Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-17

RICHARD SAYS BIG
FIGHT COMES HERE
Held in Utah. Gleason Insists
On San Francisco.


Johnson-Jim Jeffries worlds heavy
weight championship battle would b
held in Utah on July next Rickar,
declares he has the assurance OF man,
prominent business men OF this CITY tha
the contest can be staged here. an,
acting upon that assurance he make,
the positive statement that tho fight viii
he staged here. The announcement wa,
reiterated Sunday and again today
Saturday afternoon Rickard made q
trip TO Saltair with A Fred Wey and
]. F.. Langford, and looked over III,
bicycle arena Sunday afternoon Rick.
ard gave il out that the contest wouIf
take place at Sal;aAr and that the seat.
ing capacity of tho arena would be en-,
larged TO accommodate 5000 persons TIC
DO this II win be necessary TO build !
gallery around the roof with an air space
between the gallery and the seats as
they now are and seats will also h.
built down TO the ring, Ricknrd says "a
deal has been practically closed
RICHARDS MESSAGE.
Following the announcement Saturday
night Rickard sent the following mes
sage TO Tim Sullivan, the stakeholder:
you. as official stakeholder OF the
Jehries-Johnson boxing contest on next
July Fourth. and 1, as partner with Jack
Gleason of San Francisco. California, as
promoters OF the 4S-round boxing con-
you that the battle Will take place in
Salt Lake City. Utah.
Il wish to further notify you that I
stand ready at any time to post the
entire purse with you and in the event
Of official interference. or through any
cause or fault of the Utah authorities.
tho boxing contest being stopped. 1 au-
thorlze you 10 pay over the entire purse
Of coo TO be posted with you, TO the
proper representative OF James ]. JET
frles and Jack Johnson.
(Sgned) "TEX RICHARD"
GOVERNOR SAYS NO.
Following the assertion that the fight
will be held here. comes the statement
from Gov. William Spry who was In
Chicago Sunday on his way to Washing
ton TO attend the meeting OF governors
10 discuss conservation of national re-
sources;
SThcre will be no fight in Salt Lake
OF any other place in Utah The author
tiles will take whatever drastic steps
necessary TO prevent 1t" Gov. Spry or
Utah. who arrived in Chicago late to-
night, made this statement
Il have made this assertion before"
continued Gov. Spry. but L repeat
now with renewed emphasis. There is no
use Of these sporting men keeping up
tho talk of oyerthrowing the law In
Utah. 1t would be absurd IL q couple
of fight promoters could nullify the law
al their convenience. The law is against
the fight and We simply will not permit
II.
Il don't think it would be necessary
10. call out the militia TO prevent fight,
but we would take whatever drastic ac-
tfon would be necessary. 1t Is generally
understood that the fight is to take place
In California, and We do not think there
Is any danger of our state being In
vaded. AS to the supposed guaranty
having been put up by Salt Lake bust
ness men, 1t had no official sanction"
GLBAsoN's VERSION.
Jack Gleason. who is a partner of
Richards In the promotion of the con-
test. issued the following statement at
san Francisco;
.champion Jack johnson and former
Champion James J. Jeffrles will fight in
this city on the afternoon OF July AT
Q o'clock. tho statement of Tex Rickard
to the contrary Notwithstanding, There
wall be no heavyweight battle In Salt
Lake this year unless arrangements are
made between other fighters.
Jack Gleason made this statement to-
night when shown what Tox Rickard had
TO say in his interview given at Salt
Lake City. The two fighters Will toe
the scratch In San Francisco and decide
the matter Of fistic supremacy between
the two races here" he continued Glea-
son made these assertions tonight before
several we'll known sports and his man
ner indicated n determination that was
unmiStakablo, according 10 an AsSocIAeeu
Press dispatch,
When first shown the Rickard state
ment, Gleason laughed Then he became
angry and was emphatic iii his declara-
tion that San Francisco would be the
battle ground.
why. when Richard talks about hav-
ing an agreement with the lighters and
me that he was TO be allowed TO choose
the place In which the fight is to be held.
he Is way on" said Gleason, Ihae nat
place OF meeting and decide the date;
have done this. The fight Will be held
In San Francisco and L Will have a per-
nit so that the men can night 40
rounds. II Tex Rickard doubts the
truth of the statement that the agree
ment was in my favor. let him ask the
fighters. Wen see where they want
10 fight.
role and anyone would think that this
was his fight. You can take II from me
that l am the man who Is going 10 dic-
tate the terms In this thing Inc nsht-
ers and their managers know ms, 700;
s'Rickard talks about forfeiting the
amount of the purse TO the fighters II
he falls TO pull the fight on In Salt Lake
City. l wonder If the lighters woulo IKE
to content themselves with the amount
of the purse and not fight, or hgnt ana
get the purse and the moving picture
money besides. II those sports In salt
Lake City want to bet that the hght VIII
go there, We have so.OOO 10 start Wl'n
That We will wager that they are wrong
WIRES ARE CROSSED
Another dispatch from San Francisco
says.
bitter controversy has been engen-
dered between the two fight impressarlos
who are TO handle the Jenrles-Joilnson
championship fight Jack Gleason OF san
Francisco and Tex Richard of Nevada.
over the selection OF the battle-ground.
just at present there Is a wide difference
OF opinion between the two managers as
to where the go will be held. Tex RICK.
ard Issued a fiat statement last night
mat the fight would take place In Salt
Lake or the Immediate vicinity. In re-
sponse, Jack Gleason just as positively
STAT that when Jeffrlcs and Johnson
met the ring the greatest fistic event
IN years will taNe place In San Francisco
And In this condition the situation Is
ieft dangling in midair. Where the con-
troversy Will end is coming to be the