The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-04-13
JEFFRIES NOW
35 YEARS old
(By Ed w. Smith


Chicago. April l3,-Now 1t ia Jenl
rtes' turn 10 have a birthday-~celebra-
uon- But It is a question whether
be is proud Of the fact that he ia 35
years old. although there Is nothing
to be ashamed Of In that
On tho morning OF March 81 Jack
Johnson champion of the world. was
80 years old.
On the moFning OF April 10 Jim Jerf-
ries, retired and undefeated cham
picn. now matched With Johnson for
the title, Will be IS.
Ripe old age, isn't II, for a man TO
be fighting for the worlds title and
after a layoff from actual partlcipa.
ton In athletics. hunting trips except
ed, since the night OF August 26. 1904.
Nearly six years OF Idleness.
Contemplation OF these facts and
figures merely brings one back TO
the old question: Can he come
back"
Jeff Must Show Trainers.
The time is coming when JEFF will
demonstrate 10 his trainers at least
whether he is able to come back and
be as good as he was. He will have
to show something in training camp.
for the public Will be watching. de-
spite the fact that the big fellow has
selected a site for his camp that ls
far removed from the haunts OF man.
Still that Isn't going to take In
quisltiyc eyes off him.
There isn't such a great difference
In the ages OF the two fighters, Three
years ordinarily wouldn't be so much
nothing, in fact-had both men kept
up their athletic work without ces-
sntion. Johnson has been generally
active since he started fighting. jeff
ries has not And that's the rub that
IL making the veteran trainers OF tho
game shake their heads and doubt
that IN ewhite man VIII be more than
outwardly ready when the pinch
comes.
People Must Guess
II ONLY Jeffries had decided TO have
a scrap OF two with some second rat
ers before taking on Johnson II only
the public could have received that
line on what might be expected oil
the white man In the coming contest
with the dangerous looking black
But IL wasn't TO be. and hence the
public can only guess. And 1t Is 4
guess, too. because no other figure
no matter of how powerful a build
and splendid physique. was ever able
TO came back after layoff OF any
where near that length OF time.
Black fighters last q long time In
the boxing game. At least there are
several examples OF their ability ~
stay good long after their allotted
tine.
The case of Bobby Dobbs. the col
ored fighter who Is now battling In
ireland, Is prominent In this respect.
When Eddie McGoorty. the Oshkosh
middleweight, started training over
thee for the battles he secured he
was amazed to learn that Bobby was
stlll good and at the grand old age
for a fighter-of 81 years'
Bobby was born In Knoxville. Tenn.
IN 1859. and though his eyes have
been falling him for long time. he Is
still able to do nicely in the rather
mediocre class he is called upon to
meet on the other side. Only three
weeks ago he made young boxer
named Hickman quit In five rounds oil
what was 10 have been a 20-round
so.
Met Toughest Boys.
Dobbs never had a path OF roses
when ne was fighting In this coun-
try, for nc tackled such tough ones
as Kid Layigue. Joe Cans, Joe Vol
colt, Young Peter Jockson, the Black
Pearl, and others OF that calibre.
He has been In England for The past
ten years and Is reported as dong
very well. He laughs at the idea
H.. l.. A., 4oo oI1 IA Hght