fight.
But there is a way to get at him and
know the way. If he rushes at me
from the start l will play for an open
ing and once / get it you will see that
the old man has the old punch still
with him. Jeffries' size will not pro-
tect him, for bulk does not cut any
figures when a good blow lands on
punch and I am going to use it.
My style of fighting will depend
entirely on what Jeffries does in the
ring. If he makes me come to him
will do it, but after all his boasts of how
easy It will be for him to get ne any
time he sees fit, 1 think it is up to him
to do some of the fighting and 1 don't
believe the crowd will stand for any
thing else.
Unless chance punch is delivered
by either one of US, think the bout
can hardly be finished in less than 10
rounds
Jeffries will not admit that he can be
beaten. He says: Il never felt better
in my life. 1 have trained carefully,
my wind is good, am at my best fight
ing weight and no matter what pace
F1tzsimmons may cut out, 1 will DE
right with him from the first sound OF
the gong and will surely bring home
the money
Everything about this battle is to my
liking. The referee suits me, 1 would
rather fight FsitzsimmOns than any man
alive and when 1 whip him, as 1 surely
will, intend to keep right on at the
fighting game as long as there are any
aspirants for heavyweight honors left.
las to how I will fight, or what my
tactics will be. that is something 1 can
say nothing about until I step into the
ring. l never went into a battle with
my mind made up as to what / would
do. Plans might be made in advance.
but they would all go wrong if the other
fellow failed to come at you in the way
you expected. I can say only this: 1 will
meet Fftzsimmons at any game he may
spring, and the faster he comes at me
the better shall like it,
This morning Jeffries rose by 9o'clock
After exercising at the Reliance club for
a short time he spent the remaining
time before the big battle playing cards
with his friends.
Jeffries will have for his seconds Billy
Delaney, Joe Kennedy, Jack Jeffries
and Dewitt VanCourt
Fitzsimmons retired early last night
Aside from a short walk this morning
he spent the day quietly in his hotel
During the afternoon, just enough phan-
tom sparring will be INDUCED in to keep
his muscles limbered UP. Behind Fftz-
simmons when he enters the ring will
be George Dawson, Hank Griffin, Jack
Stelsener and Billy Halberny
Should FitZSimmonS succeed in defeat
ing Jeffries he will tour the northwest.
but if he loses he will leave after a few
days for his home at Bensonhurst