The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-01
TWO MATCHES in SIGHT
CHAMPIONS MAY GET TOGETHER
AND AGREE TO FIGHT.
Jenries Will Meet Corbett to Talk
Terms-Harris VIII Arrange with
McGOvern-CorbettF Fight.

There may be something doing in the
pugilistic world this week, as there are
chances of two championship matches be-
ing arranged. This will satisfy the fol-
lowers of pugilism, for there has been so
much talk lately of the champions getting
together that the public has grown weary.
The latest reports may prove to be air
bubbles, but may develop into matches.
James J. Jeffries. heavyweight cham
pion, will arrive in New York to-day,
ready to meet James j. Corbett and make
a match with him. 1t is said to be not
unlikely that the two fighters may mix
Things up when they meet in New York.
Jenries hates Corbett worse than he does
any one In the world, and would not hesi-
tate to take his chances in a rough-and
such an affair would be Jeffries's and Cor
Detts greed for the coin of the realm, as
a rough-and-tumble affair would mean
there would be no purse to divide.
BlIy delaney says that Jeffries prefers
10 nght Corbett 10 finish, but If 1t Is i'm
possible to get Corbett to agree to that
JeIrles Will fight him under other terms.
Delaney further says that Jeffries is will
ing to fight Corbett whenever he is as
sured that the bout can be held before
reliable club. Corbett can dictate the terms
VIII De no reservation; except that the
agreement must be within the Queensberry
rules and bandages barred.
CorDett Is again reported as saving
narsh Things about Jeffries. He says:
Je1rles is a stin and he knows it, He
must hight me by June or take the conse-
quences. L am willing to meet him for Six
ten, twenty, fifty or one hundred rounds
Tor all the money he can scrape together
He can make all the ether terms to suit
himself The only condition / insist on is
than June"
The meeting in New York should de-
termine whether the men will get together
There seems TO be little chance of a finish
nght being arranged. Finish fights are a
thing OF the past, and championship bat
ties should be decided in twenty or twerity-
nye rounds. The Fort Erie Club and the
Hayes Valley Club. of San Francisco. are
still anxious to secure the fight, and both
offer handsome purses for the battle. The
Fort Erie Club would secure the largest
could conveniently journey there without
much loss of time.
1t is also expected that Young Corbett
and Terry McGovern will be matched
again this week to fight for the feather
weight championship. Both men seem to
think that the only place left open to them
is the West, and they may agree to meet
in twenty-round contest before the HAYES
Valley Athletic Club of San Francisco the
latter part OF next month. Sam Harris
manager Of McGovern, has accepted the
offer made by the club and will leave for
the coast next Wednesday, providing he can
get the consent of John Hertz manager of
Benny Yanger, to agree to a postponement
OF the match between Yanger and Meow
ern for three weeks.
Harris says he is glad that Young Cor
bett did not lose the decision to Eddie
Hanlon on Friday night, as he is anxious
to have McGovern meet him as soon as pos
sible. McGovern is matched to meet Billy
Ryan on Tuesday night at Philadelphia.
Harris says he is willing to let McGOvern
box Young Corbett on any conditions he
may suggest, winner take all, split the
cabled the National Sporting Club of Lon
don asking postponement of the Jordan
match. Harris says unless the Jordan
match is postponed he will have to cancel
it. All McGovern'S engagements from Tues
day on are to be Cancelled in order to give
the championship fight the right Of way.
XXX
Terry McGovern says the result of the
fight between Young Corbett and Eddie
Hanlon proves to him more conclusively
that it was only by lucky blow that Cor
bett knocked him out at Hartford. Nc
Govern says further: THE idea of letting a
mere boy stay twenty rounds and getting a
draw with champion is rather ridiculous.
l have followed Corbett closely in all the
fights he has had since he put me out, and
L have never seen anything that indicates
championship caliber. He hasn't fought a
single contest which was in any way de-
cisive. The most he has done is to earn a
few decisions in short-round bouts, and
now, in the very first long battle he goes
into, an eighteen-year-old boy fights him to
a standstill. For champion Corbett is
about the poorest specimen / ever saw. He
whipped me only through luck, and he
can't do it again"
There are many who hold the same opin-
ion as McGovern concerning Young Cor
bett The little champion has not done
anything remarkable since he defeated Nc
~ ard ic hal haf
will be able to win back the championship
when the two meet.