The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-18
WHAT SPORTING
WORLD THINKS
Fans Follow Johnson, Believing
Jeffries Cannot Get in
Proper Condition.
BLACK CHAMPION is
BLUFFING TO GET MONEY
Nothing Has Been Discovered to
Show That Contest Will
Be Framed.
BY w. B. (BAT) MAsTERsoN.

NEW YORK, April 17.-As the sport
ing fraternity of the entire English
speaking world Is busily engaged just
now in figuring out the winner OF the
Jenries-Johnson fight, I'll also venture
few remarks on this all-absorbing sub
iect Every man has his own idea about
the contest. and this Is as 1t should be.
Some favor Jeffries. while others are
strInglng with the negro. Some even go
so far as To assert that the whole thing
is a frame-up in which the public is 10
be victimiZcd-
II may be noted. however that those
who believe the negro Will win base
their opinion on the fact that Jeflrles
Is all in as a flghter, and VIII never pe
able to get himself in shape TO hght III
anything like the form he showed When
he retired from the ring five years ago
This seems 10 furnish the chief reason
for regarding Johnson as the winner
Were they satisfied that Jeffries could
come back" as they call II, they would
be sure ne would win. Anyhow, this Is
what the Johnson followers say; 49,.
country during the last six weeks
number OF boxing enthusiasts whose
judgment of the fighting game cannot be
With their money. Also quite a number
who seem TO think that Jenries at no
time during his ring career had better
than an even chance with the olack
man.
Fight Opinions.
Although those who entertain this
opinion are not as numerous as the JET
fries followers. I found enough OF them.
With few exceptions, all believe the ngne
will be on the level. Those who assume.
or pretend 10 assume. that the night rs
a frame-up furnish small minority, m
glad TO say. AS for my own personal
opinion. believe the battle WIN ne con- on,
tested on It's merits. Also that Jeft Will
win I believe I'm I'm a position to know
as much about the inside workings OF the
battle as anyone, and Two discovered
nothing so far to warrant the belief tEal
the haltei is a pre- arranged affair In
the first place ] don't believe the nght
could be fixed and stay liked " all corr
cerned were In on the deal. My reason
for thinking so Is that neither OF the
principals would trust the other Botn
would be looking for the double-cross me
first time an opportunity presented useu
to hand It out, and the ,prooa biltles ars
that that is exactly What "ou'" haP
Besides. where IS the man who knows
Jeffries who will believe that ne Would
stall with the negro: and III venture,
that no one acquainted with Johnson VIII
believe that he would trust Jenrles even
though ne did agree TO stall, That Jef
knock his head off the first chance he
got no matter what arrangements nad
been made. can scarcely be doubted. This
Is why 1 think the fight VIII be on the
level.
Many Other Reasons.
have many other reasons, too. for
believing that Jeffries viii win. In the
first place he viii. unless all signs fail.
he In excellent condition when he en-
ters the ring He is more powerful than
the negro. a much harder hitter and
without doubt a gamer man, AS Tor
ceverness and speed. l believe he'll dis
play as much Of both, If not more. than
the black champion at the critical point
Jeffrles has shown that he can take more
punishment and maintain his strength.
find nothing In Johnson's record 10
justify the opinion that he will give JET
fries a hard fight even II the latter Is
no more than half as good as he was
when he retired from The ring.
In my opinion. Johnson Is only bluff
fng lie has no more Idea that he Will
beat Jeffries handly than | have. To
be frank about II, l doubt very much
II he believes that he will whip Jeffries
at all. If he does he must know that
ne has something up his sleeve that he
has so far failed to show the public.