Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1910-01-12
INTERFERES
WITH TRAINING.
Reports Received in New York Say
Jeffries is Not Getting in Nee
cessary Hard Work.

Jew York, Jan. 12.-Judging from
reports that are finding their way to
this city from the south, the Jeffries-
Berger-Gotch Vaudeville COMPANY is
not making the hit of the circuit that
was expected. The impression ap-
pears to be spreading that the big fell
low should drop his theatrical tour
and get down to real training if he is
to be taken seriously as a contender
in the fight with Johnson next sum.
mer, Kisses and boots of derision
are not unknown sounds in the ears
OF the former champion, and it is said
that he is seriously contemplating cut
ting short his tour and heading direct
for the Pacific coast.
The "all-champion" troupe was
roundly Kissed recently in New Or
leans, and Jeffries himself came in
for burst of displeasure at his ex-
hibition in Galveston. The constant
bombardment by questioners all al.
ong the line is also said to have got
Oi thC us LlciI IltlNS anu lie is Sdlu
to be determined to get to work at
once and prove to his detractors that
he can and will train and get into con-
dition to defeat Johnson. The latest
description of Jeffries and his work
as reported by New Orleans sport
ing writer appears to bear out this
idea. It is as follows:
"Jeffries is probably down to weight
but he is far from being in condition.
The big fellow has very little super
f1uous flesh. but his flesh is not hard.
1t is soft and muscular. His condi.
tion is readily shown when he and
Frank Gotch are seen together.
Gotch's muscles are all hard and his
flesh is all muscle, while Jeffries is
exactly the opposite. Whether six
motnhs' work will turn this flesh into
hard muscle is a question, and ser.
ious one, with Jeffries. Then, too, his
wind is exceedingly bad. He boxed
three one minute rounds with Berger
and was putting bad after each round.
His nose still seems to bother him and
he seems to breathe deeply with diff
ticulty. In one thing Jeffries is as fast
as he ever was, and that is footwork.
He is as light as a cat on his feet
and quick and clever In fact, he is
fast on his feet for such a
big man. Nearly every one who saw
him commented upon his speedy foot.
work, and those who saw him in his
prime said that he was as good as
ever in this respect.
''It looks like this theatrical tour
will do Jeff no good. All through his
stunt when he shadow boxes and
spars he does not seem to be in earn
est He goes through it like it was an
awful grind. He makes it rather en-
tertaining for the crowd but year of
such work would never get him in
When fighter has been
out of the game for five years it takes
hard earnest work to get him back
into shape.
His sparring with Berger was
really funny. Both wear about Is
ounce gloves-young pillows-and the
they get would harm no
one. Berger swings wildly and Jeff
ducks, and the crowd thinks Jeff is
very clever. Then Berger shoves
his face out AMI lets JEFF poke him
thrice in the face with the pillow The
bout is interesting enough, but so
aWfully tame.
Getting off the superfuous flesh
was probably a hard task, and the
whole Caucasian race ardently hopes
hat Jeff will make hard muscle out of
what is soft flesh now. If he does and
MS wind gets better. it will be goodby
Johnson