The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-04-25
TENNESSEE CLUBS
OVERRIDING BOXING
Sunny jim Says That Sport
Will Be Killed Under
Present System.
IS ANXIOUS TO MEET
C0L0RED CHAMPION
Choynski Was Best Fighter of
His Inches in the
World.
Bv James J. Corbett.


The fight promoters are running wild
in Tennessee. In every city and town
in the state where there is any sport
enthusiasm clubs arc being formed and
fights of the cheapest kind are being
pulled off. | have been in touch with
some of the sports down in Memphis
and Nashville, and l believe that what
/ say is absolutely true.
Unless some precaution IS taken the
future Of the game down there will not
be as rosy as the fighting world
thought it would be. In the first
place, the law is so loose that any old
person with nerve enough to 20 through
with club scheme can become pro-
moter. Too many ring contests, espe-
cially of the cheap kind will do more
to kill the fight game than any anti
boxing sentiment.
Probably the best scheme to pro-
tect the cities from being overrun with
promoters would be municipal regula-
tion. / look to see the local author
tiles take a hand sooner or later, and
it will be for the good of the game.
The last week has brought about no
developments in the Jeffries. johnson
controversy, and / am still anxiously
waiting to hear from the big colored fell
low. 1t looks a lot like he was stalling,
and in view of the stand that jeff has
taken will cover himself up as long as
the boilermaker' s name is before the
public.
/ certainly would like to get the big
staller in the ring, if for no other rea-
son than to show him that he is far
from being In the same class with the
men who fourished in the ring only a
few years ago. Johnson gave me his
word that If Jeffries did not accept
him he would cover my $4,000 and sign
articles with me. He has not even
taken the time or trouble to inform
me that he has decided to do other
wise, although he apparently has.
The American people will not stand
for johnson S actions very long. They
will go so far, and then the big fellow
will drop off into oblivion il he con-
tinues to stall and sidestep men who
are anxious to get him into the ring
don t see how Jeff can let Johnson go
about the country, and especially in
New York, talking as he does. Of
and out the other so far as the effect
goes, but he is entirely too chesty.
Corbett Wants Fight.
oDe IHlUg Is ctIJdlHs L lOlu uOW OU
my talk will not be for the purpose of
advertising my show, as it is about TO
close its season. The public will then
realize how earnest [ am i'll the belief
that johnson is half what he is cracked
up to be, and that / can at least give
him a battle that will show him up to
the fighting world in the true light. l
may not put him away, but while I am
in the ring I will be able to show the
L. I'D G,.~hk krs
has it on the black man, even when the
latter has many physical advantages.
I hope the readers of this column
will not think that I am overstepping
the bounds of editorial decency in
harping too much on johnson, but [
am sincere in all I have said and will
prove to you, if I evNr get johnson
in the ri=S, that what I have said has
been right. I have always maintained
that Jeffries in shape could whip a
couple of Johnsons in the ring at the
be wrong for him to try and fight,
and that I sincerely believe he never
will. Then ] have as good a claim as
any man in the world to battle with
him, and the public should be fair
enough TO give me an even break in
their Judgment on the matter. For the
present, unless something new comes
up, I am going 10 drop the subject of
Jack Johnson.
In discussing the respective ability
of fighters in the light heavyweight
division I was asked the other day to
give my opinion, through the Globe
Democrat, as to whom / thought was
the greatest little heavyweight, SO to
speak, that had ever donned a glove.
That would be a pretty hard question