The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-01-04
POOR CONDITION
MAY DEFEAT JEFF
Fans Arc On the Anxious Seat--Await
Favorable Report On Biz callfornian's
Training Before Betting on Him.
Battle viii Surely Make His
tory, with Him ii shape.

tory, With HIM ~ shape.
PugiIistic fans throughout the coun-
try viii be more than pleased when
Jim Je6ries settles down 70 the hard
training work be has promised 10 do
in preparation for his dght with Jack
Johnson for the worlds heavyweight
title July next
In the minds Of great many Of
those who follow the game Of hsti.
CUTS closely the big Californian will
have more than d hard task to 1T him
self for a strenuous battle despite the
fact that be declares he will be able
to do so. There are many reasons why
the fans are on the anxious seat at
the present time aud are fearful OF
the result Of the conflict on Independ-
ence day. The most important Of
these are the reports which have been
coming day after day from the cities
where jeff was performing his theat.
rical contracts. These reports have had
him suffering from various ailments,
principally colds and lumbago. and no
effort seems to have been made to
cover up the fact that Jeff IS in bad
physical condition.
Jeffries as we'll as anybody else
knows the strenuous training program
ahead Of him, and he also knows that
be must be IN good condition II be Is
TO knock that black man, Jack john
son, or the throne he now occupies.
That Is Jeff's ambition. and It Is the
ambition Of the majority OF fight fans
to see him turn the trick.
But there Is no galnsaying the fact
that the reports Of Jeft's poor condi-
ton for the last couple OF weeks have
served to arouse more doubt than be-
fore existed IN the public's mind as
70 bis ability to lick the negro. II is
true that the Californian has been
training while on the road II an effort
to get into better condition. but 1t IS
doubtful II the benefit he has gained
through such activity has Offset the
ailments which he has incurred BY
Jumping from city to city for bis the
atrical contracts.
As q financial proposition this the
atrical work - certainly reaping q
harvest Of golden shekeis for the man
who Is TO face the negro. but those
who want to see Jetf defeat Johnson
are not looking at the thing from a
financial viewpoint. They want to see
him in a condition that will merit their
confidence; then they win be satisfied
to bet their money on him.
with this confidence lacking it would
not be hard thing for even those who
admire Jeffrlea to switch their ale.
glance to the negro. and there are a
great many who doubtless would not
allow their admiration to stand ID the
way Of their better Judgment when
II comes to the real fight JeffTs sue.
cess as drawing card as an actor Is
not questioned. but Ii be il not FL the
''condifion Of his life next July ii
will not be bard Tor those to remem-
Der what Is written ID the past
As factor In making the fight itself
the success Il should be. financial and
otherwise. after the colossal purse that
has been offered By Tex Riekard and
John Gleason. the condition Of the ''bie
card win cut a great figure. With
JEFF really ct Il win be a fght that
VIII carry thousands Of people to the
ringside. II he Il not IN the condition
be should be IN these same people
might change their minds about at
tending Il. And there is where the
promoters would receive a jolt
II has been said before than condI-
tion more than anything else viii de-
eide whether there il to be a new
white worlds champion or whether
black is to remain the ruling power.
This means Jen's condition. Tor II can
be depended on that Jack johnson will
be ready and Ht when the first gong
starts what Is expected to be the great |
est battle Ia modern ring history
When It IS said that this contest viii
find such q prominent place fl the rec
ord Of fistie encounters the fact is not
overlooked that 1t might not do 50
ii James ]. ferries Is not Ii 1T con-
dltion 70 place It there.