The sun., 1909-06-17
CURRENT SPORTING GOSSIP
NEW CONDITIONAL
CHALLENGE TO JEFFRfES.

CHALLENGE TO JEFFRfEs,
negro Accused Of Naming Impossible
Terms. While Boilermaker Il Scored
for Not Posting . Forfeit-Lansford
Coming Back Here to Corner johnson
Jack johnson has hurled another type
written challenge at James J. JefIriee.
much to the renew ed amusement Of veteran
sporting men. The big negro says he will
fight Jetrries from one round to fifty within
two months for a purse OF not less than
$50, 600 for his end" and a side bet OF
200. He also declares that this propo-
sition will remain open for ten days, In which
period Jefrries is at liberty to cover an
alleged 5000 forfeit johnson says he hss
already posted. Men who have followed
plgilism for years said yesterday that both
johnson and Jeffres were biufring and side
stepping Johnson knows very WELL they
said, that Jeffries will not hght for at least
six months. II then. and that $50 900 guar
antee, win. lose or draw. IS the negro's
end, is absurd on the face Of II when IT,
is considered that Jefrries in condition
would be entitled to receive as much as II
not more money than the big coloted cham
pion. II a $50, 900 purse should be hung
up, they argued, nobody would believe
for a moiheut that JefYries would consent
to let johnson have three-ffth OF the money.
III johnson wants to call Jeffries. said
former manager OF several champion
pugilists yesterday, why doesn't he oher
to fight to finish, JefT to set the date. winner
take all? Then II Jeffries refused to cover
the negro's forfeit the public would be able
to get a true line on the situation. johnson
posted 5000 here several months ago.
The money was covered by Stanley Ketchel
and is now In the ha nds OF a stakeholder
to go as side bet on the result Of their mill
at Colma in October. johnson has no forfeit
up for match with Jeffries. Why doesn't
Jefiries post IS 600 and force johnson to
sign articles OF aer cement such es the negro
signed recently with Al Kaufman? john
son and Kaufman simply agreed to night.
but they did not decide upon date. place.
purse, side bet. length OF the mill or referee.
All those things were to be agreed upon later.
Does any one believe that II JefIries was
on the level about fight with the negro
he wouldn't force the latter into a match
Of a tentative nature without further delay.
particularly when johnson has nerve enough
to call him a fournusher and asbluffer?
Surely in the old days when JEFF was in
the ring no man dar ed 10 talk that way
about him.
,"JeHries keeps on sayi ing that he will make
good when the time comes and thst he Is
gradually getting into condition. Does
anybody stop to think that It was nearly
six months ago when Jeffries began TO, take
light exercise in California. after conscnting
to listen to the appeals from all classes OF
Am ericsns? Yet Jeffries to-day cannot
box more than six rounds OF one minute
each with sparrins partner without blow
ing like . whale. He has refused point
blank 10 fight ten or fifteen rounds with a
second rater like Jim Flynn in California
for a SIC, 600 purse. but Is willing to spar with
Ber ger In different big towns for all kinds OF
soft money. while johnson is allowed to
hurl challenges at him Wit hout chance
OF being called. ~"
Just as THE SUN predicted. JEFF 8 bout
in Pittsburg with Berger was q love tapping
IN atch which did not amount to row OF
pins except to get I, 500 and dsappoint
crowd OF deluded smoky Citizens. The
boilermaker is going 20 repest the trick
In Philsdelphia tornlsht At the National
2Ss pounds. but looks much heavier.
Meanwhns II johnson ts ready TO aghi
for him TO refuse to meet sam Lanyfofd
within the same psriod; LangIord and his
ades aad on the sI. Isstans on Saturday and upon @
johnson In real earnest. Woodmnn writes
TO THE SUN that he intends to Spost SIC, ,ooO
forfeit and issue challenge to fight John
Jei'res, He says thai LsnSiord viii In
clude Willie Lewis, whose manager recently
stated that the Boston slugger was all In.
But nobody believes that Lewis could be
dragged into the same ring with Lang gford.
will fight johnson In limited round bout
or TO finish In July or August. In California
or Nevada. for the largest purse offered and
a $40 900 side bet, winner take all, johnson
will agree, or the money to be cut rs aud IS
per cent. to the winner and loser respec-
johnson says he refused to fight Lang
ford in England because the purse was
not big enough. butt he has expressed q
willingness to meet the Boston negro In
this country: Langford has never been |
accused Of four aushin,S and has has, never
wants a crack at johnson and II looks - |
II he intended 70 make the latter fight |
or crawl. LAngford 10 recognized as the |
heavyweight champion Of the world.
In England. but his manager says he Will
pot lay claim to the title here until JChnson
man. Ian sferd viii try 10 secure matches
Of the result OF their mills with johnson. |
Woodman has never seriously considered
Jeffries in his plan to get Lanfford to the
top Of the ladder; Lnefosd' ior snst M nat. nat,
he would be no match for the bolbsrmaksr.
Il ft and that he did not intend TO annoy
the latter In his retirement. II IL the opin-
ion Of many good judges OF ,pu siltsm that
within q year LAngford and ketchel VIII
10 the contenders in tight for the worlds
BROTHERS IN EXCITING RACE.