The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-06-29
Will T I(lHT
% ROUNDS
Championship Battle Is
Not to Be an Un-
limited One

Reno. New. June 29.-PromOtcr Tex
Rickard is not greatly concerned over
the momcntous role he Is to play on
the afternoon OF the Fourth and he
asserts with convincing earnestnesS
that he has no misgivlngs whatever
regarding his ability to referee the
big fight
why, haven't given the subject
a single thought he told n group OF
newspapermen last night The Job
VIII be snap With seasoned fight"
ers like Jefiries and Johnson 10 deal
with. it will be the easiest thing In
the world 10 take care Of the referees
end have been assured by both
men that they arc entirely satisfied
TO have me In the ring and that they
will do everything they can TO smooth
my way"
Some one asked him II he had ever
presided over a big ring event before.
Nothing very big" the promoter
answered. but don't think for min
ute that I'm not wise 10 every angle
of prize lighting I've followed IL
practically all my lifc and If there is
anybody that knows any more Than
do about the ins and outs OF the game.
I'd like To have him named. People
come 20 me and say I'm foolish 10
take on this job because I've not had
enough practice. Well they don
know what they're TALKING about IL
man knows lighting os well as | Know
1t, there's no reason why he can't
lump in and take charge Of big hight.
even If he hasn't had much actual
training AS far az I am personally
concerned. | don't believe In working
ND as referee through little lights
20 big ones. Id rather begin at the
top"
And then work down" was the
testing amendment of by-stander,
but Tex, though he laughed with the
crowd did not seem to catch the point
of the joke and he nodded assent
There are many. however, who de-
clare that the appointment OF Rick
ard was a mistake. owing TO his ad-
mitted lnexpericnce as au arbiter OF
important contests Even his critics
though they appear TO he satisfied that
when he enters the ring and assumes
supreme charge of the. battle the pro-
moter win do the right thing as he
sees il and Will endeavor 10 give each
cf tie contestants the squarest OF
square deals,
Gradually preparations for the 1ght
are nearing completion and by the
end of the week probably nothing es-
sentlal VIII remain to be done. Re
markabc progress made on the con"
SJrucCIon OF the arena has sileuced
the doleful predictions If pessimlstic
fans who were fearful that the hugo
structure would not be finished on
lime and 1t has banished all doubt of
there not being an ample number OF
seats for the crowds expected 10 poU
into Reno. between now and the day
OF the 1ght
Great care is being exercised by
the contractors against the danger ol
fire and three night watchmen were
appointed at the commencement OF the
work principally for the purpose or
guarding against tramps whose care
lesSneSS with matches might prove
disastrous. This fear of a conflagrae
tion has weighed heavily on Rickard
and last night he made a trip 10 the
site 10 assure himself that the neces-
saTy precautions were being taken.
On entering the enclosure he was
Disconnected by the fact that no sign
OF a pnirol was visible For five min
utes or more he stumbled about the
plank-suewn arena and almost fell
over "wGtchmanT peacefully slum-
berIng on a bed of boards. Search
disclosed the other two likewise en-
Jcying calm repose. Richard promptly
discharged all three ana. with much
energy. hunted aroInd until he found
another trio to take their places
The gloves TO be worn by the fight
ers are expected TO arrive on the
evening train from San Francisco.
Two pairs have been made especially
to the order OF each contestant. care
full measurements OF the hands and
wrists of the men having heen taken.
There was much rejoicing at jack
Johnson's camp last night as result
of the champion splendid workout In
the afternoon. The presence OF Gov
ernor Dickerson is believed 10 have
|~~p = 0@Tree Of considerable inspira-
tlon to the big negro and his spirited
performance was hugely enjoyed by
the large crowd that gathered about
the boxing platform.
CONTRARY ~ INC usual SpdIIIuS Slo-
tenn employed during the pas; several
weeks. the champion did not place
himself wholly on the defensive yes
terday but forced the work. himself ,
much 10 the discontinue of his op
ponents At the conclusion OF the
twelve fast rounds that constituted
the workout, the negro was sUll
breathing lightly aud, though he was
perspiring freely. there was no Indi 1
cation of fatigue and he Was in the
best of humor.
Johnson showed vast appreciation OF
the governors favorable comments on
his condition and was plainly highly |
flatlered when the states chief eXecu-
live visited him in his room
Manager Tom Flanagan, who par
tIcipated in the chat that ensucd, at
tempted TO draw from the governor
his opinion OF the outcome OF the |
match hut the latter. in the parlance
1f the riug. cleverly sidesiepped di-
rect expression aud dismissed the !
question with the assertion that il the
'couiremcnts OF the laws were lived |
Up TO Johnson would be given a fnir |
opportunity TO defend MS title.
II mad been thought that the gov
arnor intended TO stay only. a few