Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
IS JEFFR1ES THE CHAMPION?
Johnson Can Lay Claim to Title if
Big Jim Refuses to Fight.
NEW DISPUTE AS TO THE TITLE
BoiIcrmnker Says He Never Gave His
Laurels Away-Were Hart,
burns aud johnson
C~hampions

Til recent statement by James J. JEFF
fries that he never gave away the title OF
heavyweight champion, but took it into
retirement with him has caused no end OF
discussion among followers OF pugilism
Those who wcrc present at the Hart-Root
fight. when ~.Jeffries is said to have handed
over the title to Hart. still insist that
Jeffries stated positively after the fight
that he was still the heavyweight cham
pion Of the world. II this is a fact, there
fore, Jeftries is the holder of the title, and
Hart. Tommy Burns and Jack Johnson
have been masuuerading under the mis-
taken impression Of the sporting frater-
nifty. If Jeffries did not give his title to
Hart, then Burns when he defeated tho
latter. could not have won it. II appears
that Burns. not holding the American
championship. defeated NOR for the Eng
llsh title and squires for the Australian
title. but did not fight Johnson the negro
for the championship of the world. Though
Johnson beat Burns to a pulp, he cannot
rightfully lay claim to such a title espe-
| cially as Jeffries. urbeaten. says he never
leiirquished It. Johnson, perhaps, can call
himself the champion Of England and Aus
ITALIA. but he cannot be recognized As the
champion Of the world until It is definitely
known that Jeffries will refuse to make a
match with him and will remain perma-
nently In retirement.
E~xpoundinE the TangIe.
It is not intended to detract from the
real worth of Johnson as a pusilist. but
to set forth the tanyle in the heavyweight
class as 1t exists at present. Jeffries is
supposed to he in retirement, end while
ne remains there Johnson Is recognized
as far and away the best heavyweight
pugilist in the ring. BY many experts
it is believed that Johnson can defeat JEFF.
fries II the latter ever consents TO fight
the big negro. while others are positive in
their arguments that the b~oilermaker, re-
ducing forty pounds to he Fit in the space
of six months, can easily regain his won
derful form and trim the conquerer Of
I Burns in easy fashion.
Jeffries. II is declared by numerous stu
dents OF ring matters, is one Of the few
champions who have a clear title to the
worlds championship. He won his title
when he defeated Robert Fitzsimmons, for
he had previously knocked out old Peter
Jackson. the champion Of Australia, while
Fitz had beaten Corhett, who won the
American title from John l.. Sullivan and
tho English title from Charley Mitchell.
S%uIIIvan'S Limit.
John L. Sullivan. by the way, was never
champion OF the world. i'm spite of the fact
that he was frequently hailed as such.
He refused to light Peter Jackson for the
title and was unable to beat Mitchell. then
/ champion of England, in the memorable
championship battle at Chantllly, France
When Sullivan fought Jim Corbett he was
simply champion Of America, having won
the title from Paddy Ryan, and defending
Il successfully against lake Kilrain. Cor.
bett had fought a draw with Jackson,
which did not entitle him to 2 just claim
for the Australian championship but after
beating Sullivan Gentleman Jim put Mitcn.
ell away and got the English title. Fitz.
simmons was the recognized m~iddleweight
champion of the world when ne knocked
CoGbett out, and as he had beaten jim
Hail. who mad previously trimmed Robert
in Australia In a queer bout, he was
Immediately hailed as the champion heavy
weight e the world. the title Jeff took
away from the Cornishman at Coney Is
land IN 1899.
When Jeffries was supposed 10 have given
his title TO Hart. the latter soon made a
match with Tommy Burns. who won on a
decision in twenty rounds. Burns was
under the impression that Hart was the
title holder, so he lost no time in proclaim.
ing himself the champion OF the world.
jeff Lets IL slide.
Jeffries made no protest al this time
except to say that Burns was not In hi
class and therefore could not have a match
also that johnson was barred because o
his color. After Burns had double-crosset
Philadelphia Jack oBrien and got a de
cision over him in twenty rounds the sport