The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-05
BIGGEST RING EVENT
EVER PULLED OFF
Twenty Thousand People See
The Fight at Reno
JEFFRIES' ONE CHANCE
In the First Four Rounds Jeffries
Fought Well But After That He
Began to Weaken and
Grow Unsteady

Reno. July 4.-Twenty thousand persons
banked tier on tier started to their feet
when Jack Johnson was made champion
as Jeffries, prone upon the padded floor.
was a champion no more in American
rize ring battles
The big man whose bulk sagged low the
-ope over which he fell was James JEFF
s.ies, and over him, smiling, alert, his
smooth ebony body glistening in the bril-
liant desert sunshine, stood John Arthur
Johnson, the new king of the ring-a
negro.
No ring contest ever drew such an at
tendance and never before was so many
thousands of dollars wagered and paid
by public. The men and the 500 or more
women scattered throughout the vast aud
fence are tonight dispensing east and west
and north and south.
Many of the spectators journeyed thou.
sands of miles to Reno, many went hun
cry and many went without beds. but
the picture they witnessed was worth it
all commended
In an instant after the crowd realized
that the fight was over the ring was
stampeded by wild throng. The short
end betting men were hilarious but in the
great mass of the spectators there was a
feeling of personal loss. Hope had lived
in thousands of breasts until the last
minute, and now their idol had crum-
bled and this black man remained cham
pion. All admired him and their was
little animus showed toward him. For
the most part the people were silent, just
readjusting things in their own minds.
JeHries' Chance
In the second, third and fourth rounds
Jeffries had his chance If he ever had
one. His friends claim now that if he
had started in with his entire force he
could have reached Johnson with the
sleeping blow. On the other hand men
whose opinions are valued on these mat
ters say tonight that johnson could have
beaten Jeffries at any time in Jeffries'
career.
Jeffries passed by his chance several
times. Jeffries kept walking in and miss
ing body blows and took face punishment.
Up to this point the fight was little more
than wrestling bout. The men refused
to break in clinches, and at times 80 Sec
onds passed without blow being stl uck.
AT the beginning OF the fourth round
Richard became Disguised with the way
things were going, and when Corbett told
Jeffroes to go in for his man as he started
for the center of the ring, the rel cree
said: Quit this motion work, get busy,
boys"
Jeffries assumed his crouch and started
for Johnson as though he would NOW
him down with one blow. The black man
was not there His shadow fell athwart
the spot where Jeffries blow was aimed
The men came together and Johnson
missed for the fourth time a DANA gng
| right uppercut. He began here to try
out his new blow, left uppercut, testing
1t for the first time after the first round.
Johnson kept up fire of jokes and repair.
tee, sometimes with Jeffries and other
times with Corbett and sporting writer's
Sportsman Excited
He'll kill you, jack yelled sporting
man who had bet $4,000 on Jeffries.
That's what they all say retorted
Johnson. He here shot a snappy left to
Jeffries' face and they clnched. In this
round Jeffries landed the only blow that
came near hurting Johnson It was a
body blow that made the black vince. II
was the only round in which Jeffries had
an advantage. and at the opening of the
fifth Johnson came up as good as new.
The pace up to and through this round
was slow. Neither man was badly hurt.
That left was a joke, YOU big fellow;
| always knew you were a fakir." shouted
Corbett, as Johnson stung Jeffries on the
face. Jeffries brought cheers at this point
by left to the head, but clinch and
the gong saved further damage.
The tide of the battle from this time for
ward flowed into the corner of Johnson,
and Delaney was hopping around in glee.
go in and finish him., was the advice
which he whispered to Johnson.
Its all over for you, Jim," said john
son as he came up. Jeffres laughed and
ohewed his gum some more. In the round
Jeffries' eye was closed and he started In
to take a severe beating In order to land
the stomach blow which he and his back
ers depended upon. Jeffries missed q
right and took left and a right to the
heade His nose was bleeding when the
gong sounded.
Corbett walked to the end of the ring
smiling and breathing easily. Its got a
long time to CO." said he to the sporting
men who had bet money on the seven
round proposition.
Faster Fighting
In the seventh round the fight was
somewhat faster, but Jeffries did not live
up to expectations. His eye was swollen
and he rubbed it as he leaned on the
glistening black shoulder in the clinches.
He was beginning to look more like
wounded bull than a clever thinking man.
AS they got close in Johnson set in lefts
to the face twice at close range. Jeffries
drew Lead and put in a left to the face
that covered Johnson's ivory teeth with
blood, but Jack laughed and in mix up
sent in two lefts to the face and Jeffries'
mouth was streaked with blood.
ut looks bad for Jeffries, said the
sportsmen as a slight indecisiveness in
Jeffries' walk was noticed.
Remember how much he took from
Fitzsimmons and then landed" others
counselled with hope.
Jeffries got a left in the face at the
opening Of the eighth round.
Did you see that one, Jimmy said
johnson to Corbett as he leaned over
Jeffries' shoulder and grinned
Johnson's blows became quicker and
barber during the round, but Jeffries was
not badly hurt, only firing faster than