The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-08-09
JEFFRlES STILL
The CHAMPION
Difference of Opinion Among the
Fight Experts of the
Country.

Los Angeles. Aug SIS Jim Jcf
fries stlll the heavyweight champion
OF the world?
The big fellow sent a shock of sur.
prise and incredulity throughout the
Queensberry realm when. upon the oc,
casion OF his depositing a $4,000 forfeit
in New York TO bind a match with
Jack Johnson, he made the followine
statement;
Il am still the heavyweight cham.
pion despite my retirement. II will
he ME and not johnson who will de-
fend this title
This startling announcement has
started riot Of opinions all over the
country wherever boxing Is discussed
In the writer's opinion. Jeffries has
no more right 10 call himself the pres
ent worlds champion than he has to
proclaim himself the czar of Russia.
In response to q telegram sent by the
writer 10 many sporting authorities
and celebrities throughout the United
States many replies were received.
showing a wide diversity of opinion.
Probably the most astonishing one
came from the man who developed
Jeffrles from a raw boxer into a cham.
pion and who afterward handled him
for several years, Here 1t is:
BY Billy Delaney-By crawling out
of his match with SQuires. Jeffrles
paved the way for johnson to become
champion. JefTries is the champion
"four-nusher" of the world. Johnson
is champion pugilist Of the world. and
If he waits for Jeffries to fight him
he VIII take the tlue to the grave
with him
w w Naughton-Jeffrles conten-
ton that he is the bona flde champion
is simply ridiculous He is no more
champion of the world at the present
time than Theodore Roosevelt is pres
ident Of the United States.
Tom S. Andrews. Milwaukee. au-
tbority-Jeffries publicly announced
his retirement in 1905 at Reno. New,
when he said ne would turn over the
title to the winner OF the Root-Hart
bout | consider Johnson the right
full holder at present.
Tom Sharkey-There is only one
heavyweight champion and that is Jim
Jeffrlcs AS a matter Of fact neither
Burns nor Johnson ever fought any
of the real asplTants of championship
honors.
Spike Slattery. San Francisco, CAL
Jeffries retired five years ago because
of lack of opponents. Therefore he
has no right 10 claim the heavyweight
title now. unless he wins It back again.
Prof Harry Gilmore-JefGries by
his retirement, allowed Burns to de-
fend the heavyweight championship
title against Squlres and Moir. and
then to lose it to Johnson, In my
mind Johnson is the present cham
pion.
Ad Wolgast and Tom Jones-Jim
Jef1ries is undoubtedly the heavy
weight champion. There is no way for
a champion to lose his title without it
being lost in the ring with an oppon-
cnt.
Billy Papke-Jeffrles Is still the
champion Johnson's conquest Of
Burns don't make him champion.
Burns don't hold a clear victory over
OBrlen
Joe Woodman manager of Sam
Jeffries IS, in my opinion.
still the champion, notwithS standing
his retirement Titles cannot be given
away and must be fought for. Jefries
laid off simply because there were no
men good enough to meet him,
T. ]. McCarey-I certainly am of
the opinion that Jeffries is still the
heavyweight champion of the world.
He retired for the simple reason that
there was nobody left for him 10 fight