Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-23
PROMOTERS PLEASED
WITH JEFF'S CONDITION
Richard and Gleason Convinced For
mer Champion Is as Good
as Ever.
WOULD LIKE TO FIGHT
JOHNSON IN, TWO WEEKS
Crowd Sees Colored Champion Do
His Training-Applause
Pleases Big Jack.

BEN LOMOND, Cal, May 23.-Promo-
ter Jack Gleason, who paid his first visit
yesterday to Jeffries training camp. re-
turned to San Francisco last night ex-
tolling the condition in which he found
the big fighter.
Il was thunderstruck at the change 1
noted in Jeffries,'' Gleason declared. Il
saw him stripped in Los Angeles a year
ago and l think he must have weighed
fully 800 pounds at that time. Now he
is clean of all surplus flesh, and he looks
to be in good shape as he ever was.
His Improvement | think is marvellous.
He told me he would like to take on
Johnson in two weeks, and | guess his
friends would like nothing better than
to advance the date of the big fight. The
only thing that can possibly spoil him is
entertaining"
Promoter Tex Richard, who also wit
messed JeffrieS' last work outs yester-
day, had chat with the former cham
plon about the referee matter. Richard
says he told Jeffries that he was now
thoroughly anxious to preside over the
contest and felt entirely fit to do SO If
the principals Endorsed him. He was re-
assured by Jeffries, who said:
60 ahead Tex and referee. ! have
every confidence in your ability and I'm
tickied to have you on the job"
Applause Pleases Johnson.
SAN FRANCISCO. May 23-Jack
Johnson grinned a grin as big as a
Georgia melon cut endwise following bis
gymnasium exhibition yesterday after
noon. He grinDed because the big crowd
that witnessed his workouts appeared so
Wen pleased.
Il tell YOU" he said tothe newspaper
men. I'm mighty glad they liked the
way I boxed. Applause means a lot to
a fighter when he is training. You can't
fool a big crowd, When the fans cheer
you know you're going ahead. I must
have done we'll. or they would not have
aplauded me as much as they did.
The big negro's followers declared they
noted much improvement in his foot
work. According to the experts, the
sloWness on his feet has been a weak
ness with Johnson in the past. Yester-
day he seemed to move about the ring
faster than usual, and he lost no op-
portunity to practice at sde-stepping.
Johnson expects to enter his fight with
Jeffries Weighing 20s pounds To make
that weight ne will have to take off only
a fraction over ten pounds between now
and July t.
The tighter announced that he has pur-
chased new racing automobile and ex-
poets to receive it from the east in about
a week The car will have a seventy
horsepower engine, capable of develop
ing speed Of ninety-five miles an hour.
Johnsons supporters are not particularly
pleased over this bit of news
Condemn Prize Fighting.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 23-Resolu-
tons condemnng prize fighting as dan
gerous. degrading and demoraliAng" were
adopted at a meeting of the congre CATION
of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church
last night. An appeal will be made to
Gov. Gillett. Mayor Mccarthy and Chief
Of Police Martin to use their influence
to prevent further fistic encounters in
this city.
Rev. Leslie B. Briggs, pastor of the
Bethany Congregational Church, in his
sermon last night declared that boxing
contests as conducted in England were
fair sport. but he denounced the manner
in which glove matches are held in Cali
fornia. Hessaid that every effort would
be made to stop the Johnson-Jeffries
battle.
Attorney J. F.. White, representing the
citys church federation, said yesterday
he felt safe in stating the fight would
not take place.