Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-25
COMPARISON OF HEAVY
WEIGHTS.
tiles when he was in his prime If

cOulu come DdCh lAlO lH1S COu-
dition he would beat johnson. At his
best be was in class by himself.
When he left the ring after whip
ping Jack Munroe In August. 1904, he
was in superb condition. Jeff became
part owner of a saloon In Los Angeles.
visited the race track daily during the
winter. smoked countless cigarettes
and drank liquor whenever he felt like
it. In a years time he weighed nearly
26o pounds. perhaps more, and had
forgotten all about pugilism. He new
er put on the gloves and INDUCED In
no violent exercise. This mode of nv'
ing agreed with the big fellow so well
that when the news came from Aus
tralia that johnson. a negro, had won
the heavyweight championship OF the
world Jeffrfes told his friends that the
S1~Sa 1Idn was welcome az the I1sse-
for he never intended to fight again.
That was more than a year ago, and
JEFF really meant what he said. But
the white race began to clamor for re-
venge. and Jeffries was actually forced
out of retirement against his will. He
signed vaudeville contracts, then went
on the road, verita BILE human noun
tain. By degrees he worked or the
superfiuouS flesh and assumed a semi
normal appearance. But all this time
JeffrieS realized that his wind was at
fected. Violent exercise made him
puff like a grampus. he could not box
for more than two minutes without a
letup. for he had bellows to mend both
In public and in private. He did not
like to admit that he was weak in this
respect. but try as be might he could
not conceal the fact from experienced
observers who saw him In action.
When Jeffries came back from Carls-
bad last fall be was comparative
light He said be weighed go. which.
If true. meant he had taken OF thirty
pounds. But as soon as he resumed
his boxing and athletic stunts on the
vaudeville circuits be found that he
was still touched" in the wind Yet
he was not greatly worried over this
defect. for he expressed great conf
dence IN his ability to get back to his
former wonderful lung power as soon
az be INDUCED in outdoor exercise in
the mountains of California. he has
been at this task for three months and
says he has been entirely successful.
Can jeff Come Back?
But has he: The fight alone will
answer that question. No doubt Jeff
has worked hard. and many experts
have pronounced him ct to fight the
battle of bis career. While this sounds
very good and has caused his admirers
to make him favorite over Johnson
In the betting. still 1t does not mean
sure victory for the ex-boilermaker. 1t
will be six years this coming August
since Jen engaged IN a real ring battle.
and during the five years layof the
big fellow had very easy time OF it.
He has been hard at work for a year
trying to recover what he has lost dur
ing the FIVE years rest. Every one
knows that the wheels of nature were
not made TO turn backward. and the
man who breaks the laws of nature
must pay the penalty.
Reports from the experts at the
training camp tell and the pictures
show that there has been a wonderful
change in Jeff's appearance within the
last three months at Rowardennan. He
has lost his paunch. is down to fight
could make him. Still that win not
make him win.
Old Vitality Will Be Missing.
When he tackles Johnson. Jeffries
will find that the old vitality which is
absolutely necessary for any kind of
battle will be missing. In other words,
1t is impossible for JEFF to return to
the shape he was in when he won the
championship. Did you ever stop to
think what coming back" means?
No? Well. 1t is like trying to regain
youth. Pugilism has yet to see the
first man come back.
Will JEFF. however. prove an excep-
ton? Hardly. 1t makes no difference
one leads the swift. merry
pace or takes life easy for a long time.
Either method takes away strength.
vitality and agility needed for a bard
battle. JEFF is in his thirty-sixth year,
and, as every one who is IA miliar with
athletics knows. IT is impossible for
my athlete at the age of thirtY-five,
after FIVE year layoff. to get within
IS per cent OF his form at twenty-five
7ears Of age. For any well posted