Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-08-05
JEFFRlES TELLS OF HIS
FIGHT With JOHNSON

Milwaukee, July 24.-"You can say
for me when you return East that never
again will | enter the ring to battle for
the worlds title or any other title"
The remark of Jeff was an answer to
many reports that the big fellow was
not satisfied with the result of his bat
tie with Johnson and would demand an
other chance at the title.
Here is another bit Of information that
has not been given to the public as vet.
On July 18th. when leaving Los Ange-
les, Jeffries was still bothered with q
numbness on the right side of his facei
in fact. the entire side, from his eye to
the chin was paralyzed. He had no
feeling in it whatever, and to prove
what he said he invited the writer To
pinch the face and run needle or such
into it, His gums were also affected
the same way. His left eye, which
was hurt in the second round of the
bout at Reno, was considerably better,
bat even at this late day it bothered
Jeff whenever he turned suddenly, and
the vision was not perfect. From the
above it is very evident that when
Johnson hit Jeff over the left eve ip
the second round he injured the optic
nerve severely, and the continued rain
of blows TO his cheek and jaw after
ward caused a sort OF paralysis of the
left side of the face.
There have been all kinds of rumors
since the battle at Reno as to the cause
of Jeffries's poor showing. ETC., but
the following statement by jeff him
self. after he had recovered from the
shock, will no doubt be interesting. Re-
garding the mill jeff said TO me:
Cup to this time have hardly known
my own mind. / was in a dazed sort of
a way, kind of stupor. and could not
come out of it. 1t is all past and gone,
and that is what makes me feel so bad.
There is no use trying to offer excuses,
for people do not care to hear them, but
they might as well know the truth.
am sorry. very sorry, about the friends
who bet on me and lost. but had
known the real condition / was in /
never would have permitted them to go
ahead. did not realize it until too late
to help them.
Had the fight taken place two weeks
earlier | do not think johnson would
have the crown today. At Rowan
dennaR ] was on edge and fit as man
could be. and only waited the tap of the
gong. | had then started to ease off in
my work and did not look for any set
back up to July 4th. However, when
the report came that Governor Gilleti
had ordered it stopped, it naturally up.
set me, and in fact all the boys. Their
when it was finally shifted to Reno my
plans were all knocked put, After 10.
eating at Monana Springs did nat fee
1 the same. The altitude and water af
fected me, no doubt, and am positive
now that the altitude had much to d.
with making me logy and out of sorts
TO add to this, ! had q severe attack o.
ldysentery few days before the fight
and that was the real reason ! coult
not box more. IT weakened me, bpt
stopped it the day before the fight AM
thought WAS all right again. In thi
] was fooled, for was not right, al
Though did not fully realize it until il
the ring. Slill worse was the fact tina
was nervous and fretted, which tn
doctors tell me was nothing more no
less than a nervous breakdown.
"When | entered the arena my leg
appeared heavy and there seemed n
strength in my arms. 1t was then tha
first realized my condition. but / ha,
determined to win at any cost, and fel
confident | could. In the first round
| felt out. the same as johnson did. bu
4 could not work right. said to my
self that ! would be all right in a few
rounds and would then sail in and mi,
matters. When ! resolved the blow o.