The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-22
TO FIGHT AT COLMA
Jeff-JOhnsOn Battle Likely
to Take Place on Coast.
WILL HOLD CONFAB TODAY
BOiIermaker and Manager Berger
Ready TO Entertain Propositions
piORship-JOhnsOn on Way to New
York with Promoter Co6rOth.

New York. oct. I.-Unless there is q
hitch. the Jeffries-Johnson fight for the
heavyweight championship Of the world
WIFI be arranged in this city next Tues
day or Wednesday. Jeftries. who will be
in town tomorrow, w'U meet sam Ber-
ger for a confab. and will repeat his
willingness TO fight the big negro cham
pion for the largest purse offered by q
responsible club" James Conroth, pro-
prietor Of a responsible club" at Colma.
Cal. is hurrying to this city from the
Coast on the same train with Johnson
and the negro's manager and hacker,
George Little
Coffroth will offer a $4,000 purse. and
II is believed he has already sewed John
son UP with a secret agreement 20 fight
at Colma or nowhere. Sporting men
who are trying to clinch the big fight
without further delay have arranged to
bring Jeffries, Berger. Johnson. Little.
and Conroth together at a Broadway no
tel on Tuesday, when details can be dis
cussed.
As II is a misdemeanor to sign articles
and post forfeits IN this state for a
fight to be held elsewhere. # is believed
that Jeffries and johnson VIII agree upon
the more important terms OF the match,
after which they VIII afix their sigma
lures to the articles in Chicago. But the
big match, TO all intents and purposes.
viii be made in this city. At least. that
was the general opinion among sporting
men to-day.
Both Likely TO Accept.
1t was also predicted that there would
be no hitch; that the big pugiIists would
accept Conroth's offer In behalf Of Col
ma; that there would be a side bet OF
5000 or $1,000. and that the battle would
90 forty-flve rounds. AS 20 the date.
1t was said that Johnson and Conroth
would probably ask Jeffries 10 Tight some
time in January. but that II the boiler
maker should insist upon March or April
the point would be yielded.
Berger received "a wireless message
from Jeffries on the Lusitanla to-day
that he was feeling great" but could
say nothing positive about the fight until
ne knew what the conditions were Ber-
ger said that in addition to Conroth' 8
ouer there would be propositions from
Promoter Gleason, also Of California.
Hugh ID. Mcintosh. the Australian pro-
moter, who has already offered $1,000.
and from the Miller brothers OF Okla
homa.
Cofroth has a big influence over John
son, 1t Is said. FOR the reason that he
Afforded him the chances TO beat Kauf-
man and Ketchel. The negro was prac-
tically broke when Coffroth arranged
these fights for him, and as his share of
the spells amounted 70 nearly Z5OGJ
Johnson Is said to have promised 10 sticI,
by the Colma promoter through thick
and thin. CoffrOth Is highly REGARDED by
Jeffries, who has shown a preference for
California as a battle ground ever since
the fight was first preached Jeffries
knows that he has d big following on
the Coast. that there can be no interfer-
ence with the contest, and that a record
breaking paid attendance is assured. As
matter Of fact il was said some time
ago that Jeffries and Conroth understood
each other and that when the time ar
rived, COlma would have the inside track.
Berger, while IN Frisco recently. had
numerous coufabs with this promoter and
~ StAAN ~ nave sent WORD 20 JeurleS
that Colma IS the best place for the
battle.
With Jeffries and johnson In town.
therefore, and the sporting world clam
oring for the fight. the coming negotia-
lions VIII be closely watched
Deadlock Is Hinted.
II there should be a deadlock Il would
not take long TO fix the blame. ring fol-
lowers said to-day. JeT is the man OF
the hour in the pugilistic world He has
promised to regain the heavyweight
championship OF the world for the white
race, and If he makes good he can re-
tire permanently from the ring, at the
same time earning another fortune in a
tour of the world.
He will have to be the JEFF OF six
years ago, however, TO beat Johnson.
who is now rated as one Of the best
heaVy-weights ever seen in this coun-
try. The fact that Johnson so far has
not been extended and has concealed hts
ra~aI- - L