The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-18
Many Fighters Camping on the
 Trail of Johnson
JEFFRlES MAY SCRAP
Ralph Rose Prominent Candidate For Championship Honors-Murphy and Moran Will Meet In
 New York Jan. 9.
By JEEF THOMPSON.

New York, January 17.-Arthur Johnson is likely to have plenty of work for a time even if Jeffries does not fight him. It is understood that Johnson will come home from the Antipodes by way Of Eng land and France. He will find, according to present appearances. they are crying for fight. sam Langford, Joe Jeannette and Sam MeVey, all husky gentlemen of color. who, now that the heavy weight color line has been regulated by MT. John son to the limbo of things that were, are all eager for the chance to snatch the laurels from the dusky brow of the man from Texas and incidentally to bask in the glory and enjoy the emoluments which go with the title.
 Before sailing away Joe Jeannette de- clared that he had never framed a fight in his life. T have been accused of fix ing it with both Johnson and Langford, but l never did and never will said Joe. But I'll tell you one thing, and that is this: can beat Jack Johnson. There may be men who can beat me, but know l can beat Johnson. l can take all he can give but I know I can make him stop finally"
 Joe also had something to say about Langford. ''I can beat Sam too." he said. sam always has it on me at the beginning. He usually floors me, but I get up. That discourages him, and l play for his wind and wear him down."
 Maybe Johnson will give either Sam or Joe a chance at the bacon, but I doubt it. It would be funny to see him draw the color line.
 In the meantime what of Jeffries? De- spite the repeated denials of the big fel- low that he can be lured back to the ring, the offered purses are steadily ris- ing. One Nevada town, aptly named Ma zuma. has, it is said, offered S100,00O for a Jeffries- s-Johnson go, and that is tempt ing pile of money even for Big Jim. He may come out of his hole after all, and if he does there will be things doing.
 Frankie" Madden is a good, sturdy lightweight, but he is far from cham pionship calibre. This he showed when Tommy Murphy, the former Harlem idol outpointed the 'Bowery Boy" in a ten-round contest at the National Ath- letic club Not only did Murphy outpoint his adversary, but he also outpointed him
 
 to learn. He is the same boring style of boxer as is Battling Nelson, the light weight champion, who. by the way, watched the contest from the ringside
 Before the battle Nelson declared he was of the opinion that Madden would be his next opponent for the lightweight championship. He no doubt thought diff ferently at the conclusion of the contest.
 After returning to his dressing room the other night after being hammered to a pulp by Jack Blackburn, Mickey Mo Donough heaved a sigh of relief and mused Well, there is some consolation in the fact that Kid Napoleon didn't win all his battles"
 Ralph Rose, the shot-putter and weight thrower, is said to have designs on John son. One story is to the effect that the giant athlete is training hard with chal- lenge for the heavyweight championship in view.
 If Rose can fight, he ought to be dan gerous opponent for any man. He has weight, strength and reach enough It is to be demonstrated if he has fighting craft and heart, without which the others are useless
 Tommy Murphy and Owen Moran are to be matched for a ten-round bout at the National club on January 22.