The San Francisco call., 1910-07-06
Fighting GAME
ON ITS LAST Legs
Many Believe tine Final Battle
of Prize Ring Has Been
Fought

nieS of defeat at KenO-Jne NdnCdlSiSu
idol of the white race-to commemo-
rate in the twentieth century what
the wounded and bleeding figure of the
dying Roman gladiator marked at the
dawn of Christian civilization?
Hundreds of those who jOurneyed to
that sun bIistered desert arena made
the trip in the firm conviction that
they were to witness the last struggle
between two human beings in a roped
prize ring in America Thousands lett
the scene of Jeffries inglOriOus defeat
certain that the last great prize hight
had been held in this country and that
pugilism was a thing of the past.
While this opinion is shared by
many. others believe that the heredi-
tary call for battle is too strong-that
men must fight ages hence as men and
barbarians fought in ages past
that the hunger for blood. for mortal
combat. is yet all compelling and that
another Jeffries. as another gladiator.
ringside multitude.
Many are certain that the death
knell of prize lighting was sounded in
the Nevada battle of Monday. The
victory and the battle We're unpopular
with thousands. the laws of legisla-
lures forced the promoters from the
great centers of population and race
prejudice expressed itself to the ex-
treme of wanton blOodshed and street
murder. All these factors are weighed
against the game and the most Op-
timistic enthusiast admits that tenn
porary setback can be expected.
Following are some OF the express
sionS CLEANED among the army of fight
fans that returned to the city yester-
day:
Edgar Miner. clubman and oil oper-
ator-I saw Jeffries fight for the first
time in Reno. 1 was very much disap-
pointed at his showing Johnson cOuld>-
have beaten him when he was at the
acme of his career. Jeffries' muscles
were soft and a novice could see the
fat about his.baek and kidneys. i saw
none of the great rushes had heard OF.
Instead of the white man, the negro
was the aggressOr- ketchel could have
defeated him on his showing at Reno
Jefries lacked the lighting spirit John
son could have won in three rounds.
There is no future for the fighting game
in this country. Jeffries' dismal show
ing sounded the death knelL.
sven ChriStiansOn of the Palace hotel
II predicted that Jefries had no
chance to come back. I myself won.
and the men who took my advice as to
the outcome prove that am not merely
saying II told you So Johnson showed
himself yesterday to be a greater
fighter than Jeffries ever was He is
the greatest fighter the country has
ever seen. He has never been extended
Even at Reno he was under wraps.
There is no telling just how good a
man he is Nobody has ever seen him
at his best johnson was never dis
turSed in the contest. The blood that
flowed from his lips was from a cut
he received when in clinch- JefEries
never struck a damaging blow. john
son laughed his way TO victory do
not think that Jeffries' defeat means
the end of the boxing game. There will
be a lu1l for some time because there
is nobody before the public who is a
match for the negro. Other classes OF
fighters will suffer somewhat because OF
lack of interest IN the game. But
conditions will change. Time will bring
forth more good men, The laws OF dif-.l
ferent states will be amended to suit
conditions We will have limited bouts
in many states, and when a great big
man is developed there will be a public
demand for an exhibition and the place
will be found
Robert FItzsfmmons eEh, what2
Jefrries got s11s.00O for losing? He
got one hundred And say. you mean
that was the amount OF the gate2 Well.
just to think Of it, I am willing to BET
that I could put up better fight to-
morrow without training than either
Of the men put up at Reno. I would
half of Jeffries' share. Jeffries outs
boxed Johnson in the first six rounds.
But you have TO give Johnson credits
He Is big man and a clever one.
am horribly disappointed over the re-
suit. Jeffrfes' crouch was easy for the
negro After he licked me I tried to
persuade him to give up his crouch.
but he has clung to 1t. Jeffries was not
himself. When he stepped into the
ring I never saw a man that looked
finer. He was the personihcation of g.
perfect athlete. He was nodded like
statue Of giant and then when the
gong sounded-well. / don't know what
to think. I am awfully disappointed.
Yes. we have fighting. at least in Aus
traIia. So long as there are two good
men in the ring the public viii want
to see them and will md a way. At
present I admit the prospects OF the
game are blue, but conditions will
improve. One hundred and sixteen
thousand dollars for losing. Geel 1t
wasn't like this in the days of old"
Jim Davis, proprietor OF the Wash
ington Annex hotel. Seattle-'It was
evident from the beginning that Jefr
was not himself Something was gone
He was weakling. and whether it was
his five years OF idlenesS or beca,iSe he
was overtrained, he lacked virlityAa nj
force in his bout at Reno. Somethfsg
in his system had been sapped OF its
llIe- He never HdQ Cnd0ce. II IS the
last big fight we shall see in this coun-
try for many a. decade. At least IL will
be hard to draw men far away from
home in the future. ThFee-quarters OF
the men have spoken 20 said that the
reason they went to Reno was that
they did not think they would ever see
a big battle again"
Hal :. Renwiel<, president of the San
Joaquin Valley railroad-"When JEFF
fries was knocked down the first time
he had the look OF a dying man. He
fought to the best Of his ability He
fought on the square and never showed
a yellow streak The simple expIana
tion is that he could not come back. He
was at all times at the negro's mercy.
The prospects OF the lighting game are
not bright The public is not satisfied
with having a negro champion and this
fact alone will put damper on the
game. do not look TO see another big
mill in this country"
Tom MeCann, wine agent-~Jeffries
fooled himself in his training He had
whole lot OF old men around him
when he needed young blood 1t is now
well known that he did not box because
he realized that he did not know how
1t was the last OF the big lights and
we'll worth seeing on that account Jef