Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-21
THE PUGlLISTS
JOHN CAN JOKE
 LIKE THE REST
Report That He Wants to Fight Jim Jeffries-Honey Melody
 Coming Back.


 weight champion, wants to fight Jim Jeffries. The big fellow de- clares, in apparent seriousness, that he is in better physical shape now than in his palmiest days. His man. ager will put up $10,000, real money, which will make a noise, to the effect that John l.. can put the present champion away in ten rounds.
 6ullivan's activity resulted from the report that Jeffries is planning an Alaskan trip. The former pugil- isue star is willing to chase the boilermaker clear to the north pole in order to make the match. This is what Sullivan has to say for him. self:
 Some of the New York papers took up the question whether Jef- fries was better man in his prime than I was in my prime. and when l was in that city a few days ago l threshed out the problem without getting any nearer a settlement than ever. My manager took hand in the debate and made the suggestion that as Jeff was going to Alaska and intended to go up to that country about the time the boilermaker will be up there, we get together, and he offered to bet $10,000 that could put the champion away in ten rounds. .,y
 "Of course, some pin heads gave the $10,000 proposition the laugh, but don't know of anybody else that's going against Jeffries with even 10000 cents side bet. Money always talked, and those who think there's any strings to this proposi- tion are in bad and wrong. I've got seven inches of blubber off my front during the last few months and I'd like nothing better than to give Jef- fries a chance to clean up that $10,- 900.
 There's three years of sober liv- ing behind me, with active work with the gloves nearly every day of the thirty-six months, and although I'm as old as Roosevelt, I honestly be- lieve I could do Jeffries, for while he's been going stale I've been com ing back, so that I'm better man to-day than when I lost the title. That's no josh, friends.
 When I talk fight you want to remember that I've beaten forty men where Jeff has beaten one, and I know what I'm talking about.
 "Jeffries never met a real heavy man who could fight in the only way man would have to fight to beat him down. If we met there'd be something doing from the time we shook hands till landed one of the old wallops have up my sleeve and that would be about all"
 At New Bedford, Kid Albee of Providence, announced as the cham pion lightweight of Providence, looked good for about a minute in his fight with George Ashley of Fall River before the Jefferson Athletic club the other night That was when he shot in a straight left which Ashley was careless enough to stop with his face. Ashley went down, but was up immediately, and there after peppered Albee with every punch and jolt known to boxing. Albee stayed until the third round, when, after terrific hammering, he sought his corner and announced that he had cramp. His seconds urged him to go on with the fight, but the Providence man had enough, and Referee Downey awarded the decision to Ashley.
 Tommy Burns says now that he will go to Paris to-day to referee a fight between Walter Stanton of Call ifornia and Jack Costello of Eng land, for which he will receive s1 = 900 and expenses. Burns also de- clares that if there Is a chance to fight in France for a S10,000 purse he will remain there and get tho coin. So easy is the British and Irish sporting public that there is general amazement over Burns's easy vic- tories over Moire, Palmer and Roche. The theory has even been advanced that Burns has hypnotic power. When asked about his al- leged occult influence just after he had settled Roche, Burns replied seriously: 'I was asked that ques- ton by a gentleman who said he could not explain otherwise the pe- euliar way fin which both Palmer and Moire behaved in the ring. told him that was not a mesmer- list. or rather that I was not aware of the fact. usually find that ! can steady my man up a bit when I get my gaze fixed upon him, but I have not considered the fact from the viewpoint of hypnotism or men