Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-04
TODAY jim TAKES TO THE HILL

RENO, New July s-(Spec!al Teis-
thousand persons will he
at the ringside Monday afternoon when JiE
Jetfres and Jack johnson begin their
glove contest for the heavyweight cham
pionship of the world Ten thousand OF
them are already In Reno and another
10000 are Coming from the cast and west
on special trains regular Pullnans and
tourist cars, emgrant trains and freight
cars-any way 70 get out on the ground
and have the price Of a ticket to the big
show.
Yesterday marked the last day of train.
ing in both camps.
James j. Jeffres-Ill win in the first
round with one punch IL possible
Jack Johnson-I win bring home the ba-
con; I'll wear him down.
The foregoing are the laconic statements
Of the two fighters.
This afternoon Jeffries had final con-
ference with his seconds and tomorrow he
and Mrs. Jeffries viii avoid the gaze Of
the curious by hiking off to some secluded
spot in the hills for the day.
James j. Jeffrles, the undefeated cham
pion and his chief second, James j. Cor
bett who lifted the crown from the heaa
of the mighty John l.. Sullivan, were
culled from the ranks of the ''unknowns''
by Delaney and made champions.
Delaney, when interviewed just before
starting for the fight center. said:
Goodness! l never thought this fight
would take place. l never thought Jeffries
FOL nd at
match was made in New York bet hats
and boxes, of cigars that Jim would find
convenient hole through which he would
escape. When Jeffries was fighting and
at his hest Johnson used to follow him
about the country and hui1 challenges at
him. Jeffries refused TO meet him on the
ground that his, sIsIa was biacic The fact
that he had already fought coored men.
like Bob Armstrong. Peter Jackson and
Hank Griffin cut no ice. Jeffries turned
johnson down cold, Why? Because he was
afraid of him.
Wants 10 ne Fair.
IF Jeffrles goes through this match with
out a hitch 1t will be the first one in my
experience that he has not asked a post
ponement for. At the beginning of this
talk wish to say that my personal feel
cloud my judgment. Though will be be-
hind Johnson want to be fair and give
the public my honest opinion and nothing
more or less. To return to Johnson, the
sporting world does not know how good
a fighter he really is In my mind he has
been fighting under wraps. The public
has not really seen him extended In recent
years Fighters OF the type of Ketchel,
Burns and Flynn could not push him hard
enough to get up sweat. Great little
middleweight that Ketchel IS, he was a
mere toy in his hands, and. as / say, we
don't really know how great man Jack
Johnson IL. or recent times he has done
all that's been asked of him, and no COM
petent judge of pugiiist will deny that
he is a vastly improved mechanic.
while 1 am singing Johnson's praises
1 will be fair and give Jeffries the credit
of being the greatest heavyweight of his
time. Despite the fact that Jim was a
coward out OF the ring and hated to de-
| fenu his tit'e worse than going ON an op-
Grating table for an operation. still be
was a wonderful fighter. After the gong
rang, the seconds left the ring and the
gloves were raised to parry and punch,
he feared no man born of woman. Before
the gong. no fighter suffered more from
| stage-fright but I am talking about JEFF
fries as i knew him six years ago.
''Wnl Jeffries come back? That is q
question we have heard thousand times
We certainly can't reasonably expect JEFF
fries to improve any. Six years is long
| time to be out OF the ring
Opinion of Jeffries.
"Jeffries likes the good things life affords
and has INDUCED himself to some degree.
/ would not say that his age is against
him. However johnson has kept his eve
clear his foot quick and his muscles plant
by frequent appearances In the ring and
for six years Jeffries was rusting. IL
stands to reason that he has slowed I'D in
consequence OF his inactivity. WIN ne re-
gain his speed2 l think not. Baseball play
ers, track athletes and other human be-
ings, who indulge In various forms Of sport
don't come back after long vacations and
l don't know as I ever saw a prize fighter.
| understand Jeffries has trained conscIen-
tiously for this affair. Friends who have
| visited him we're surprised at his condi-
! ton, which shows that he has worked hard.
l would not want him to be in any other.
but the pink OF condition. 1t pleases me to
know that Jeffries can have no excuses.
when he IS defeated, which he will be.
"My going with Jack johnson should
make no difference to Jim, except TO i'm
pei him to fight all the harder. know
he won't want TO see me behind the next
champion.
ut has been whispered that Jeffries will
take an offensive stand and carry the
fighting to Johnson. l don't believe II, In
all my experience with Jeffries could not
get him TO box on the aggressive and il
was not his nature. Until he was punched
he liked to loaf and take his time. What
Johnson will do ! am unprepared 10 say.
1t will all depend upon what sort of fight
ing Jeffries maps Off How long the fight
viii go. whether II win be fast or slow,
that is something | never would allow my
self 10 prognostioate. The speed OF the
battle viii depend upon the condition OF the
men. and this is why We are not going
TO make any plans until we have gone q
few rounds with Mr.. Jeffries and see how
much he has left In him"