The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-12-17
SPORTS
THERE WILL Be
NO FAKE FIGHT
Jeffries Could Not Fake II He
Tried With O. Clever
Boxer.
fBy Ed w. Snith.)

Chicago. Dec 17.-After one sizes
up the entire situation, II was the
talk OF this combination and that
combination that started oil this talk
about frame-up for the pictures in
the JefrrIes-Johnson battle. The pub
lie Is set against combinations of
any sort, that Is plain, and sporting
proposition is just now one of the
most unpopular things a man could
suggest
This is plain Just now when syndi-
cate baseball is talked of. First of
all, the public was advised that jim
my Coffroth and Jack Gleason had
formed combination to better their
own individual chances in bidding for
the big battle.
Then there was a combination In
Tex Rickard and Gleason which event
ually proved the winner, and from
that the talk of combinations drifted
into other courses until one was led
to believe that the entire party was
framing UP to do somebody else out
Of something or to put something over
that was not exactly right
Gleason's explanation that the sec
ret meeting was entirely harmless and
that not one barred subject was even
suggested or hinted Is probably cor
rect, but the damage has been done
and there ever will be suspicion that
the event was consummated toward
an understanding that one was at least
thought of
1t doesn't look reasonable at all that
any sort of an understanding could
exist between the men. The picture
money Is not inducement enough, be-
lieve, for either of them to take any
sort of chance. There may be mil
lions In the pictures, and then again
they may fall awfully fiat But that
purse is going to be paid all right, and
that Is the main chance that the fight
ers have.
The statement that Johnson asked
for an even split Of the money, OF
nearly that, need have no place among
the suspicious things that have been
uncovered in the proceedings, The
manner Of splitting the purse ncces-
sarily would not have anything to do
with the honesty of the battle. In
deed, | have known cases in which
the winner took all the money that
brought out mighty bad fights for the
defeat staring him in the face after a
few rounds, would go to pieces quickly
and not put up the battle OF which
he was capable. Both men would put
up a better battle If there is some
thing good in the way of money TO
look forward to.
But the talk of combinations has
hurt the big scrap more than any
thing else could. The public has lit
tie or no confidence In such affairs,
especially since many Of the princi'
pals TO the present combinations are
Californians There arc several com
binations that were formed proved to
be nothing short Of scandalous. Then
too. it is laughable to think of Jim
Jeffries entering into a combination
with clever fellow like Jack John
son to frame bout OF Twelve
rounds. JEFF cannot box much and
doubtless would admit 1t II pressed
for a reply. If he undertook TO pull
or not do his best al the start of the
bout there wouldn't be man in the
iDclosure that wouldn't be onto the
scheme before the first round WAS
over.
"No, We might figure that two mon
like Corbett and Johnson could frame
up neat sparring match of twelve
rounds before going TO II for keeps,
But JEFF and Johnson? Not on your
life! IT, would be the rankest sort
of transparent comedy