Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-16
JEFFRIES AGREES
TO OFFICIATE
THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
WILL ACT
Unique Spectacle viii Be Witnessed
When o'5rien and Burns Meet for
Active Title with Retired Peer
as Referee

Tom McCarey went on another fish,
ing trip yesterday morning. and though
he came within an ace of breaking his
best hook landed the greatest catch
of the season. Jim Jeffries was dam
Cling from McCareys bamboo when
Tom had made the gaff
strangely unique spectacle viii be
witnessed when Tommy Burns and
Jack O'Brien climb between the ropes
at Maud Junction pavilion Thanksgiv-
ing eve. AS principals there are to be
two of the shiftiest men that ever
donned gloves. AS official referee will
be n man whose physical equal does not
exist and who is acknowledged as the
heavyweight champion of the world.
Jim Jeffries agreed yesterday to Of
ficiate when Tommy Burns and Jack
O'Brien meet for their scheduled twen-
ty-round battle which will produce an
undisputed active heavyweight cham
pion, barring a draw decision.
After McCarey took down his tele-
phone receiver yesterday morning it
was not long before the business trans
action had been completed.
Jim is away on quail exterminat-
ing tour, but was reached by the wires.
"You must referee this fight, Jim,"
quoth McCarey.
"All right If you say so," came the
laconic answer.
How will $500 look to you, Jim?"
well. if you think I'm worth that,
all right
McCarey must be given credit for
being the cleverest boxing promoter
that ever arranged Pacific coast
matches, as he has accomplished a
turn that no other manager in the
business could hope to bring about.
-
question. In fact, he protests vigor-
ously when called upon to make an ap-
pearance in the local ring of a fistic
evening.
Turned Down by Nolan
Asked to referee the Britt-Nelson
battle. Jim travelled north only to find
the cold blanket being waved by in
exorable Billy Nolan, who had scented
something doing. When the big fellow
learned of Nolan's action he waxed
exceedingly bitter and proclaimed that
never again would he consider a propo-
sition to referee.
Nolan's refusal to accept Jeffries was
the initial stroke that led to his un-
popularity, for the champion has al
ways been above the slightest taint
of suspicion.
Whether Jeffries awarded his title to
Marvin Hart when that worthy defeat
GU 0dCh LlOOL dI IAGllO Will never DG
satisfactorily settled. Many reports had
it that Jeff called Hart champion after
the battle.
If Jim did such a thing the chances
are that his vein of humor was bub-
bling over. At any rate, Hart's title"
went a-glimmering during little ar
gument with Sir Thomas Burns at
Maud Junction pavilion some months
to the rear.
Vastly different will be circumstances
attendant upon the coming battle,
which is to determine real champion
ship. A conclusive series of events has
led to the present conditions of ring
affairs as regards the two men cred
tied with possessing a right to strug-
gle for the active heavyweight title
For months and months O'Brien and
Burns dallied about, and so far as
may be judged Burns was the aggres-
sor. Naturally enough, O'Brien consid-
cred that Burns should do the prelimi-
nary forcing. and not until public opin-
ion had called him to halt did O'Brien
come to terms No one believes that
he feared Burns, but nevertheless
O'Brien was not to be had for the ask
ing. Something stronger was needed.
Press demands were finally brought
to bear in unmistakable fashion and
it was not long before the Philadel-
phian was willing to talk business.
Spectacular Prelude
These were but the preliminary OBJ
servances. Both men wanted to prove
conclusively that they were head and
shoulders above their fellows. Burns
was given permission to meet Jim
Flynn, a husky, beefy son of Colorado,
whose friends placed unlimited conf
dence in his ability to best Burns,
What Burns did to Flynn is history
Another championship candle flickered
and died away.
Burns stock rose for had he met with
defeat his match with O'Brien was to
be forfeited. Then came OBrien's turn.
The Philadelphian had given supreme
evidence of his boxing ability, but
Southern California devotees Of the
sport were anxious to see the Quaker
in action before giving their version
of his strength.
Said O'Brien: 1T will meet two men,
Said McCarey: you are on"
Straightway a brace of ambitious
ringsters volunteered to meet the skill
full Philadelphia. Neither was her
expressed an opinion that O'Brien could
not down them both in twenty rounds
AmaZement was Forthcoming when
the Quaker simply toyed with his oppo-
nents and sent them out at will.
"He will do" said the verdict.
prelIler prelude 10 championship
battle could not have been arranged
had years of preparation preceded
Both men underwent a great risk
which might easily have been easily
avoided. Far greater satisfaction,
however, has resulted, and the situa-
tion in a nutshell is:
Jim Jeffries. the peer of all glove
men, is about to decide which of the
two cleverest active heavyweights in
the ring may claim without question
a worlds supremacy. Truly fitting
order of affairs.
LAToNIA RESULTS
By Associated Press