The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-17
TIMELY ROXING TALK.
Drawing the Color Line a Popular Diver
sion Among Some Pugilists.

Drawing the color line has been popular
diversion with some pugilists. especially
champions. Very few fighters who have at
tanned prominence in the priZering have not
at some time during their career announced
that they would not meet colored men,
While in the eyes Of some folks this may be
good thing, TO the layman it appears as
rather puerile excuse to avoid match. Nine
times out Of ten the fighter who makes this
declaration Is prompted by some other mo-
tive than mere race prejudice. He either re-
CARDS his ebony hued rival as unworthy to
cope with him or else may be afraid OF him
Often 1t Is the latter case. For many years
Tommy Ryan drew the color line. although
when he budded out as fighter he fought
negroes. Kid Mccoy did the same thing,
Yet he paved the way for future success In
the ring by whipping some clever negro Pugi-
lists. The latest one to draw the barrier be-
tween black and white skin is Jim Jeffries.
Jeffries has faced negroes during his career.
and his action in tabooing them at this stage
ia rather surprising. Peter jackson. Bob
Armstrong and Hank Griffins, black men.
have met Jeffries and were the champion
victims. This was OF course. before the boil
ermaker became the kingpin in his division
But he is still Jim Jefiries and even though he
has the title OF champion tucked to his name the
glory Of having beaten three good colored men
remains on his record. Jefrriess excuse for
not fighting a negro is that he thinks that
they should battle among themselves. This
equal in the ring until he proves himself so
the deduction can bear no weight with fair
any Champion in order to remain 40 must
entertain all challenges from worthy and
eligible opponents no matter what nat their heir
falls to accept the def from an opponent
who has the right to meet him there remains
always doubt Of the ttleholder' g sincerity.
ne al ha bea hp al
johnson. the husky California black man.
Sas never Been deaated at least not sin
he became noted. and besides being puncher
he is clever, game and honest. he has
whom he conquered we're. thought 70 have a
fine chance against efries, especially sam
Mcyey. big negro , Weighing 1ao. nearly My 2so
prised. Now johnson wants chance, with
Sebt o SIe ed man nan He does not eHplsn
not not Do Battle. John sullivan drew ne
position to maintain his standard in this
direction because he had never fought q
negro. with nc;rries 1t is different ), II
record indicates that he is. It Il only proper
that Jeirres should entertain his, challenge.
,Jeffries Is an honest athlete and fair but
in the he opinion OF many he ought to give
Frankie Neil has a chance to go abroad and
fqht Jem Bowker. the English bantam cham
pion. The National Sporting Club Of Lon
don desires the match, and II the negotiations
ranged IT Is said that Bowker Is a good
mana rather different proposition from some
Of his predecessors in this class. In this
dj vision "Pedlar- Palmer and Billy Plimmer
held sway and they certainly made good"
in popular parl lance. Two, cleverer bantams
Palmer, Both showed here and held thei
own on many occasions. Plimmer made
New York his homo for years after he be-
came bantam champion and beat everybody
he was asked to meet II Bowker Ia a better
man than either Palmer or Piiumer, Nell
will have fine chance to show his steel
Since he became the topnotcher in his class
mostly six-round affairs he did not have
much opportunity to extend himself. Tommy
Murphy of Harlem and Hugely MoGovern
fought every inch OF ground with Neil and
Mt the finish were both up and doing. OF
course the American champion displayed his
superiority, but with the absence OF a knock
out there still remains doubt In the minds Of
have won eventually had the mill continued
further. Bowker and Neil will night. II the
contest is made fixture. Mt ll8 pounds, weigh
in AT 2 o'clock on the day of the mill. This
will lust suit Nell. He can reduce to a lower
scale. but as there has been no one in his class
Neil was forced to fight under different CON
ditIons BEFORE Neil sails for England his
friends would like to see return match with
either Mcfiovern or Murphy, Just to ascertain
how these two youngsters would fare in a
longer combat 1T would add to Neil's pres
tige II he fought them and whipped them
handily.