The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-04
IS JEFFRIES AFRAID?
COrbett to Claim Championship
Unless jeff Acts Soon.

New York. Feb. 4.-Eager to get on
match between james J. Jeffries,
present holder of the title, and James
J. Corbett for the heavy weight cham
pionship of the world, J. H. Herman
manager and chief owner of the Inter-
national Athletic club. of Fort Erie
came to this city to post $4,000 forfeit
money He visited the World office
and made arrangements for posting
the forfeit. Herman offered a $4,000
purse for a go" between the big fell
lows. and put up the $4,000 TO show his
good faith He suggested that the con-
test be limited to twenty rounds and
that it take place on or about June 20
Herman said that he would have no
difficulty in pulling off the bout Two
championship mills have already been
had at the international A. c., and
there has been no police or govern
mental interference. Corbett IS
anxious to meet Jeffries al FIT Erie.
but the champion has thus far insisted
on a finish fight. When told of Her
mans visit to this city, COrbett said.
"Jeffries simply cannot avoid meeting
me this time. The offer of the Fort
Erie club is too big for him to turn
down. I Won't split the purse with him
like he has to do in all of his fights.
will sign an agreement for the winner to
take IS per cent of the purse That
ought to satisfy him. If I lose I don't
want any of the money. The 20 per cent
would just about cover my expenses
What I want is a chance to fight
him under any old conditions. I have
81, 500 forfeit money UP with Al Smith
already, and I viii make it $1,000 any
time he wants to put up like amount.
His talk about betting me $4,000 on the
side is all nonsense, for he could take
that money and lay it off so as to be
ahead any way, for he viii be an odds
on favoFite in the betting should we get
together.
IF he means to fight at all he must
fight now. Everything he wants he can
have, and if he does not accept the
chance I viii claim the championship.
as I have a right to dc"
JEFFRIE1S ACTS CHILDISH
St Louis, Feb. 4-ChamDion Jeffries,
upon being informed that a 5000 forfeit
had been posted in New York for 90
round bout between Jeffries and James
J. Corbett, said that he would fight Cor
bett only to finish. He said that he
would refuse all offers not based on that
condition In posting a IS, 900 forfeit to
guarantee a $4,000 purse for the battle
said Jeffries, the Fort Erie club shows
that it means business But" continued
the champion, growing angry as I
have repeatedly stated during the last
week, I win meet COrbett only in
finish fight. That's the only way to de-
eide a championship.
There are plenty Of places besides
Carson City to which Corbett objects.
where we could meet in an unlimited
round battle. and in refusing to meet
me under those conditions C0rbeal
proves just what I have said all along
that he really does not want to fight.
For me it must be finish fight or Moth
ing
SECOND LARGEST PURSE
The purse of $4,000 hung up by the
International Athletic club of Fort Erie
for the Jeffries-C orbett fight is the sec
ond largest ever offered for a similar
contest Bob Fitzsimmons and Jim Hall
were to have received Sal 900 for meet
ing in New Orleans many years ago.
Hall got the losers end, but Fitzsm-
mons got mostly a lot of Shine notes
and had paper for his winning end.
This is not likely to happen on this oc-
casion. as Herman has said that he viii
guarantee to post the entire amount in
some banks hands or in the hands OF
some other responsible single person
some days before the date of the con
test. providing the contestants doubt
his ability to pay Off after the contest
Since the Canadian authorities are
agreeable to the battle. there is little
doubt that Herman can well afford to
make the offer he does at this time. Tn
der the boxing code as it exists at Fort
Erie the Corbett end of the contest
would have a good shade the better Of
the milling. judged by the result of the
first contest between the men, The men
there break. not at the call of the ref
cree, but at the call of the captain of
police. who sits at the ringside and
sees that all goes as he wishes it In
the first meeting of Jeffries and Cor
bett the latter had all the better of the
argument up to the time he got a
knockout punch in the twenty third
round He had JeffTies completely at
sea in the preceding rounds, and had he
been able to hold out at the same gait
for the remainder of the Is round limit
there seems to be little doubt that Cor
bett would have received the verdict.