Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-02-20
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 20. 90,
GOSSIP
Jeffries To Test His Condition Be-
fore Fighting.

Jim Jeffries Will not declare that
he is willing to fight Jack Johnson
until he has found out in just what
kind of physical trim IL is possible
for him to get after a steady course of
training in the next few months"
These words were spoken yesterday
by man who was once closely iden-
titled with the management OF
Jeffries and who knows him like
book. "Jeffries would be foolish to
agree to match with Johnson now"
this man continued. for he does not
know whether he can regain his old
form or not. But just as soon as
Jeff feels that he can show his old
speed and skill you can bet that he
will come out of his retirement and
agree to defend the heavyweight
championship against Johnson or
anyboCy else. Jeffries knows the
value or money and he also realizes
that in addition TO those $50 900 bo-
muses. he can make a new fortune by
giving boxing exhibitions on the
road.
He will begin tour of the coun-
try in the near future under the
management of Billy Delaney. his
old trainer, and will have AL Kauf-
man as sparring partner. II will
be Jeffries plan TO box two four
round bouts with Kaufman each day
and he Will probably take a lot OF
light exercise besides. He will prac-
Stcally so into training for the
purpose of taking of weight and
there is no doubt in my mind that
he will be able to reduce himself to
at least $40 pounds In the next two
or three months by this method. II
will be time then for the big fellow
20 decide whether he can fight as
well as ever. and IL he thinks he can
he viii lose no time in accepting one
of the $4,000 offers that have been
recently made to him. But Jem will
take no chances OF suffering defeat
at the hands Of Johnson. who, I'm his
opinion, is high class pugilist. so
that II he finds that he cannot reduce
Co perhaps 225 or 23O pounds and
be strong he will simply wind up his
exhibition tour and retire permanent
~ from the ring. When Jeffries was
actively engaged in the ring he was
always compelled to reduce On one
occasion he took of nearly forty
pounds and was in superb condition.
but that was nearly ten years ago
From what I have heard lately Jeff
weighs closely to 275 pounds stripp-
ed and is soft and slow. He has
been taking life easy and never had
an Idea a year ago that he would be
asked TO fight again. Jeff. however.
knows that the sporting public Is
anxious TO have him beat Johnson.
and as there Is big money for him
IN such a mill. he will accede TO the
general demand for his return To
the ring III such thing Is possible.
IL Jen could be as fast as when he
peat Corbett In their second fight
ne would stop johnson in half a
dozen rounds. But even Jeff cannot
say at present whether he can get
himself into such perfect physical
trim
Word comes from the Coast that
Kaufman will spar with Jeffries on
the road under the supervision OF
Delaney, and that they will begin
operation Ia Frisco In a couple OF
weeks. II is said that the combipa-
ton will visit all OF the large cities
and will show in New York about
the middle OF next month.
Meanwhile Stanley Ketchel. the
middleweight champion, has issued
a statement making Il clear that he
Is willing to tackle Johnson. He
says; las long as the American peo-
pie are incensed over the fact that
coiored man has captured the
championship I will always be win
ing 10 re-establish the supremacy OF
the white race by showing the pub
TIC that am Jack Johnson's master.
Johnson is great fighter, but com
pare Ills record with mine and you
viii nnd that have knocked cut
more opponents In Sig time than
Sounson mas. / saw Johnson take
eieFeh rounds 10 stop Jim Flynn and
he did not impress me as being so
much. III he fooled around with me
that long am satisfied that 7 would
beat him. My record shows that all
have TO do is to hit a man in the
right place. If the American pub-
lie demands 1t I will fight johnson
out all other negroes are barred
ketchel is said to have released
Joe O'Connor. his manager. because
the latter opposed a match with
Johnson, and has engaged Wjllus
BTU 10 look after his affairs In fu-
ture IL is reported that KetcheI
VIII meet Philadelphia Jack O'Brien
IN forty-five round bout at los
angeles some time in March. KetcheI
mas long been regarded by some ring
experts as the coming heavyweight
champion of the world He has been
growing rapidly and has repeatedly
declared that he would soon fight in
the heavy" class. On the Coast
they say that KetcheI could get into
The ring now at ITO pounds and
prove dangerous antagonist for
anybody. Ketchel's gameness is one
or his sterling qualities, while he Is
regarded as one of the hardest
punchers in the world Should he
De successful In putting O'Brien
away he would probably be more
willing to go after johnson than he