The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-20
CAN He COME BACK
Prize Fight Experts Undecided
About Jeffries.
Could Have Beaten Johnson in
the Old Days.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Trainer of Men Picks the Negro
to Win.
Some of the Old Pugilists Who
Tried and Failed.
BILLY MADDEN'SGUESS
fRu oscar 81. MOTIFS

game for 80 years and has turned out
champions he is in a position to know
something about the men and the
game. Billy Madden belongs to that
class. Recently, the former trainer
and manager of John L. Sullivan when
the latter was champion. in signed
article predicted that Jack johnson
would defeat Jim Jeffries when the
two cIashed on July 4.
To the younger generation in the
boxing world Billy Madden's talk may
not amount to much, but those who
for years have followed pugilism and
made a study of 1t, there Is macn 10
think about in the remarks of the old
timer.
OF course Madden is not alone in
the belief that the colored man will
win. There are thousands OF others
who also believe that Jeffries will be
defeated. On the other hand, Jeffrtes,
too, has his admirers, who do not be-
1ieve johnson can whip the big boiler
maker. Jim Corbett is one of them.
That brings to mind that the former
champion heavyweight who lost the
title to Bob FitZsimmons has seldom
picked the winner in big contest. 1t
appears that pugilists, as rule, can't
pick the winners in the prize ring bet
ter than they can on the race track.
The chances are, however, that If a
list of fighters was made up and each
asked to pick the winner of the John
son-Jeffries fight. the colored man
would have the largest following In
Milwaukee two weeks ago Battling
Nelson expressed the belief that John
son would beat Jeffries. 'I would hate
to see it that way" he declared, "but
don't believe Jeffries can come back.
No other fighter did" At that time
Nelson, for business reasons, didn't
care about standing on house top
and shouting his words to the public.
But he made the statement to the
writer and a party of friends he was
entertaining.
Stanley Ketchel is another pugilist
who looks for Jeffries to be defeated.
Stanley should know something about
it because he had ring argument
with Johnson which he will never for
get. Joe Cans. in his days one of the
greatest fighters ever produced is an
other who says the colored champion
will whip Jim Jeffries.
Pugilists. managers and trainers
and they are in a position to know
something about it-declare that JEFF
fries can not come back after laying
off for five years That position has
been maintained by this department
ever since the defeat of Tommy Burns
by johnson. OF course, all may be
wrong and JeffrieS may WALTON the
daylights out of Johnson. But it would
be big surprise If he pulled off any
thing like that
Young Corbett could not come back.
Terry McGovern failed to come back:
SO did Jimmy Britt, Jim Corbett. Bob
Fttzsimmons, Young Griffo George
Dixon and host of others PERHAPS
there is some difference in the makeup
with Jeffries. Most of them lived a
pretty fast life and the same is not at
tributed to the man who retired with
the championship Just the same JEFF
fries has been out of the ring fol-. five
years, during which time he did no
active work. Students of athletics who
have spent a life time training and con-
dttion1ng men for athletic events de-
clare that Jeffries will find his arms
pretty heavy when he has them in the
air for ten three-minute rounds His
legs, too, they say, will be weary. and
he will find it difficult to do the hon
and step act quick enough to get away
from Johnson's leads. Another pofnt In
which trainers declare Jeffries will be
found wanting is his wind. The big
fellow is expected to be putting hard
after fighting 10 or Is minutes esne-
cially If Johnson cuts out a fast pace
at the start, which he is likely to do
unless he thinks too much of the pic
ture money.
And how about Johnson? Most of
those who pick the black to win don't
put any argument in his behalf.
They pick flaws with Jeffries and let 1t
go at that. They agree that johnson
has done nothing wonderful in the ring
and don't give him much credit for
whipping Tommy Burns or Ed Martin
or Stanley Ketche1 But in the same
breath they say he is clever, has a
hard wallop and can stand much pun
ishment. Billy Madden says Johnson
IS the cleverest heavyweight he has
ever seen and that counts for some
thing as Madden nursed Sullivan to the
championship, and saw the worlds
greatest heavyweights in action.
There is one point upon which not a
great deal has. been said of Johnson
is he game? That is an important topic
in connection with pugdlists. There is
some doubt as to Johnson's gameness
Experts hold that if he does not show
any yellow he will go through as a
winner On the other hand tits said
that If Johnson should be hurt he will
be ready to quit. Perhaps. But how
about the knockdown he received from
Ketchel not long ago. Jack was put
down and looked like. a gone goose
When he got to his feet. instead of
quitting he wal1oped with right and
left and won his fight then and there.
That Jeffries is a hard hitter is not
denied. Ask Sharkey or Fftzsimmons
or Rhulir or Corhett Rut can he hit