The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-08-17
Big BLACK MAN
HAS CONFIDENCE
Johnson Doesn't Believe JEFF
rieS viii Ever Meet Him
in Ring.
CAN'T REACH CONDITION
HAS NO ANXIETY REGARDING
KETCHEL FIGHT.


= WHAT HE SAYS. =
:. You can simply say for me that =
= 1 am ready and only too willing =
- TO meet Jetfries, any time and any -
= where after my KetChel night. I y
- think by my actions 1 have made -
= that clear TO the public. You may =
= add, also, that I will win. I am -
= afraid, though, that Jeffries will =
= never step into the ring with me. =
= know that he is not in condition, =
y and am afraid he never can get =
= back IN shape to even attempt to =
= regain the title. I am sorry" =
:" JACK JOHNSON" =
:: = = = - - = y :. :, - = : = = = :.
Like the crest of a great brown wave
sucking after ii innumeTabie pebbles,
something struck the office of the Her
ald-Republican last night. 1t was Ara
thur Jack Johnson, champion heavy
weight pugilist of the world who now
spends half of has time talking to the
newspapers and the other half in read
! ing them. You have got TO hand it to
him, however, for about half the world
is reading what he says.
Despite the statements Of Sam Berger,
Johnson did not appear or act like a
bear" In fact he grinned good natured-
~, shook hands all around and sat down
to talk, first about his motor car and
then about himself. His audience
reached from the sporting editors office
10 the street door.
"Well. what are your plans?" was
asked.
In brief, they We're: Box Wednesday
night at the salt Palace; go to san
; Francisco Thursday 10 start training at
Oakland for Ketchel.
Philadelphia Jack O'Brien will be
+ passed up. Too easy" said Jack, land
besides. the go might interrupt my
training for Ketchel."
Not Afraid of Ketchel.
''Wiu Ketchel give you any troubIe?"
well, for about six or seven rounds
he may bother a little. I viii. of course,
follow my rule of fighting slow and TAX
ing my time. Many a good one has lost
out by OvercOnhdenCe and trying to put
his man out too soon. Then, again. there
is no man living who can force the fight
ing against me and win. ketchel will be
lighter than Burns. in no better shape,
cannot be gamer, nor more clever; in
short, he Will go the same way Burns
did"
''Weu, now, how is the only fight
stacking up"
Il viii be ready to meet Mr.. Jeffries
within a month, or perhaps. two weeks
after the Ketchel fight, and the sooner
the better OF course, you may doubt /
that statement, but I think that my ac-
tons show il. 1 have waited eight /
months for Jeffries; have signed reason
able articles; have posted a $4,000 side |
bet; have agreed TO divide the purse 60 /
and 40 or 60 and 80 or the winner take /
all, and fight any number OF rounds.
also to fight anywhere in the world be- /
fore any competent referee. I don't /
know what more can be asked from
me?"
Doubts Jeffries.
For a long time, I thought Jeffries
would fight, but two days before he
sailed for Europe, I changed my mind"
was Johnson's rather astonishing state
menL 1t was when I telegraphed him
TO wait in New York for me so that we
could talk things over. I got a reply
saying he would wire his terms as soon
as he landed, but have not got them
yet.
You ask what I think my chances are
with jeftries. I can see no other nos
slble outcome than that I would win.
me last time 1 saw Jeffries. he looked
-at and was evidently in poor condition
even after months of work Every
round the fight goes 1 will be better off
ana 1 VIII be winner from the first
am not figuring on the Jeffries Of Old /
because that is not necessary. but. even
at his best, ! would be confident of
winning. Now. there is no question. I
think he viii do better in this country
fixing things up with me than abroad
AS to the place for the fight nv
choice is San Francisco. I would rather
light there than anywhere, although
everywhere ! have appeared, 1 have
been treated we'll
It was apparent during Jo1Deoy,,s ,-isf+