Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-04-20
JEFFRIES CLAIMS
TITLE OF CHAMPION
In Ten Months or a Year viii be
Ready to Defend it Against
All Corners.
HE CAN GET INTO CONDITION.
n He g. m Earnest. Jack johnson
says He VIII Cancel All Engage
mcnte TO Meet the Californian.

Now york.. April -o--jemes j. Jcf-
fries viii announce tonight that he
has rocIaimed the title OF heavyweight
champion puaiiist of the world end
win be- ready 20 defend Sc against an
corners go ten months coz year. JEFF
fries. i'm q statement. says he is con-
WINGED that he will be able TO get i'm
10 fighting condition. For some weeks
the former champion has been touring
the county giving sparrlns exhibitions
and at the same time onoeayoriug to
ascertain 81 his four years retirement
from the ring had impaired his eight
ms ability.
JEFFRIEs STATEMENT.
Jenries. IN a statement today. says.
immediately after my exhibition
with Sam Berger. my sparing partner.
tonight. j win go before the footllghts
and announce 90 tho audience that
have decided TO re-onter the ring
again ana defend my title of heavy
weight champion or the world against
any man IN the world u Jack john
son is fortunate enough so beat
stanley Ketchel next October ] VIII
Fight him before the club that offers
the largest purse.
- have come TO the conclusion that
j can get hnck in my previous good
form which is responsible fol my MAX
ing this announcement 1 VIII be
ready 10 fight again In 10 months or
possibly year, but 1 viii light Just
the same"
Jenrles has been out OF the ring for
four years and during that time has
III.
captured the title OF champion from
Tommy Burns. tho return o. Jeffrics
20 the squared circle" had not been
thought of either 10y the retired
champion or the pupil.stlc fraternity.
The demand OF the public that JEFF
fries eight again following the BurnS-
Johnson battle became SO insisteut
that Jefirlee who had declared he was
through with the boxing game. told
his friends that If he could get into
his former condition he would meet
Johnson
Jcnries for several weeks has re-
NAMED nOn-conmttal SO that some
OF his admirers despaircd OF ever see
Ing the big fellow put on the gloves
once more.
Jenries wants the fight 10 take place
| On this country ana has under consul
eratiou IN offer from a fight promoter
for "a championship contest some time
during she Seattle exposition.
Hugh Mcintosh OF Australia left for
England lest week and doubtless Will
renew his offer for a fight at Melbourne.
A championship fight in the states
along the Atlantic scaboard IS not pos
sible under existing laws and fistic fol-
| lowers in the east viii have TO journey
westward.
Jack johnson Is now touring the
country giving sparring exhibitions He
weighed here the other dsv and tipped
| the scales at o10 pounds. lie is match
\ ed 70 night Stanley Ketchel 81 Colma,
Cal. on oct -. Jefries weighs about
/ 25D 60 geo pounds.
WHAT JOHNSON SAYS.
Pittsburg April 2o.--Jack Johnson
] heavyweight champion OF the world
1 said TODAY hat IL Jcffrics was IN earn
| est and would rost a forfeit he would
/ cancel all lighting engagements and
| welcome the chance Co meet the for
! mer champion IN the ring.
/ 81 viii Doe the proudest man in Pitts
! burg" said johnson 10 the Associated
/ Press today. III Jehries viii show that
! be means business by covering the So
| 0Ul which / have posted with a New
! York paper My money is ready ana
Z the moment be- makes his announce
| meut ] win cancel an hghtiug engugo-
| meuts and get ready for him. Ny match
| with Ketchel and an other matches J
| have were arranged with the under
! standing that I could cancel them II !
! had a chance 20 meet Jeffrles
But Jehrics cannot reclaim his
/ championship He can only Tight FOR
IT, I am glad he has made up his mind
/ 20 meet me and II he means business De
! should post 5000 OF cover the $1,000 ]