Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-04
is BIC FIGHT
ON The LEVEL?
This Question Is Now Being
Asked Back and Forth by
Many Fans.
POINT JoHNsON's RECORD
Negro Has Faxed in Several Battles
and Some Believe He VIII Do
Same This Time.
By TOMMY CLARK.

Owing to the immense amount OF
money involved in the coming big fight
the selection of Tex Richard, the pro.
moter, as referee and the latter's close
connection with Berger. Jeff's man
ager, coupled with johnson and JEFF
fries recent desultory training meth
DDS, have caused some pretty spicy
gossip regarding the bout. In fact,
many questions are being asked as TO
whether the battle is on the level.
In an answer to what he thought
about the coming fight well informed
New York sporting critic has the fol-
lowing to say: Johnson Is faker-a
notorious faker. A fighter who once
fakes might fake any time. Johnson
has faxed every time there has been
anything to be gained by being crook
ed. He began his career by agreeing
to let Joe Kennedy, a third rater,
stay to a finish with him and then
to stand for Kennedy getting the deci-
sion Johnson double crossed his
friends, bet on himself and knocked
Kennedy out.
Johnson's fight with Marvin Hart
was even more barefaced. The battle
was JOhG- dLOuuu
for twenty rounds without landing a
real blow. He got the decision, al
though he was no more entitled to beat
Johnson than Leach Cross would have
to beat Sam Langford. Johnson faxed
with Sailor Burke at Bridgeport, Conn.
Burke, who doesn't know how to get
up after being hit, stayed six rounds
with the negro.
The wise" fight followers have never
been able to understand why Tommy
Burns allowed johnson to beat him.
Burns was faker. He has confessed
it, and 1t would have taken only a few
thousand dollars to make Johnson quit
in their fight The only explanation is
that Burns was so conceited that he
believed he could put the negro away
in n fair fight. and then he was beaten.
Jeffries has never been proved a
faker, but for the last year he has been
chasing dollars in every part Of the
globe. He has also been leading a
merry life. OF course his habits may
have been stopped since he went into
"strict" training. but a man with the
tastes of Jeffries isn't likely to give up
that pleases his palate.
If Jeffries is really training he is
having a good time of it. In the good
old days, when a fighter had TO take
the chance of being ridden on a rail.
the public had q chance TO look over
the men and form an opinion. Nova
days it's all a secret. Johnson's train
ing has been in his automobile and at
wine parties. so his condition can't be
much better than Jeffries'
Berger Is a FaIxer.
Berger is Il faker He and Jack
O'Brien had a fasco in the Quaker City,
and when O'Brien's conscience pricked
him he told about It. Berger is a close
friend of Tex Richard. the promoter
and referee of the big fight
Jeffries is thirty-f1ve years old. He
has been out of the ring for a great |
many years. His fight with Monroe /
was a joke, and he began to dissipate
ong before he moved the miner down. |
If he wins this battle honestly he will |
be regarded as the most wonderful |
lighter that ever lived. If he loses !
1t will not be said that he did |
1is best. If JEFF fakes every one will |
Benedict Arnold. Every friend will |
ienounce him. He will get 100000. !
)ut he must realize the consequences.
f Jeffries is trying to get into condi-
ion it is time for him to settle down
o hard work.
Here are some choice pearls attrib-
tied to John Robinson, manager of
Bat Nelson: ITO defend the honor of
he white racel The diabolical irony
# the phrase is being illustrated in
he frantic efforts of Jim Jeffries and
lis corps of handlers to fool the pub
ic into the belief that the former world
hampton is back in the ring solely to
father the laurels from the bullet
haped head of Jack Johnson. Joke!
Biggest joke of the much abused prize
ing! If JEFF and Johnson fight on the
evel Johnson will whip the boiler
maker as sure as fate. JEFF can never
ONE back.
"Jeffries. the most conceited, egotis-