The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-10-18
JEFFRIES IS ANXIOUS TO MEET JOHNSON
JEFFR|tS WILL Be
A BIG fAv0R|Tt
Dope on the Fighters Fayors
Johnson in Proposed
Contest.

Now that the biz nght ls over the
usual rehash is heard from all sides. csps-
cially big Jim JcNrios butts into tho argu-
ment aud SAYS that Ketche had no
chance with the big black man. not even
being the undsputed middlewelght In the
ring today. Jem forgcts that he said
before the hght that Ketchel had good
chance 10 win. but The Tribune differed
In his opinion To the extent Of quoting
Johnson a. good ms loo To I shot. with
Johnson on the long end
Johnson has been very much under
rated fighter and his color has lent aid
TO the general public opinion Before his
night with Tommy Burns u WAS the
general opinion that Tommy would make
johnson quit. but the best he could do
was tp make the colorcd man smile The
night was not even n good warm-up for
Johnson. His fight with kctchcl showed
TINT the champion has sleep producer
that must be respected and the contest
also shows that he could have got Hatchcl
I'm almost any round he wanted. He al
lowed kctchcl To stay twelve rounds. one
reason being 10 SECURE some OF that even
money that ketchcl would go fifteen
rounds. Aftcr the light had gone seven
or eight rounds. great many sports
eagerly covered all bets that Ketchel
would stay. There were only few
who were willing 10 bet that Ketchcl
could not stay fifteen rounds but this
few seemed 10 have an unlimited amount
OF money. In the twelfth round Johnson
got got mad and be stopped the contest with
three lightning punches. Tho first blow
tipped ketChcl. and before he fell To the
Hoor he received two more iolts which
would have killed an ordinary man.
In signing w Johnson against JCffrics
public opinion is with Jeffrics. and II he
signs 10 1ght the odds WIFI be about
10 10 3. with Jcn on the long end. but
this fact does not make him the winner
Il 10 Ia oil.
champion and has the advantage OF being
at his best. Jefircs. on the other hand
has had lay-off for five years. lie has
grown fat. and while he announces his
weight at 2l2 pounds. that Is all right for
his press agent To announce to the pub
lice To Keep UP the interest. Jcffrlcs has
been troubled with rheumatism in his
knees. and n is also reported bv those
who are close To the champion. that his
feet arc I'm poor shape and that hc could
not stand up under a gruelling contest
In order 10 beat tho negro Icftrcs must
enter the ring In the best OF condition
which means that he must he ms good as
he ever was Half a man cannot beat
Johnson. and the latter readily recognizes
former shape. and therefore has great
confidence OF being able 10 defeat the
former champion. Johnson is conf
dent Of winning that he Is willing 10
allow Icffrics To say how the money
shall he divided. hut there must he "A
winners and losers end.
Johnson tights great deal like Jcf-
fries. in that neither man likes to lead
This itself VIII tend to drag out the
fight II JcfTrics wins he will have 10 do
I'm less than ten rounds after that
nc will he an easy mark for the colorcd
champion and IL would only bc n qucS-
ton OF how much punishment lie could
stand before the final collapse came.
While everybody would like to see JEFF
fries win and while he has the people
back OF him. the fact must not he lost
n neEn
game five years, that he has led lifG
OF ease. and that 1t is impossible Tor him
to get himself into the proper shape 10
go through hard fight I'm johnson,
jcfrrlos VIII for the first time meet a
man his own size and one who viii bc
In thr finest condition.