Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-07-04
JACK JOHNSON DEFEATS JEFFRIES
IN 18th ROUND IN FIGHT AT RENO

Will be minimum of over $4,000
The fight really had its origin ii
the disfayor with which the general
public seemed to regard Johnson
not personally, but because it did not
relish having a negro, for the hrsj
time In history, as the heavy eight
champion of the world. Jeffries camt
upon the scene because there was nd
white man actively In the ring thai
mad chance to wrest the honorf {
from the black man.
Jeffries had retired formally from
the ring In 1906 and purchased [
ranch in California near Los Ange
les. He turned over his title-f
proceeding for which there was n{
precedent and the reason for whicl
never was made plain--to Maryif
Hart, who thus became nominal
champion. In 1905 Hart was chals
lenged by Tommy Burns. They met
In Los Angeles and Hart lost ii
twenty rounds. Burns thus hecomina
the champion.
johnson Becomes Champion.
Johnson, who had had an exciting
and somewhat arratic though buss
career In the ring, went to England
and thence on Burns trail to Aus
tralta. Burns finally as cornered and
on December 26, 1908, they fought
at Sidney. Johnson punished Burna
so severely that the police stopped
the fight to save Burns from an ac.
tual knockout. This gave the black
man the right to the title.
When hef returned to this country
a general demand went up for JEFF.
fries. But Jeffries had been enjoying
life and, already possessed of a for.
tune, as adding to 1t through his
ranch and saloon which he he con-
Quoted in Los Angees, emphatically
said he ould not enter the ring. The
calls, however, grew more emphatic,
land on April 20, 1909, he announce
that he would begin training
s.sgately and If at the end of
year he fe1t ffee1,tt-ss4at he could gen
condition he would agree tC@
johnson. On August 2 he sailed
Europe and on his return said h5
felt sure he coud regain hia form.
On October 20, Jefrries and John
son, ith their managers, Berger and
Little, met in the Hotel Albany In
Jersey City and formally signed the
articles of agreement, each posting
with Robert p Murphy $40, 900, OF
this sum $1,000 as to go as a side
bet and 5000 as a forfeit for ap-
pearance in the ring 1t was decided
at that time to open bids for the
fight on December / 1t was then
that R1ckard, for himsef and Jack
Gleason, made an offer of l91 sQ0an
which was accepted.
Accept big Offer.
On December the formal accep-
tance of this offer as ratified In Ho-
boken, N. j., and Senator Tim Sulli-
van was made stakeholder Later
there was a secret conference and a
new clause inserted In the articles
The secrecy with which 1t was done
caused suspicion at the time and 1t
was not until there was widespread
designation of the affair as "mov-
ing picture fight" that the parties
made known the text of the new
clause. 1t simply provided that Rick
ard and Gleason, Jeffries and john
son should form themselves into
corporation for the contral of the
picture privileges.
Then came discussions as to the
place for holding the fight. Rickard
wanted Salt Lake City and Gleason
San Francisco Gleason prevailed.
Emeryville, a town across the bay
from San Francisco, was selected, but
PRESSURE from the big city forced 1t
away and claimed the battle for
ltseIf John l.. Herget, who was
known in the ring as Young Mitch
Committee and license NIB nab NIB
ELL" was chairman of the Police
Committee and license was issued.
The construction of an arena that
would hold 10000 persons was be-
gun within a stones throw Of the
City Hall. Johnson was installed in
Seals Rock Inn and JEFF was in camp
at Rawardenan In the redwood disAss
trict. Both men were rapidly ap-
preaching toward their very best con-
dition when, without warming Tov-
ernor GilIet announced that the fight
would not be held even if he had to
call out the Statet roops to stop 1t.
Reno Finally Selected.
This as on June 16 and with the
fight only eighteen days away the
promoters had to hustle to select a
new battle ground. Nevada was the
only State which allowed fight to
a finish. Reno, Goldfield and Ely en-
tered into competition for it with the
result that Reno was chosen, because
of it's size and of the facilities for
transportation which it possessed.
A new arena was begun the fight
ers moved up Immediately that they
might become acclimated, the Gov
ernor of the State visited the men ana
announced that there ould be no In
terferance hen the men go into the