The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-12
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By Leased Wire to Tho Tribune.

By Leased Wire to The Tribune
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Dec. IL
Jim Jeffries, the "undefcated cham
appearances throughout the middle
west. is out of patience with the east
ern fight critics, who are playing him
as IN old man who is going to have a
lot of trouble looming back for the
Johnson fight, according TO Robert u.
Tucker
Now Jeffries is absolutely certain in
his own mind that there is no reason
for any one saying that he VIII nave
trouble looming back. His own idea
is that hc mover "wcnt back, not
withstanding the fact that he hasn
appeared in the prize ring IN earnest
for more than five years.
During his visit hero with Sam Ber-
ger. his manager and sParring partner,
and Frank Gotch, the worlds cham
pion wrestler, several pictures were
taken of .Ietfries. They show cOnclu-
sivcly that there is no ground for the
insinuation that Jcffrics is a fat, old
man at the age of thirtyfour. The pic
ture showing him at the wheel OF an
automobile indicates plainly that his
face is about the same as 1T was when
he fought his famous battles with Cor
bett, Fitz and Sharkey. The humorous
picture of Jeff seated with Berger IS
rather Characteristic of his attitude
now.
He ism t boastful Of his ability, The
picture displays the good humor that
Berger and Gotch assert he main
tains all the time. He is not the least
bit nervous about the championship bout
with Johnson. Another picture shows
| left seated in the CurZOn-Earman aero
/ ,,.I;.b tnnl- fby tImnus
contests at Rheims, France, aud at st,
] Louis recently. 1t may be stated that
| this was the first time that jeff camc
near going uo IN the arr on another
man S game.
! The latter still has that crouching at
| titudc that made him hard TO handle
when he faced Corbett and FitZ. Berg
er tried "A lot of blows, but JET WASH I
there when they were supposed TO land
! He was wonderfully fast for big
man, aud while he didn't extend him
| self. he handed Berger n couple of wal
| lops that came near putting hlm down
| All the eud jeff was not even breathing
| hard. Having read n lot Of fight eN
pert dope about jeff being wind
brokenD | naturally expected him tc
puff and pant for breath. He did moth
ing of the kind.
The exertion didn't rufflc him.
"All this talk about my wind being
bad is silly said JEFF. My wind is
Just as good as it ever was. / have
been having some trouble with my nose
but that is about cured -
jeff declared that he hasn t begun
training His vaudeville trip has beer
exaggerated. IT is not training stunt
although he does gymnasium work nj
most daily, and his light work before
the immense crowds that arc turning
out 30 see him. lie slips the rope a
lightly as a boy. His shadow boxing
is revelation for speed, His real box
ing is reminiscent of his fighting days
Berger gives testimony that Jeif is be
coming an excellent Judge Of distance,
and that he hits well with his famous
left. In fact, he is regaining his Gun
ning-admitting for the sake of agree
ing with the eastern critics that h'
lost il,
Jeff talked interestingly about him
self while here. He made no. odiou'
comparison of his own ability with tha
OF the dusky johnson. He didn't ever
say that he proposes to knock the day