The Detroit times., 1909-04-20
ANSWERS
|. BIG QUESTION
At LAST
|Will Renter the Ring To Meet
!. Winner Of Johnson Ketchel
Match For the
!. Title.
Won't Be Ready To Fight For a
Year or 50, But Is Sure He Will
Be the JEFF of Old Then.

NEW YORK, April 2O.-Jenrles mas
,roken his long silence. Iomsh'' a.
he close of his performance 1T the
American Music hall he will announces
% the New York public that ne VIII
meet the winner OF the Stanley
KetchelJack johnson, fight next OCT
ober for the championship OF the
world.
Lashed to fury Ly the assertions
that he was "buncoing the public Win
no intention of ever fghting AGAIN
made by his old manager. bhly De
laney. Jeffries took the lid on TINS
morning. He was mad clear through
when he talked and made II plain tha'
he believes he will be able to get 10
as good shape as he was when ne
cleaned up Jack Monroe. the last mar
he entered the ring with.
AT his hotel today the big Fellow
said;
Immediately after my exhibition
with my sparring partner, sam Der
ger. at the American theater tonight,
n will announce to the audience that
have decided 10 re-enter the ring again
and defend my title OF heavyweight
champion OF the world against any
man. III Jack Johnson Is fortunate
enough TO beat Stanley Ketchel next
XOctober, | will meet him BEFORE any
club that will offer the most money. 4
have come TO the conclusion mat
can get back into my previous gooo
form. which is responsible for my
making this announcement. | VIII De-
ready TO fight again in 10 months or
year and will fight just the same
The announcement has clarified the
Aearpwaight situatinn While Jeffries
remained mute there was chance or
all the aspirants reaping golden mar,
vest by throwing deGs at him and per
forming In public for good purses
Now that he has announced that ne
will meet Johnson-and he hopes III
. his heart that Johnson wins the ma'ch
with Ketchel--it Is expected that some
of the fighters that have been taking
the ioudest will quit. Sam Langford
f Ia the only one who has been honest
u In his declarations. lie has repeatedly
asserted that he wanted nothing TO DO
with Jeff In the ring while announcing
that he can defeat any OF the others
1 who have been posing as champions
The big clubs are expected 70 start
Kidding az once for the match AS
stated by the United Press 10 days
ago. Mcintosh the Australian pro
moter. will be back here In three
weeks to talk business in behalf or
This Australian club The coast CLUBS
are all expected TO bid and. as re-
:ult OF the popularity Of the game IN
france and the fact that finish bouts
are allowed there. II is expected that
there will be bid from the newly or
ganized National club. of Paris.
Discussing his training today, Jef
said
Since I left the coast and have
been INDUCING in light exercise TO get
NV wind back. ! hsVe been surprised
1T the ease with whichs | have gone
through the PAGES. | have taken OF 20
pounds of soft flesh and replaced IL
with some good substantial muscle.
All my old speed and strength Is
coming back and I feel SO good that |
have decided that | might as we'll de
clare myself now as any time. But l
expect to take it easy in training until
couple OF months before the date
finally fixed for my fight. viii keep
at the work that strengthens my wind.
That Is what | need most. | still nave
The punch and all that goes with II.
hut | intend also to have my wind all
that can be desired 50 that my friends
will have nothing 70 fear.