Evening journal., 1906-09-27
WHO IS THE SUITABLE"
MAN TO fight JEFFRIES !?
What Billy Delaney Probably
is Looking For is a Box
Office Attraction

It has been given out in the last day
or SO on what seems to he the best OF
authority. that the retired heavy
weight champion Of the world had con-
scented to again enter the prizering
provided a suitable opponent could be
found for him.
What was probably meant by suit
able opponent was one who would be
likely to help out some in swelling the
gate receipts on the day Of the con-
test. Surely neither the big fellow
himself nor Billy Delaney, who Is cred
tied with having induced him to re-
enter the ring. believes FOR a moment
that any Of the big fellows who are
now making their living welding the
padded mitts would be considered by
the public as a suitable opponent when
IL got down TO fighting In the ring.
There are. as every one knows who
has followed the prizering no more
suitable opponents for Jim Jeffries at
the present time than there was when
he quit the ring for the farm.
The only man who has been added TO
the list OF heavies since he abandoned
the pugilistic field on account OF its
barrenness in fighting material Is Sam
Berger, who. so far as possessing the
ability TO give the big fellow battle
that would be worth paying TO see.
might Just as well have remained
among the amateurs Sam Berger is
a big, clever young fellow who would
probably give a good account Of HIM
self with a man like Jack O'Brien, who
could not sting him very hard, but In
front Of big JEFF, who would he sure
70 make his Stats crack every time he
ripped IN a left hook. as he did with
Jim Corbett IN the Frisco fight. he
would be very apt to prove a sad, sad
failure.
outside OF this Berger fellow every
other heavyweight now in the business
was pegging away at his trade AZ the
time Jem dropped the nag on himself
because there was nothing left for him
TO do in mis- line of work. No one at
that time considered that there was
man among the heavyweights good
enough to give the big fellow an ar
gnment in the ring, and for that reason
no club manager could be induced to
guarantees a purse Of sufficient size
to justify the champion in going TO the
trouble and expense incident TO a
course Of training. compelling him, as
IL did and very much against his VIII,
TO retire. .A .un a.
In being able to ada the name of
Sam Berger to the list the situation,
so far at least as It applies to Jeff.
does not seem to be very much im-
proved over what It was when the lat
-ter-felt 81 necessary to take to the hay
field s"r7.'
II Is quite evident that there is some
ring al Goldfeld, and Il might be that
the people Of that very prosperous gold
camp would be willing to hang up a
good-sized purse just for the sake Of
seeing the champion IN the ring again.
without much regard as to who his OPP
ponent might be. L that case. the
likeliest looking one the lot. that Is
the one most likely to furnish the most
amusement to the spectators, would,
In all probability be selected by the
Godheld promoters for the slaughter.
The choice. should such contin-
gency arise. would be almost sure 20
fall upon Jack O'Brien. not because OF
any superior fighting merit that he
possesses over some Of the ether
heavyweights, but because of his WE'LL
known ability 70 side-step and tincan
AROUND the lAnk when uNWllnb 70 Ntop
and mix
O'Brien in front Of JEFF would be
very much like the rabbit IN front Of
the hound atHa coursing main-he
would be an right until he was caught.
then It would be an off with him, the
same as It Is all on with the rabbit
when oyertaken by the hound. More
over. Jack could be depended upon to
not throw the race so long as his legs
held out
II Jeff really means it and would
as he says. be- willing 10 again tax,
up fighting. provided everything was
made satisfactory with him. whicl
means money as well as a suitable op
ponent. he viii be almost sure 10 bl
given a chance at one Of the Nevada
gold camps
It would matter little either to hin
or the public who would be selecte
70 meet him. so far as any real fightin
was concerned. The hnish would b
sure to be the same, and II Jeff wa
just commencing TO learn how TO figh
when he retired from the ring a
stated by BILLY. Delaney not long age
the public can form some idea as
how long the contest will last.