The Washington times., 1909-12-05
Thinks Boilermaker Will Be
Fit for Grueling Fight
by July 4.
TALK ABOUT WIND
is NOT WORRISOME
Nasal Affection Did Not Bother
Him in His Previous
Bouts.
By "PooCH" DONOVAN, Trainer of
Harvard Athletes.

harvard ALnebSS-
Jim Jeffries' physical condition, in
which the American sporting public is so
deeply interested just now, in view Of
his prospective fight with Jack Johnson
for the worlds heavyweight champion
ship. is satisfactory.
In the first place. Jeffries has what
fighter ought to have to start with; that
is the speed and the punch AS far as
weight goes, he is just about right, I
should say, for a man who is due for
long siege Of training. It is much bet
ter to have a man weigh twenty pounds
over his normal weight starting in than
five pounds underweight, as that gives
something to work on.
If Jen had been lighting right along.
he would probably weigh in the neigh
borhoOd OF 225 pounds in ring condition.
He would be about ten pounds heavier
now, according TO all the rules of physi-
cal growth. but because OF his long lay
of and the indolent life he loves he
has taken on more than this.
Has Little Fat.
He looks to me TO weigh something
like go pounds. and consequently is in
much better shape than when I saw him
a year ago The extra fat he carried
then over his abdominal muscles has
disappeared TO a marked extent, and with
the time he has at his disposal beween
now and the probable date Of his fight,
he should be able to remove this to its
last vestige. That his stomach muscles
are in more than fair shape just now is
plainly shown.
Then, too, his exhibition Of rope skip
ping, one Of the hardest Of exercises.
followed by his shadow boxing, shows
the remarkable speed OF foot and hand
possessed by the big boilermaker. Be
cause this speedy action is over a short
period 1t leaves open the question
whether or not Jefries can go over a
long route. Jeffries has always been a
law unto himself, and was the despair
OF Billy Delany. one Of the greatest
trainers and makers Of champion pugi-
always knew himself better than any
body else. This was proven time after
time when he was preparing for his
matches.
Knows Himself
He never went into the ring unless he
was I'm the best Of shape. lie judged
himself harshly. but results invariably
bore out his theory that by following
his own plan he could get right He is
doing the same, think, in this case.
He is working easily. steadily and
along lines which viii leave him with
his full vitality when he gets ready 70
settle down for the hard grind preced-
ing the tapering off to the point where
he can safely say: I'm all right"
Jeh's breathing is a matter Of some
comment. True, his wind is not any
thing Ike being at it's best, but few men
Ia. ~ h. hrar g -Hn 4
do the work he does in his theatrical
stunt and not puff. JEFF always had
difficulty with his nose, which was bad
~ smashed in one Of his earlier lights.
This has rendered breathing difficult TO
a certain extent, but an operation which
he has IN contemplation is expected 20
remove this trouble.
Wind Not Worrisome.
The fact that he has fought success
fully IN the past with fast men with his
nose in this same condition means that,
even If the operation is not fully sue
cessful, it will not interfere with his
Gnal condition and his development of
his lung capacity IN the least. This will
come from his road work and the heavy
grind Of the gymnasium and the many
bouts with his sparring partners while
doing the actual and rugged training
that will precede the contest with John
son.
Endurance must be Jeffries' keynote
The route IS a long one, and whether
the fight is short or long. Jeffries must
be prepared 10 travel at top speed for
an Indefinite period.
A factor in this will be the texture
Of his muscles. Even now he IS pos
sessed Of a remarkable smooth moving
muscular system. There is not that
bunchy or knotty appearance so COM
mon in big men who take part in rug
ged athletics. Everything looks SYM
Tnetrical. and there Is a balance that
gives him the smooth action OF a man
Of considerably less weight and bulk.
This can be instanCed IN his footworlI