Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-01-05
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4VG w y
O'Brien's challenge to Jeffries
means that the Philadelphia man is
looking for clear title to the cham
pionshfp of the world, and in order
to make sure that there will be no
hitct- in the record, he simply issues
Jeffries a challenge, to which the big
fellow of course will pay no atten-
ton. That leaves O'Brien free to go
after the other fellows, and he has
announced that he prefers, first of all,
Tommy Ryan, the middleweight. The
latter says its 1853 pounds or nothing.
II Ryan and O'Brien do not get to-
gether there are three others to pick
from; Marvin Hart, who will prob
ably be second choice; Twin Jack
Sullivan, third choice and Sam Ber-
ger, the amateur champion of the Oily
mpic club, who has personally asked
O'Brfen for the next fight. Coffroth
has secured O'Brien's promise to fight
In San Francisco. in February, but
who his antagonist will be is as yet
a long way from settled, although it
Is pretty sure it will be Marvin Hart
or Tommy Ryan. This is the way
the Philadelphia states the case:
Now that I have made good and
settled all sorts of talk and rumors
I am willing to pay a little attention
to some ancient enemies who are
swapping at my heels" he said. First
Of all would like to get on a match
with Tommy Ryan, who challenged
me along with his new champion,
Marvin Hart. Ryan can get match
right away if he wants to, but l am
not going to tie myself up with any
engagement with him just for the
sake of helping boost his theatrical
venture.
I'VE have an old score to settle,
just as Fitz and had, and am ready
to settle it, and within a reasonable
time. Just now it is not necessary to
bubble over weight or anything like
that. Mr.. Coffroth will give us the
February date. That is all that is
necessary. Let Ryan quit his business
If he can, come out here and show
the people that he is of the right sort
and then start off on training work
If he is not willing to do this let him
keep quiet.
THE same can be made to apply to
Marvin Hart, whose mouthpiece Ry-
an is. If he wants this game it is
ready for him, providing Ryan does
not want it. If he does not like it we
will get someone else. So much for
that pair. About Sam Berger, who
also challenged me from the ring,
do not know. I would be willing to
meet him or anyone else.
Il am the champion now, for
came and fought for it. 1 whipped
the ex-champion, admitted to be the
best man in the world outside of JEFF
fries, and this makes my claim a
whole lot better than any other mans
So all of them will have to come to
me for matches now, otherwise the
public will see insincerity in their
Moves"
Crafty as was FitZsimmons in his
day is this boy of Philadelphia. O'Brien
has been his own manager since he
first got into a ring, and he has up
set all traditions as to the boxer hav-
ing poor manager when he selects
himself. True, aside from that little
go" the other night in San Francis
co. there is nothing very brilliant in
the performance of the man who is
aiming very high just now. There
are no Dempseys, Corbetts, Ruhlins
Or Sharkeys on his list of victories,
but for all that it is noble record
and one which shows 148 battles de-
| cided, and in that long list but two
| recorded defeats. One of these came
in San Francisco February IA, 1900,
when the Quaker was knocked out in
the 18th round of a questionable fight
with young Peter Jackson. Last April,
though, OBrien defeated his conquer
err in 10 rounds
The other defeat credited to O'Brien
was at the hands of Hugo Kelly, who
earned the verdict of the referee in a
| 10round bout at indianapolis on Ap-
ril 25 of this year.
Early in 1904 OBren engaged Tom
my Ryan in bout in Philadelphia.
| 1t went the usual Philadelphia dis
lance, and at the end there were few
| who did not believe that had the fight
gone little farther Ryan would have
| scored a clean knockout