The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-13
WHAT EXPERTS SAY
Fighters and Fight Fans Express
Their Opinions Of Contest
at Frisco.
Majority Favor Jeffries, but Concede
That Corbett Has a Good
Chance.

AlthO betting has been comparatively
light. great interest is taken In the heavy
weight championship battle at San Fran
cisco tomorrow evening. TIL Jour
n a mas secured the opinions OF the most
prominent fighters and fight fans in the
city, and the majority favor Jeffries, altho
only one or two think the contest Is a
c1nch for the champion. Two men express
the. belief that Jeffries will get the de-
cis1on even if the fight goes the limit.
One thinks that Corbett has a good
chance to knock Jeffries out. The rest
think Corbett will get the decision on
points unless the boilermaker puts him
down for the count. The opinions Of the
experts follow:
Oscar Gardner, the Omaha Kid can
not see where Corbett has look-in. He
Is to afraid of getting his pretty face
spoilt to fight. He could not whip a fea-
therWe1ght If he knew the battle was on
the square. altho he can hit hard enough
in friendly sparring match. He would
never have gotten the decision at Coney
Island two years ago If the fight had gone
the limit, because he was on the defensive
all the way thru. I think the fight will
last fifteen rounds, but if Corbett would
stand up and fight it wouldn't last ten
seconds Corbett cannot hit as heavy a
blow as Fftzsimmons, can he stand as
much punishment. Yet Fitz couldn't knock
Jeffries out, but when Jeffries reached
him it only took one punch.
Charles Berry, think Corbett will get
the decision if the fight goes the limit
but am of the opinion that Jeffries will
knock him out before the twentieth
| for this contest I know personally, for a
year ago, when I was in Milwaukee, Cor
bett was thru there with a show, and he
worker hard at the gymnasium every af-
ternoon. He told US then that he would be
In the best condition Of his life for this
| fight, If one could be arranged. Still I
think Jeffries will reach him. I place no
confidence In the stories about Corbett
developing knockout punch. If he stands
up and mixes it he win simply be playing
| into Jeffries' hands. Neither do I believe
the rumors about Jeffries neglecting his
training. Those stories are started to
bring down the Odds .. A.H
0. P. Smith-:My opinion is so at vari-
ance with that of the majority of the fight
followers here that I hesitate to express
1T. not only think Corbett will win, but
| believe he has good chance to knock
Jeffries out. He has the speed, and the
science, and enough strength to make his
science and speed reflective. Tomorrow
night he will be in better shape than he
has ever been in his life. L can see moth
ing but Corbets in the bout I think he
will simply chop Jeffries down, until he
can put him out as he did Sullivan.
Jeffries was Corbett's sparring partner
some years ago, and he acquired a whole
some fear of Corbett's punch in that time.
Corbett can hit hard, public opinion to the
contrary Notwithstanding, and no one
knows it better than Jeffries. Tomorrow
night, he will be just enough afraid of the
ex-champion to keep him from forcing the
fighting as he would otherwise.
Professor A. F. Kasten-It is always
a good! rule to stay by a winner, and on
/ that basis should bet on Jeffries, because
| he has never BEEN defeated, il for no
other reason, He is too big and strong
for Corbett- Moreover, ifayou: recall the
| history OF the ring, a champion seldom
regains5 his title after being. defeated, and
a man who has won once from another
| has the adyantagedin a second bout
Eddie Gardner-I believe Jeffries will
win, but do not think Corbett can help
getting the decision on points if the bout
goes to the limit. While he may be fight
ing on the defensive, if you make deci-
sion on points you must count a point fol
| a man when he blocks a lead or gets away
champion hard battle, and it will &c
fifteen or eighteen rounds. I should not
be surprised to see Corbett win, but
believe Jeffres has the better chance. The
odds of to are a bit too high, think.
Dan Sullivan-When Siler- gave the de.
cision to Jeffries in his fight with Shar.
key, many thought he was wrong; bu
the next day, when Jeffries was around
sightseeing in New York. while Sharkey
was in a massage parlor getting hi
broken rib doctored up, the public real
lied that the referee was right. In this
fight tomorrow night, the decision. will
a competent referee, will go to the mar
giving the most punishment. If Corbet
lands three times to Jeffries' once, it will
only even it up, for one punch of Jeffrie
is worth three Of Corbett's and the ref
cree, I believe, will recognize this poin
and give the decision accordingly if thu
fight goes to the limit. I think Jeffrie
will knock Corbett out, but also Deliev
the champion will get the decision If Or
is given.
Frank Figgemeier-If the fight goes owe
ten rounds, Corbett should get the decision
on points. Jeffries has a good chance t.
knock him out in the first part of the bat
tie; but If Jim can stave him off unit
after the tenth, think he will go on an
get the decision.