Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-04-21
WILL FIGHT JOHNSON" SAYS JEFF
Announcement Greeted with Wild TumuIt by New York
Crowd-Detroit-Clevela Only Game in the Major
Leagues-Jewett City Baseball Prospects.

New York, April CT win fight
Mr.. Jack Johnson. l will defend my
title as undefeated heavyweight CHAM
pion of the world"
Before a great audience which pack
ed the American Music hall, and IN
which there were as many women as
men, James j. Jeffries tonight made
this formal announcement.
After his sparring exhibition with
Sam Berger the audience shouted for
Jeffries to come out and make the
statement he had promised. The big
fellow soon appeared his bath rohe or
dressing gown only revealing his shay
gy head and great red fists.
At Jeffries announcement the house
went wild, literally and he stood near
the footlights, smiling and bowling and
raising his hands for order. After
several minutes the audience became
reasonably quiet and Jeffries starred
off:
Ladies and Gentlemen"
"Cut that out, jeff; come to the
point!" cried a voice in the gallery.
Il thank you from the bottom OF
my heart"
Never mind that; are you going to
fight?' came another voice.
Il suppose you want to hear some
th!rg else" continued Jeffrles, only
smiling at the interruption.
You bet we do" yelled dozens of
well I am satisfied after about
seven weeks work"
"Quit your kidding" came another
interruption.
THAT / can get in Just as good
condition as l ever was, and l will
fight Mr.. Jack Johnson"
If Jeffries had had anything more to
say he could not have been heard. He
ran off the stage while the auditorium
became a bedlam of noise and joy.
There are several conditions attach
ed to Jeffries' re-entry in the prize
ring. First, Johnson must defeat
Ketchel. Then Jeffries cannot sign
articles for possibly ten months, and
he insists that the fight shall take
place in this country and that it shall
be unlimited as to rounds.
He made these conditions known
orally to the newspaper men when he
handed out the following written
statement:
Il will say that never felt better.
] have held off making the announce
ment until 1 became sure that l was
absolutely the same Jeffries as when
/ retired four years ago. l did so
then after defeating every possible
contender for the title. There was no
one left for me to meet.
1.-THE present heavyweight situation
IS the only LulIS LIdL COuIu nave
brought me from retirement. I have
all the money I will ever need and
there is no monetary consideration
that could tempt me into the ring if I
was not sure that / could easily de-
feat any challenger for the Champion
ship.
LAS for Mr.. johnson, the tactics
which he has employed, presumably to
attempt to force match, have been
such that felt that / would only
lower myself by replying until l felt
/ was prepared to say that l would
fight.
AT the expiration Of my contract
with William Morris, which positively
forbids my signing any contract. pug
ilistic or otherwise, I will be ready to
discuss terms for an unlimited round
contest.
"All I will ask after that is sufficient
time to thoroughly condition myself
and should Mr.. Johnson care to chal-
lenge me for the title I will do what I
think owe the public-that is. to de-
fend my title Of undefeated champion
Of the world"
Jeffries theatrical contract has five
months yet to run, with an option of
five months more.