The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-02-16
nv Il NJ. Walkerl

Los Angeles, Feb 12-James J. JEFF
fries today gave vent 10 his feelings
and In his speech he practically ad
mittod that he would return To the
ring. 1t was during a discussion with
a number Of personal friends that JEFF
was made TO talk in clearer tones re-
Sarding his future than ever before
II see where Jack Johnson declared
the other day that he would do tho
debating when he and JeffrieS come
| together" said one OF the sporting
men In the JEFF crowd, addressing a fel-
low sporting writer The retired cham
pion caught the word. and as his eyes
| opened widely he declared: Il am
still the champion. and Jack Johnson
is not going to do any debating if l
go back to the ring
The tone of his remark was taken
as evidence that he would be back as
soon as he finished his theatrical work
and got himself in shape. JEFF has
been worked to a high pitch over
some of the stories printed about him.
and 1t will be no great surprise If he
pops the question OF his return some
day.
johnson has been credited with
talking whole lot. and much of 1t
was nonsense" said JeffTies, "and the
climax came when he said he would
insist on a colored referee. What has
johnson to say about the referee, any
way, in case he gets a chance at the
heavyweight title? He does not hold
it l never was beaten for the cham
pionship. and have the right to name
any terms-if box again"
This statement sufllcied TO arouse
more interest than anything that has
developed, in sporting lines here late
ly, Jehrles was the center OF interest
at his cafe, and was surrounded by an
eager crowd Of sporting men when he
finally walked out for his daily eXer
else.
The big fellow Is still keeping up
his regular exercise. and is commenc-
Ing to show the effects of his steady
light work. His cheeks have lost
much Of the extra flesh which gave
him puffy appearance. although his
paunch is still OF large proportions.
He does not perspire nearly as freely
at work as when he started. His com
plexion is much clearer, and he has
lost the cloudy look in his eyes
JNuile tdn Etl pdCh llIO
again If he keeps on training the way
he Is doing now" said George Mem
sic, who has watched him work. He
has not hurried himself OF tried TO re.
duce rapidly. When he first started
TO work the Precipitation fairly steam
ed of him, as he was in a soft condl
ton. Now he perspires normally. and
IL he keeps at moderate work he will
round into trim again. 1t is going to |
be a question of several months
though"
That 1t will be several months be |
fore there Is any chance OF meeting |
Is made certain by the fact that JEFF |
fries will be tied up by theatrical tours
for many weeks. He will be a suf- |
6cient attraction to pack the houses, |
even without the announcement that |
he intends TO battle Johnson, but IL |
he finally announces that he intends |
10 enter the ring once more he will |
become a popular idol
"Jeffries has a big chance to get |
what he never had before said
well known bookmaker, "and that is
popularity. He was al
ways SO much bigger and stronger
than any man he met that his vic
tories never aroused much enthusiasm
But II he agrees to meet Johnson he
VIII take the place John l.. Sullivan
once held In popular esteem"