Evening journal., 1910-06-28
JEFF READY
FOR THE GONG
Gets GrOuChy as Fight Day
Draws Near and Handlers
are Pleased
COUNTING ON STOMACH
PUNCH TO WIN FIGHT
BY Max Balthazar.

BY Max Balthazar
JEFFRIES' TRAINING QUARTERS.
MOANA SPRINGS, RENO, New. June
2s-"Jim's in good shape He is be-
ginning to get a little bit cranky. II he
did not show little Crouch at this
stage OF the game I'd think something
was wrong with him"
This is the word that is passed more
I'm gladness than in sorrow. by the
members Of the Jeffries training stan
to-day and II there is one barometer
better than another as the fight day for
James j. Jeffries approaches. II is 70
see the hope Of the white race" show
peevishness. Although he is much more
tractable to-day than he has been IN
any Of his other important battles. so
near the clang Of the gong, that old
feeling which all Of his trainers for the
sake Of their own comfort have been
dreading. is beginning to assert itself.
II Is true his disposition is such as not
to make II comfortable for his camp
mates. but they are reading his work
and his actions more closely right now
than at any time since the giant con-
fided TO Farmer Burns four weeks ago
that his condition had returned. that
he had regained his old power and
speed and that his stomach. the seat of
most human woes is I'm perfect shape,
with this feeling OF optimism, In
spired by the near crouch. those doping
the result Of the battle are showing a
greater degree Of activity. Bob Arm
strong. the big negro, has figured the
length OF the battle down 70 six rounds
and thinks ferries will he good enough
II Johnson will stand up and fght. 70
have a nice chance to cop In the nrst
round ..,-..
not that he has lost confidence in his
IDOLS ability to whip johnson. but be-
cause he is always conservative. Jehries
he thinks will win within IS rounds and
II the fight goes longer than that he will
bet his clothes that the negro will be a
badly punished man and loser.
.ff n goes fifteen rounds" SAYS Burns
IL will simply resolve itself into a case
OF endurance and II there IS anything
that Jim has on Johnson it is endur-
ance."
Roger Cornell the great conditioner. ar
rues along the lines as Burke.
Jim Corbett. Choynsh and Jack Jefries
are not picking rounds but are content
I
tie with Jeffries outgaming and outlast-
ing the negro.
one feature OF the fight that is engross-
ing attention has 20 do with the alti-
tude. despite the fact that both have
shown that the air does not affect them.
II is admitted. however that one punch
in the stomach 500 feet above the sea
level will be far more hurtfm than at
sea level Thk hurt does not respond with
the same speed and a tap in the mid-rini
that q short clinch would overcome in
San Francisco or New York might prove
awfully dangerous In Reno.
So the question naturally arises; VIII
Jef or the black land the first wallop tc
tho stomach7
That this blow will have much 70 do
with the outcome Of the battle is the
general conclusion and I'm this connection
Il is pointed out that Jenries is trying
to perfect his long left to the stomach az
well as his iarring right al close quar-.
ters. For days he has been working
his eve on the stomach punch with Arm.
strong and Burns as his targets II has
not been Jeffries' idea to land but tc
guage his punch TO such a nicely that h
can step I'm and with either hand deliver
the blow with q minimized chance OF re-
ceiving a return. such as Johnsons dead
" right uppercut or a ripping straight
left
So far as the terrible grind through
which Jeffries has gone since early n
April. when he established camp IN
Rowardennsn, Is concerned. he Is owe
with it. He may box up 10 and including
Friday and take short sprints on III
road az top speed each evening for m,
purpose Of strengthening his heart. bu
beyond that he will do no more tesrinl
stuff with the bag and pulleys.