The San Francisco call., 1909-03-19

IS AFTER
JEFFRIES AND
JOHNSON
In fhe Meantime, Willis Britt
CufS In With Challenge
From KetcheI
By William >. SIattery

By William :. SIaftery
After waiting for all the brush pro
meters TO come TO the bat with their
varied propositions for a match be-
tween Johnson and JefTies Jim Con-
roth finally got into the game yester-
day. The Mission street promoter shot
an offer 10 the big black champion,
guaranteeing aim substantial per-
cenrage 10 night Jenries on the best
possible date. COnroth is now await
ing = reply TO this before he starts
"a 10 work his wires on Jen
and while the promoter was IN the
q LoL one from Willis Britt. who de-
Cl8re1 mat ketchel was ready 10 go
right after Johnson. Britt wanted
C0nroth TO make big cash offer for
The attraction, but Coffroth, realizing
that the boy burglar was endeavortng
to pun OF a publicity stunt. wired that
The best he would guarantee would be
big cake OF ltmburger cheese
Corrorh does not believe that the
police Woul6 stand for ketchel and
Johnson All the humane societies IN
rle country undoubtedly would take
hand IN the miNup. COffroth himself
looks upon such match as a slaugh-
ter He does not take IL seriOsly, but
st the same tine he can not but COM
mend the actions OF Britt, who is right
or the Job. boosting himself and
ketChel when things are breaking
badly for them In Broadway.
The JOhnson-J efrIes proposition is
The one which the Mission street mag
nate IS banking on. He is living In
the hope that Jen viii fall for the
taurts and the Jeers OF the ethiopian
within the next few wee ks. and that as
sle representative Of the only big fight
ing club IN the country he VIII oe
right ia line TO make the maJcn. On
this hope prospects are bright for Con-
roth, but he must wait for Jen's an
sWer.
night on for the fourth of July. but ne
realizes that there is scarcely a chance
70 land this early The eth OF Septem-
ber is the most likely date, provided
that any date is made Even II be does
fail Gown, Conroth IS in the game now
and lie should make the others show
some speed Those who were Offering
S250.0o0 purses some weeks ago viii
have 10 boost the price 10 half a mil
lion now
Il win not make any cash guaran-
tee Tor Johnson and Jeffries," said Cof-
froth last night. What's the use2
why. x would make me out selling
platter. Seattle offers $3.50. 900. some
fy- by night Nevada town is there with
$780, 600, and SO II goes UP and down
the line. III Go nay talking In per
ceutages for 6 while and let Il got al
shat
But stiu I have the edge on q lot
- them. Tor the reason that I am in
control Of g legitimate club and I can
show them something. Nobody can
convince The level headed fans that
these other tremendous offers are on
when it comes 10 q question of making
good it's an entirely different story.
evidently the Chicago fans have
Lailen Tor the Johnson -Ketchel stun,
tor wire from the Windy City late
last night stated that Britt and John
son had posted forfeits of 81 600 each
and agreed 10 other minor terms. How
ever. neither the date nor the battle
stated that Conroth had made him a
great guarantee.
There s. q bare possibility that the
pair VIII come out here and meet AT
the Mission street arena. but Il is only f.
chance. ComrOth positively will not 1
come IN with any substantial Euaran- /
tee IL Johnson is willing TO take on
AetcLel on percentage he can step
right forward and get the match, but
Ae surely viii have an awful time be-
fore he is through talking business
with Britt alias Troublesome Pete.
The low down Of the whole story is
raaL Brirt is endeaTOring 70 get as
much notoriety as he can right now.
The news was flashed over the wires
that he had finally succeeded IN match
Ing his Michigan lion with Jack
o' 'Brlen in Philadelphia for the night
~ March z6- As this date is very close
at hand Willis VIII be compelled to
wade right into the going and keep
as man before the public every pos
s-ble minute OF the time
Il Chicago interview Johnson
stated that he intended TO keep very
busy for the next few months. He
Dr-ltAes llaL tleTe lS plenty or easy
money lying around and he Is going
20 pick 40 every cent Of II, according
- his own admissions. He believes
rhat ketchel would be q soft one for
him and in the event that there is q
good sized chunk Of coin there KetcheI
VIII be accommodated. but Johnson
must have the lion s share Of the purse
II dont think that Jeffries VIII fight
for seven or eight months yet" said
johnson, and ia the meantime, 7 may
as vel keep busy I really believe
that I can beat them all and as for
ketchel. why DE would be the easiest of
fle bunch, provided that ever got him
irto the ring. JEFF viii finally come
around and decide TO fight ne. but why
should I waste my time when there
are so many others on my trail?"
Tonight before the West Oakland
club Al Neil VIII have another chance /
10 show how good he is, as he meets
g tough middle weight in Montana Jack
sullivan IN the WindUp OF e finely bal
anced card. The men are reported to be |
Ut and ready for battle and q big crowd 1
vii take i'm the scrap. Both are anx-
Joss 70 grab the long end OF the purse /.
because victory viii mean an oppor- /
tunity 10 show before the fans OF San 4
Francisco against the lfkeliest middle 4
well ghts In this locality. Neill Is a 4
slight farorite IN the betting