The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-13
CORBETT'S CONDITION.
Friends Are Surprised at His
Appearance.

San Francisco, Aug. 13.-What with
the sun shining down through the trees
and the crowds pressing forward to the
slack ropes or the outdoor ring it looked
| like the Sullivan-Kilrain affair at Rich
burg, so some of the old-timers said
when Jim Corbett and Yank kenney
We're grunting and graphing in the open
air al CroIls.
1t was more like Richburg still for the
reason that fighters from the four cor
ners of the United States were among
the visitors at the Alameda camp. Ii
was the advance guard of a large
gathering of sports from far distant
| points, and among the cities represented
were New Orleans, New York, Chicago,
Cincinnati and Pittsburg. Denny KEN
Ter of Boston, an old friend of Corhett
was in the throng. and so was Al SPHINX,
a well known sporting man of St Louis.
! Others there were Fred Bullen and
James McGovern, both of Bridgeport,
| Conn. Greeting old friends interfered to
\ certain extent with CorbettS work,
but Yank Kenney and Berger didn't
seem to mind. AS a matter of fact, they
pointed out new arrivals to him occa-
sionally so as to gain longer rests while
Jim was greeting.
Corbett's work was only of a light
! character, anyhow. He fiddled and foot
ed it with Berger and hustled and
| bumped around with kenney. All the
time he was doing it visitors from near
1
! and said they had no idea that the con-
! queror of John L. Sullivan could be
brought to such a pitch of perfection
1t wasn't flattery at that, for the ex-
Champion was at his very best as he
skipped around like a channels. His
shoulders and arms were tanned and his
face was of a good, healthy brown col
or.
It's marvellous. that's what it is
said Major Mclaughlin, who had drop
ped from the incoming Santa Cruz train
TO take peep at jim
The major rather cottoned to the
pugilistic game in the days of the Cali
fornia club and his Judgment of form
in fighters was respected. He called
! the turn on the Fitzsimmons-DemD
go at New Orleans, and his opinion OF
any event he evinced interest in was
worth listening to.
Il went into Corbett's dressing room
at Coney Island the night he boxed
Jeffries before. and it appeared to me
he was in very poor condition" con-
tinued the ma ior. Even at that he
carried himself we'll in a Gruelling
fight He is twice the man now he was
then. 1t is difficult to believe that it
IS the same Jim Corbett am sure
that comparatively few people realize
the fine condition he has put himself
in He will give JeffrieS a lot of
trouble, IN thinking"
Tommy Ryan was on hand explaining
to guests the particular benefits to be
derived from Corbetts various kinds of
exercise and blithely airing his opinion
that the reign of King Jeffries is draw
ing to a close.
I'VE have had some star chamber
sessions and illustrated boxing bouts
during the past few days" SAID
Tommy. Jim and l are of one mind
in regard to Jeffries' weak points and
if Jim carries out the plan of fight he
has mapped out he Will have no trouble
In detea ting the big fellow. You can
hear whole lot OF fellows here today
] G n no -. -
Jeffries was a wreck com~ared to what
he is now, yet / know that Corbett took
q whole lot of punishment that time
without wincing. Yes. and some of
Jeffries' famous body blows landed on
| him. | ought to know, for l was in
Jeffries' corner taking note of every
punch. Why, when Jeffries used 10
catch Corbett on the ribs Corbett
would clinch and lean against him and
stall. as we say, so that Jeffries didn't
| know whether be hurt Corbett or not
/ When COrbett could stand that kind of
thing in the condition he was in then
| he will give a better account of himself
| now when everybody says he is in such
1 shape that they could not have be-
| lieved it until they saw for themselves"
/ Corbett was as clipper as possible the
/ sight of so many friends from a dis
\ lance increasing the good humor which
I has been natural with him during the
present course of training In acknowl-
Iedgment of complimentary remarks
about his appearance he invariably
said:
We'll. I feel that way My work has
agreed with me. and 1 sleep like a
babe. I think that 1 am going to be
champion again"
While on the slab being rubbed Cor
bett kept up running fire of conversa-
ton with a few of his friends.
Il know that most people think l am
going to be defeated" he said. L want
them to think so, because the surprise
| will no al flea for if ont
the other way. Do you know. | actually
think 1 should be the faVOrite in this
fight. Just think it over. now. I put
it all over this fellow for % rounds
when 1 was In poor condition. and here
am going to box 20 rounds when at
my very best In addition, I know a
\ whole lot about Jefferies that l didn't
know before. / know more about him
than the fellows who are tipping me to
lose know"
Corbett did not touch the heavy
equipment in his gymnasium today 1t
does not follow that he Will not toy
with them again between now and fight
day. He says that he discovered while
laying off to play Charles the Wres-
tier at Sutro Heights a week or so ago
that he is in better fettle when he does
certain amount of work every day
Il have got to do something. but I'm
sure there IS not the slightest chance
of staleness or overwOrk bothering me,
he said Il am too cautious and I know
my own CAPACITY too we'll Why, the
work I did out there in the open ring
this morning did little more tnan warm
me up. Some people would call 1t nara
work. 1 have about made up my mind
TO nut in a good spell at the light
punching bag before I go over to the
city on the night of the fight l believe
it will loosen me up and do me good
Scared to Death.