Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-29
FOURTH TO END BIG FIGHTS
Battle Between Jeffries and Johnson
Death Knell of Pugilism.
EVERYTHING IS READY AT RENO
white Man and CoIored Man Claim
60 BE In Best of Trim and Ar
arrangements for Bout Are
Completed.

RENO. New. June swell. this is
the last big fight Pugilism as IL has
fourished many decades will be a lost
art in the United States. and that means
in the world. when the Jeffries-Johnson
fight Is over"
such is the prediction Of the whole
fighting world. apparently. 1t Is shared
By fighters, trainers and sporting writ
they loiter about the hotels OF the
city or about the quarters OF the prinei-
pals patiently awaiting the coming OF
Monday and the decision that is to be
handed down in the arena on that day.
Whenever two old friends. comrades at
many ringsides, meet, often for the first
time in years, that is almost invarias5ly
the greeting. A touch Of regret for the
exciting days which they believe are gone
forever creeps into every conversation
A feeling almost OF sadness uderlies the
laughter and witty banter OF the gather
ing hosts OF fight followers. All seem
certain that this is the end. that when
tie shouting and the tumult" at the
ringside has died and the time of parting
has come. there will be nothing to say
but goodbye" 1t will not be until We
meet again"
1t will be q great fight And it will be
the last great fight" said one gray haired
veteran today.
Last of Big Fights.
The fight game has reached the end
have followed it since I knew enough to
follow anything 1 have learned 10 know
all these fellows around here BY meeting
them at the fighting centers, whether al
New Orleans. Jacksonville. san Francisco.
Goldfield or Reno. We have followed the
game together and we have followed to the
end. / am only glad that ii has not just
dwindled away. but will go out in a blaze
OF glory"
II was a day OF "reminiscences and tales
Of other fights and other fighters There
was little else to do. Jeffries' workout
early this morning came as complete
surprise. Hardly one Of the usual crowd
OF spectators reached Moana in time to
witness II. From then until johnson
davdled through a listness ten rounds with
his sparring partners late in the afternoon
there was nothing TO do but talk. 1t was
TOO hot TO walk much and the groups Of
sporting celebrities chung to the shade and
g0ssiped endlessly.
Once relieved OF his worries over the arena
which marred the beginning OF his day
Promoter Richard had time to answer num-
erous kilograms and 10 discuss many de-
tails of his preparations with his subordi-
mates. Most important OF these was the ar
rangement for transferring to Reno from
san Francisco $4,000 OF the purse money,
now on deposit in the coast city.
Transfer of Purse Money.
Richard was asked by Tim Sullivan Of
New York. stakeholder. to attend to this at
once and the funds probably will be in the
Reno bank tomorrow, Sullivan himself. ac-
nrdi N IA al
arrive July
The disturbance over the arena was
caused BY the loss for a time OF the plans.
When the blue prints had been found the
carpenters went at their work with will
and the framework had been partially
clothed with bleacher pianks before night
fell.
Richard and Johnson were in conference
FOR almost an hour at noon after the cham
pioR had done his eight miles OF road work
in the early morning. Both stated the mat
ter under discussion was without direct
bearing on the fight, but would not say
what had been talked Of Johnson later
visited bank and cashed a check and
then was whirled back to the camp.
When the negro. clad in his usual ring
costume Of blue and black. stepped into the
ring in the late Afternoon. the roped square
was thanked by big gathering Of visitors.
Al Kaufman called on after a few
minutes medicine ball work. but the four
rounds that followed were devoid OF stirring
moments. Kaufman puffed like broken
down race horse He was forced to do all
the leading, Johnson merely blocking his
blows and sending back no exchanges. The
altitude is bothering Kaufman considerably
and Johnson's easy breathing and perfect
condition are sharply noticeable beside his
sparring partners gasping work.
johnson whips Monahan.
Monahan came next and Johnson went
after him with playful force in the first
OF their four-round battle. Blood dripped
from Monahan's nose and lips in less than
a minute. Johnson shot in two straight
lefts with flashing speed and with definite
precision. Then he took things easy and
joked with Monahan and the crowd about
the ring as they tussled with each other
Two rounds with Dave Mills followed and
this concluded the days work
In all the boxing Johnson did not exert
himself His breath was unhurried when
IT was all over and the perspiration was
gathering on his whole body in a natura
way. The actual boxing was apparently
more OF concession TO the curiosity OF ths
crowd than anything else. II was Just play
for Jack and he showed that he was per.
4ctttg shlAsAieu WIN MS Skill IN THIS De
partment Of the game by every move he
made.
John L. sullivan. undefeated London
prize ring champion. watched johnson
work He stood on a rock far back OF the
crowd at the ringside and looked on. The
playful side Of the exhibition evidently
did not appeal strongly to the old warrior
he ruuabied somthing about seeing the
real business next Monday"
Training About over.
= present intentions are carried out al
~ Jeffries camp Thursday will see the
~-5t OF the former champions training
When he pulls the six-Ouuce gloves from
his hands on that day and has had his
parting tussle with the shadows the hops
of the white race" will have completed a
fun year Of training for his encounter with
Johnson
AT least 70 his own satisfaction Jeffries
has answered the question Of whether ne
could come back" ON the rubbing table
this morning after eleven hard, fast rounds
Of boxing ana Two rounds Of pulling and
haaiing with Farmer Burns. he said:
when my brother John arrived a few