The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-26

sporting world Just now Is the
approaching forty-f1ve sound
battle between Jack johnson
and Jim Jeffries. As was TO be ex-
pected, Jeffries is the favorite in the
betting at odds Of 10 to 7. but this In
reality is more q question OF sentiment
than cool, unbiased Judgment. Men
who make a close study OF prizeAghts
and their form are not so prone to risk
their dollars on the white man who
has been out Of the game as long IS
JEFF. Then. too. they realize that in
Johnson he viii face q strong, husky,
clever and hard hitting man.
While the forthcoming fight is In
many respects the most important ring
battle that has ever been held In this
country. no fight Of Importance has
drawn forth so much unfaVorable
criticism. From one angle IL looks far
more like g battle for dollars than
fight FOR a title The spirit OF COM
merciaiism so pervades the whole
scheme that many Of the more sus-
picious have cried "Fakei" and go so
far as 70 say that 1t win be 8 picture
fight and perhaps a prizehght later.
This talk is nearly all rubbish. There
Is no such thing as fake" attached to
the big mill nor viii It be fight solely
for the pictures. The battle win be
fought on it's merits. and the best man
will win About the commercial side
OF the big mill--who can blame the
men for trying to get all they can out
OF the scrap? Perhaps never again
win such large purse be offered for
a pugilistic battle. Five years ago
We're one 10 suggest that any two pu-
gilists would be fighting for a purse
OF $101, 900 they would be informed
that an insanity expert was needed.
Not alone is the purse the highest ever
put up for a fight, but il is expected
that the gate receipts will be e record
breaker, and it is also figured that over
million dollars will be bet on the
mill
Best Men of Their Races.
The fight promises TO be one Of the
greatest, II not the greatest. in the his
tory Of the prize ring. Johnson and
Jeffries represent the best fighters OF
their races, and the result win depend
on the matter OF condition. If Jeffries
could enter the ring with the strength
and skill that characterized his fighting
before he retired he would lower John
sons colors beyond any doubt But
the wheels OF nature were not made to
turn backward. and the man who
breaks the laws OF nature must pay the
penalty.
Jeffries has been in training for
many months. and his handlers say he
is the Jeffries OF old, ready TO put up
the greatest battle Of IS career.
While the big fellow may appear TO
be in great physical condition, who
can tell whether he can put up the
greatest battle of his career7 The
contest alone will answer that No
doubt JEFF has trained faithfully and
worked very hard to attain his pres
ent good form. but when he battles
with Johnson that vitality which is
absolutely necessary for any kind Of
an athletic contest may be missing In
other words, in my opinion It has
been impossible for Jeffries to bring
himself to the shape he was in when
he gathered in his laurels
Does any one realize what coming
back" means? 1t is like trying to re-
gain past years. The prize ring has
yet TO see the first man come back"
When COrbett beat John l. at New Or
leans Sullivan was trying to come
back. Corbett led a merry life be-
tween this time and his meeting with
Fftz in Carson City. He also tried to
come back" and ring history tells
you that he lost his title. Is JEFF diff
ferent from other men? Hardly. II
makes no difference whether one leads
the swift. merry pace or takes life easy