The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-08-16

hundred pound sack of sand, swinging
from the rafters or taking to the noun
tains in quest OF big game. than of
following the set program of other
fighters.
Will Jeff engage some clever boxer
to teach him the latest wrinkles in the
game of the glove. or will he rely on
the degree of efficiency ne had attained
as a boxer when he went into retire
ment? This question is being asked.
and it isn't an easy one to answer.
Judging from some of his latest ut
to begin all over again in the matter
of learning how to smash and parry
and step around.
Ryan Taught Jeffries.
1t is a line of thought which takes
one back to Jeff's first bid for the
championship That was when he met
Bob F'itjsimmons at Coney Island ten
years ago. Jeffries naturally hadn't the
utmost confidence in his ideas of ring
manship at that time and he secured
Tommy Ryan, on of the cleverest lads
that ever pulled on glove, as mentor.
Ryan used to give Jaff daily boxing
lessons at the gymnasium in Asbury
Park and it was Ryan who mapped out
the boilermaker's plan of engagement.
He taught Jeffries the famous crouch
which stood him in such need. 1t was
an effective defense against F'itz' ter
rible left shift.
In almost every battle that beff
fought after that he was self-reliance
personified He had no further use for
men of the Tommy Ryan stamp. He
discarded the crouch and stood as
straight as the trunk of a poplar tree.
To use a vulgarism, he became stuck
on himself"
He not only felt that he possessed
all the boxing talent required to keep
him on his championship throne, but
he reached a stage where in a large
measure, he had little regard for the
punches of his antagonists. In his af-
fair with Rubin at Old Mechanics Pa
vilion he told afterward that he de-
liberately afforded Rubin the opening
for body smash in order that he
might show Madden. who was in Ruiz
Inns corner, how little such punches
affected him.
Jeff Stuck on Himself.
That was an instance of Jeff's re-
lance on his own powers of endurance
Here is one which tells of the way he
felt about his caliber as a boxer. Short
ly before his contest with Jim Corbett
at Mechanics Pavilion in this city--it
was the last time but one that jeff
ries defended his championship-he
said:
you fellows are always prating
about Corbetts cleverness. / want you
to watch closely and notice whether 1
outlook Corbett or not"
Jim didn't forget to ask about what
was said on the subject, and it was ad-
mitted that the man who looks like
bear outpointed as well as outpunched
friend Pompadour Jim, who few
years before was considered marvel
ne ,,oa+ o,Ioyemausbin
Now they are wondering whether jeff
is satisfied he can take up the game
where he left off, or whether he will
deem it wise to take another course Of
sprouts in order to tone his ideas OF
hitting and blocking.
Just at present Jeffries is mark for
sarcasm and if he could hear 1.-THE of
the things that are being said about
him his ears would tingle to some pur-
pose. The other day one OF the big
fellows critics remarked: 1T isn't
winner take all that Jeffries wants
written into the articles, it's Jeffries
take ALL
There are tightening changes of SEN
timent in the realm OF sport, however.
and IL NAV be that a few weeks from
now the soreheads Of today will be
Jeffries for something or
another and condemning Johnson.