Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-16

feat the negro. In my opinion, Je
I base that opinion upon the fact
require any come back" to enable
ton of fighter who has retired f
he has not dissipated to the exten
physical self. I regard Jeffries
stepped into ring, and he so far
while in the ring and now that h
had the possible effect of making
condition he can train easily and
as he ever was, with the sole exc
years of age may have upon a str
I am moved to make these state
ments and enter into the discussion
regarding his chances of retaining the
title Of heavyweight champion be-
cause of the contrary opinions ad-
vanced by prominent sportsmen like
Billy Madden, who says that Jeffries
is as good as beaten before he goes
into the ring, and W. W. Naughton,
who does not believe Jeffries has a
knockout punch. When l read these
statements, l found it impossible to
refrain from the discussion. and in
order to support my theory l shall at
Z tempt to give valid reasons in support
thereof.
have known Jeffries intimately for
thirteen years, ever since his first
fight with Gus Rubin, which was his
fourth fight as a professional For
the greater portion of his seven years
i'll the ring following the first Rubin
fight l was associated with him, and
believe my knowledge of the man and
his physical proWess and condition
qualify me to speak with some degree
of accurate information upon the sub
ject.
Never Given Proper Credit
In the first place, Jeffries never got
what was coming to him from the
public and the press. This is true es-
pecially at the present time, when
there is so much knocking going
On from various sources in efforts at
discrediting the big fellow who is
going into this fight to bring back the
unclouded title from the black to the
white race. He is going into this fight
for that very reason, with all other
reasons given a secondary considera-
tion in his mind.
When johnson whipped Burns and
returned to America to lay claim upon
the title that Jeff never had lost by
any manner of reasoning that would
be recognized, the American public
arose and demanded that he get back
into the ring and regain the title for
the Caucasian race-at least to re-
move whatever cloud upon his title
that might attach by reason of john
sons victory over Burns. He did not
want to come out of retirement, but
the urging became so general and so
insstent that he could not refuse to
take notice of it, and he finally prom
ised that he would fight Johnson pro-
viding he could satisfy himself that
he could train into condition to do
himself and the public that supported
him full justice.
Jeff Believes in Himself
After a year of experimenting and
proper living, Jeffries has proved to
his own satisfaction that he can train
back into proper condition, and he be-
lieves he win whip Johnson long be-
fore the limit of rounds set for the
fight is reached. He would not take
a chance of marring his unbeaten rec
ord if he really thought he was taking
more than a mere chance. He there
fore must believe in himself and in
his ability to get into proper condi-
tion. 1 rely a great deal upon his own
Judgment in this matter and know
that he is a competent judge of such
affairs.
From what I actually know of him
and his condition and what he has
said in that regard, l confidently eX-
pect him to go into the ring next July
in condition to go the full forty-f1ve
rounds, if necessary. In that event,
Johnson would have only a poor
chance to win the decision, as all who
know Jeff's style of fighting must con-
cede If he is in that condition, all
the cIeverness of johnson Will avail
him nothing against the clever boxing,
terrific slugsing and fast footWork
and excellent generaiship Of Jeifries,
who will set the pace for the negro
despite his touted speed and clever
ness.
Last Fight Was His Best
Those who have followed the career
of Jeffries in the ring must admit that
his last fight was his best effort in the
ring. Also, that his continued inn
movement after his first year Of fight
ing caused him to be at his best form
when he retired. If he had continued
to grow better, stronger, cleYerer and
faster with each succeeding fight, and
that Improvement was natural, II
would require a lot Of dissipation and
ahuse to pull him down to the Level
of +bA heayyweights left at this time
none of whom ever attained TO WltmI
fair approach to that great form Jefi
showed throughout his career, and
who never were clasSed with him by
4 anW of the W1iutSl tAeb66
inasnnllch as he thoroughly out
classed all the heavyweights of 1904
Including Jack Johnson, who was
fghting at that time, it is difficult tc
figure how a rest of six years, unac..
nompanied by actual dissipation anc
abuse, could bring him down to tht
level of the present day heaVywelghts
who have been aging the same as ne ne
have been taking their hard knocks
jn the ring and straining nature in the
continued training that must affec'
their physical selves.
Draws Fair Comparisons
Comparison of the two fighters from
every point of view, Jeffries stands ou'
IKE a sure winner, to my mind. Jef'
fries is only three years older thar
Johnson, is an inch taller and seYera
hounds heavier, while he is in as gooo
health right now as the black man
Jeffries fought twenty fights during his
professional career, winning ten oi
them by actual knockouts and three