The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-10-15
Big F I(lH I
IUR[)AY
Will Pe No Back-Down
on the Part of Either
Man

San Francisco. Oct 15.-The ru-
morS OF a hitch in the JohnSon-Ketch-
el championship fight. which is sched-
uled TO take place In Coffroth's arena
tomorrow afternoon. appear 10 have
been hasty and unfounded. according
10 information that came from both
camps this morning.
Johnson and Coffroth had confer
encc late last night and it was sur
missed in that there was trouble over
the side bet of $4,000 This rumor
spread rapidly over town when ii was
learned that Coffroth had entered his
Office and said:
There may be no fight. ri tell
YOU more about II tomorrow"
George Little, Johnson's manager,
when asked this morning if there was
any hitch. said.
Certainly not Johnson and Cof-
froth had a talk last night, but moth
ing serious came up. II was simply
that Johnson wanted to have an uu~
derstanding in regard TO certain lit
tie matters so as not TO consume
time when the men entered the ring
One of the matters was In connection
with a certain part of tho ring cos,
tune TO be worn by the principals
Il was decided that the managers Of
the fighters should have a conference
with Referee WelCh today and settle
everything that is likely to cause
friction at the last moment There is
nothing wrong with the side bet and
there Is no chance OF anything crop
ping up TO interfere with the fight"
Wills Britt. Ketchels manager.
said that he had not heard of any
trouble. and that he hardly thought
Johnson would raise any question as
TO the side bet.
"Our $4,000 is up. final stake
holder has been selected and we are
willing 10 take chance said Britt
Johnson did some sparring with
"Gunboat" Smith and Johnny OKeefc
yesterday and went through two bur
lcsque rounds with Charles Anslingcr.
When Johnson stepped on the
scales after his work he weighed 19S
pounds.
IF | felt better ! would he suspi-
cious.' he said. Tomorrow will
just take walk and will be careful
about my food md drink / Will try
out to 1875 pounds and the only thing
I'm sorry about is that it is not JEFF
fries I am going mp against"
"Nevec mind Jeffrles." said Bob
Armstrong, sparring partner. He
can walt. You had better go past this
other fellow first. If Ketchel lands
on you he Will make YOU forget there
is such p man as Jeffries on earth
and | know what ! am talking about"
TITS too close 70 the fight now 10
indulge In arguments" replied John
son II am betting that there will he
no Kctchcl after 10 rounds. Please
step aside and let me take my bath"
Those who saw Kctchel during tho
day came away satisfied that he is
trained to the minute His weight
was III. The chances are that he
will be close TO the 17O-pound mark
when he goes into the ring
] w Coffroth. promoter OF tho
championship fight between Jack
Johnson and Stanley Ketchel an.
nounced today thai the differences
between the two fighters over tho
side bet would moi he allowed 10 in
tcrfere with the holding OF the match
next Saturday. Co(froth was positive
in his declaration that no matter what
action were taken with regard TO the
side bet the fight would take place
as scheduled.
In spite OF Coffroth'S assurances,
however. sporting circles are keep
ing an uneasy watch on the fighters
quarters, and rumorS still nersist thar
a full understanding on the side bet
has not been reached II ia stated
about The sporting ccnters thai unless
the matter is finally and sntlsfac-
iorily adjusted. Johnson will refuse 10
enter the ring tomorrow,
The negro demands that the side
bets OF $4,000 each be placed in the
hands of one stakeholder They are
now held by different persons. Ketch-
cl has objected to centralizlng the
bets and Johnson fears that they viii
not be placed at even money as
agreed
Both fighters came out today with