Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-04
Two Giants Will Meet
This Afternoon in Arena.
Jettr|es, Retired and Unde.
teated Heavyweight Champion.
Johnson, Holder OF the Title, by
Night Of Conquest.

Reno, Nevada, July 3.-Who is the
heavy weight champion of the world?
This is the question set for argument
tomorrow afternoon, when James j.
Jeffries, indicated champion, retired.
and Jack Johnson, holder Of Jeffries'
relinqujshed title by right Of con-
quest, meet in the first real heavy
weight championship battle held in
this country since Tommy Burns de-
feated Bill Squires, the Australian
challenger, in this city just three
years ago tomorrow.
For4t!e first time since he defeated
Bob Uitzsimnons in 1899. Jeffries is
the challenger Through all his spec
tacular ring career, Jeff never en-
countered setback He has never
tasted the bitterness of defeat, and
the sporting public has held him to
be the champion, despite his volun-
tary withdrawal in favor of Marvin
Hart in 1905. There were no new
fields then for Jeffries to conquer. Of
all the heavy weights before the pub
lie he was so easily the master that
a bout between the champion and any
one of them proved a poor drawing
card.
So Jeffries. in the prime of his man
hood, and when. his skill. strength and
f1ghting spirit were at their height.
retired. He rassed completely out Of
tn. prize-ighting world. 1t was his
intention and desire never to re-enter
q It, Let who would struggle for the
hOnors he laid down. said JeffrieS; he
was no longer Il fighter. He pro-
posed to enjoy in peace and comfort
in his Southern California home the
competence he had won in the give
and take of hard knocks
% But there was a dark horse in the
race-a very dark horse indeed-and
:. Jeffries never thought of the race
= question, better known in the sporting
whirl as the color line" represented
in John Arthur johnson. of Galveston,
when he planned bucolic future for
himself. He failed to reckon with that
mighty host. public opinion.
Jack Johnson, of Galveston. began
his ring career in his home town In
1901 He was a big. strong man, but
he lacked skill and experience, and
his skin was black. No one thought OF
him except as husky third -rater
That is, no one but johnson himself
For himself, it is said Johnson had
marked out d high place in the pug
ilistic game. He did not talk much
about it, but he worked for it early
and late fighting every one who came
his way; but fighting craftily, steering
clear of over exertion. and of mer
who we're decidedly his superior, anc
apt to bring his ambitions to disas-
trcus defeat. With every fight he
gained experience. He slowly bios
somed out as full blown scientific
boxer, clever beyond the run of or
binary big men. His ring generalshir
developed in most surprising way
and his big body showed at each APP
pearance that he was taking care cf
himself between whites, carefully
building up his strength without i'm
pairing his speed.
Through all the time Johnson was
fighting his way to the top. his dreams
were conferred about the one fight thai
some. day he would achieve-a fight
with Jeffries. the great man of the
ring. with a mind single to that pur-
pose he went forward. fretting against
delays but watching Jeffries, always
on hand when Jeffries stepped into the
ton to any other object than the
great white fighter.
When jeff retired Johnson did not
despair. He went on toward the
championship, chasing half way
around the world to get his chance al
Tommy Burns in Australia; but never
losing sight of the quiet farmer II
Southern California The champion
ship meant a great deal to him. Il
meant that fighters must come t'
him: that he would no longer be com
PEELED to scheme and struggle Just fol
the chance to fight. But more thai
that. in the end it meant fight will
Jeffries and Johnson knew it, and al
so he knew that Jeffries knew it. H.
had tested race prejudice in man!
WAYS He had heard the hiss of race
feeling in the shouting and yells
countless ring sides. He knew that
a black man held the coveted title o
the arena the day must come when Tia
white champion would be forced on
of his retreat and do battle for hi
relinuuished honorS. driven into tn
ring by popular clamor.
And to-day Jeffries and Johnson fac
each other in what virtually is tigh
to finish, For Johnson it is the frui
ton of his years OF hoping and plan
ming and fighting. For Jeffries it is
what? He has yielded to the pressur
of public opinion. He has re-entere
the ring after five years of easy. com
Portable living. years when age wa
etching it's wrinklcd device upon hi
forehead. when his mighty muscle
grew soft and fabby from disuse. an
when, the ripors and self denial o
training forgot. he cared nothing 70