The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1910-05-15
WnENJACK MUNROE
FOUGHT JEFFRIES

Here is James ]. Jeffries' own
story about his fight with Munroe Ia
this city:
Some time after our fight FItzsin.
mons and | formed combination and
began touring the country with a
show. Fitzsimmons was a good card
because of the groat fight he had
given mo. The show was a success
everywhere we went Around
through some of the western states
wo met all corners instead OF box.
Ing together. Some Fitz took oo and
some | took on. II was In this way
that | happened TO make Jack Nun
roe famous
This Munroe was a miner woTkIn;
In Butte, Mont He had been a good
football player and amateur cham
pion boxer OF the Pacific coast
Long before we struck Butte an ad-
vance agent had picked him out. |
didn't know 4 thing about Munroe
The house that night was packed aud
all the people there expected to see
some fighting. The fellow who hal
been selected for Fft5simmons didn't
know how to fight and he made such
poor exhibition that Fitzsimmoas
knocked him out In a round to end
1t. Nose La Fontise, a good little
fighter from Montana, who won a
lot of fights all over the west. went
on next. and knocked his man. some
secondrater named Foley. out 10 4
round, too.
That left only Munroc and me. It
wasn't much OF a show to give with
n packed house out in front. told
Fftzsimmons | was going to let Nun
roc stay as long as ] could and try
to give the people a run for their
money.
Don't you be fool" said Bob.
You get In there and finish him az
quick as you can. You're champion
and you can't afford to fool around
with dub
] thought I knew best, so l went
out and boxed lightly and gave the
miner a chance to make a showing
/ was careful not to hurt him. Fits
was mad as halter when came
back to my corner after the first
round He roasted me TO n turn and
told mo TO go out and end It, In the
next round | spared easily again, bu;
hit Munroe In the stomach and
dropped him harder than I mean;
TO. and | was afraid he wouldn't get
mp. But he did. In spite OF FIT,
who was almost raying. I let Munroo
stick until the fourth round Then
went In TO finish him. but every tine
fclnted for nm opening or stepped
in with punch he dropped to the
floor without being hit and took the
count. He was on his knees so mucG
that / didn't have a chance to knock
him out That was all there was to
the Munroe matter In Butte.
That night Clark Ball had falling
out with Fitz6immons lie rushed
over and signed up Munroe. and be
gan wiring all over the country tell
ing the papers that Munroc had won
a decision over me In four rounds
and had knocked me down
Fitzsimmons was sore as a bear. He
offered to fight Munroe and give him
$4,000 Ii he stayed two rounds
Neither Munroe nor Clark could see
it And Munroe wouldn't fight me
another four rounds for any amount
OF money.
In a day or two Ball and Munroe
cast, keeping the wires hoi
all the way When they reached
New York City they were received
with open arms, and the miner tray
cled around like q champion, with
everybody staring and following bIm
down the street. After / got over be
Ing sore. 1t was a great joke for ME
Munroe couldn't fight at all In Butte
All he could do was hug and wresto
and plump down on his knees.
Back In the east his managers were
wise enough TO hold him back unul
they could teach him something. He
was big and strong and did fairly well
after while. He beat poor old Peter
daher. although Peter nearly Knocked
lis head off in the first round He
stopped some steyedore named Lin
,rick in Boston, and after a year or
30 he fought Sbarkey In Philadelphia
This was aftcr my fight with Corbcu
md | sat at the rinGside. Sharkey
nearly knocked Munroc out, but tho
miner got up and punched Sharkey oil
he ribs-the old weak spot he got II
'ur Coney Island battle-for the RESI-
II the Elk rounds. and Tom was all u
It the finish. That made Munrce
omething Of reputation