The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-20
TIMELY BOXING TALK.
Dearth OF Men to Meet Jim JefIries' De.
plored-F1tZ's Inconsistency.

During the past week devotees of pugilism
have had q great deal to talk about. The
arrangement OF twenty round bout between
Joe Cans and Joe Walcott first attracted at
tention, but the next important item was the
announcement that Ralph Rose, the noted
California athlete. wanted to fight Jim Jeffries
for the heavyweight title. Rose emphatically
declares that some one took his name In vain
and that his reported challenge was q fake
pure and simple. Rose adds that he has no
intention of fighting Jeffries and has no desire
to enter the prize ring
There were many who had hoped that Rose
would do all that was reported Of him because
the heavyweight division is sorely In need
Of some one to cope with Jeffries There Is
provoking dearth Of big men at present. In
fact the heavyweight rank seems to be cor
nored. and II some good eligible for the boilery
makers laurels does not quickly put in an
appearance there Is no telling how the sport
will fare. Fights between big men are always
productive Of interest Folks who have never
witnessed ,prizelght. and who could not
across them on the street. seem to be absorbed
In a heavyweight championship mill Men.
or giants 50 to speak Tith Hr oa
nrt have sort Of fascination for them.
With such giant as Rose in the field
permanent popularity, The idea that some
sions with Jeffres was something to be happy
over. But Rose knocked it all into cooked
hat by saying that be never intends TO- night
dsss has to @ s SSe
favorably with JefirIes in point Of physique
Blu, s great knowledge Of the boxing art
sometimes offsets bulk OF muscle and flesh.
and who knows but that it may do SO in this Is
b fawny Or large as ' JelfTiss stnl they know
either Of them we're matched. SO good Judges
predict Johnson seems to be out Of the
question at present unless JefIrles sees At to
up as the next man to face Jefiries. A man
like Billy Madden or Sam Fitzpatrick could
that goes to m make the he's sucoessful pusiIist.
An that he wants is developing. Ferguson
y willing worker. but not persistent one.
one TO show him just how good man he can
make himself by sticking to work.
this month. Cans and Walcott will have their
rounds he sR in Itself is ene ft the
win prove whether both Of these lighters
have deteriorated In his respective division
sSh is SshS1 bsnp Cans Is Ts Ell
fairly clean record. True, Cans has been
mi1ed up IN several shady fights, but he has
al the right time. With walcott It is dersnt
He has practically admitted that many OF his
contests were not as honest as they ought to
when. with the least BIT Of e1ertion. he should
and could have whipped his opponents. This
is a procedure that is certain to be talked
with Tommy West at Madison Square Gar
jackson in Jig time at Paitlmore Yet that
fight was so shady looking that they are still
eommentng on it in Baltimore, In the fight
In one way. and that is that Wsloott Will
find it diffcult to reduce to iI2 pounds with
QUIT out trouble He has weighed close to Is.
him Is the hardest kind Of a task. II he does
his friends think it will weaken him. On
the other side. Cans will be at q disadvantage
to have the worst OF It by at least six pounds,
Acquiring that he will step into the ring at
this Kind is Big factor. Taxing everything
into consideration walcott's chances appear
TO be the better II he will only fight honestly.
at any time. He has met heavier men before,
and they were almost Walcott's equal in skill.
But Cans was in better s.,i form than he is now.
for the barbados Black" is now in bis
Bob Fitzsimmons seems to be moons istent
lately. and many. of his most intimate ad-
mrers believe that unless he curbs his tongue
Fiji at present V on the road With his OWN
theatrical company. He knows the value
is paid to see that he gets it. The other
day Fitz came out in print to the effect that
he was anxious to fight Jim Jeffries again. 4
week before the interview appeared. Fltz said
! hat under no circumstances would he meet
the champion, at the same time fully ack-
nowledsing ,Jeffries's superiority, II Fitz
is to change his sentiments toward tho boiler
maker each week. he will soon have all he
can do to make any one believe that he really
means what he saws. Fitz in his heart has
no wish to meet Jeffries saain. He knows
that the Californian can whip him any time
they meet. He has acknowledged this often,
but his desire to get his name into print has