Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-11-07
JEFF AND JOHNSON
SIGN FOR BATTLE
CHAMPION AND FORMER KING OF
FIGHTERS TO MEET BE-
FORE JULYh
JOHN |. MAY BE Referee
Fortune Awaits Winner Of Battle
Which Probably Will Take Place
In California-somethIn About the
Training Of PugiIIsts.

When the bids are opened for the
Jeffries.J ohnson fight December /, it
Is believed that the largest sum ever
offered for ring contest in the world
will be rendered by the various clubs.
Jeffries and Johnson quickly came
to an agreement when they met in
New York city and there was no
quarreling as had been expected be-
cause of the bad blood that exists be-
tween them. The fight is to be for
As rounds or more and Is to take
place before July s, 1910, which prob
ably means that the giants will battle
on Independence day. The winner Is
to get rs and the loser rs per cent.
of the purse. -
The promoters are already talking
about $4,000 purses and it is likely
that the amount may be even larger,
which means q fortune for the man
who puts the other out.
The moving pictures will swell the
amount and with side bets and the
money the fighters will get out OF
theatrical engagements before the
battle the winner easily will make
$4,000.
As California and Nevada are the
only states in which finish fights may
be pulled OF it is the concensus OF
opinion among sporting men that the
great battle will take place near San
Francisco or Los Angeles. Jack
Gleason, president of the San Francis
CO baseball club, is among those who
will bid for the battle and he says he
will offer the fighters $4,000, maybe
more.
After the scene Of the fight is de-
cided upon the selection of referee
will be the only matter left for set
Element. John L. Sullivan, the for
mer heavyweight champion, has Of
fered to act as third man in the ring
free of charge, and it is possible that
the once.mighty battler will be Sc
lected. Johnson has declared that
although Sullivan never would fight
negro he is willing to have John L.
referee the fight. :.
Jeffries has announced that he will
make a short tour Of the country with
an athletic show and will meet all
Corners In short bouts. This, says his
manager, Sam Berger, is to give the
former champion an idea of distance
and help him in his training. When
the tour is over Jeffries will 60 to the
mountains in California and train for
the johnson fight: Johnson also is
booked by theatrical company and
after he has picked up some Of the
golden shekels on the stage will be-
gin to fit himself for Jeffries. It is
likely, however, that johnson may be
seen in the ring with other aspirants
for his honors before he meets JEFF.
Physical fitness in q bout is won
derful help to q fighter IN more ways
than one. It not only enables him to
put forth his best efforts, sustains
him when he IL being severely pun
ished, but also gives him confidence
in himself. It makes him fight better
and faster, and thereby adds interest
to q contest. I. :. %Sziiv. {. -:
The more interesting fighter can
make a bout the more it pleases the
promoters and spectators, and, natur-
ally, the more 1t enhances his value
ss q drawing card. The better the
card the larger the purse the fighter
can command, 30, In the long rum, con-
dition actually IL money to the boxer.