The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-02
] EFFRIE s VI I'LL
lose To JOHNSON
Joe Cans Says Negro Boxer Is
Superior to Former
CHAMPION,

NEW YORK, January IA week
ago a flash came to this country In
forming us that Bob Fitzsimmons, one
of the craftiest and best lighters that
ever stepped into q ring. went down to
defeat, and the epitaph was he could
not come back This same express
sion, says Joe Cans, viii be written
about James j. Jeffries on the night
of July 4, after his battle with jack
johnson for the championship OF the
world is over. For no matter how high
ly they sound the praises OF Jeffriea
now, when lie clashes With Johnson ihe
will meet his conqueror. 1t will be q
case of science against brute strength,
and In this affair the science of John
son will como out on top.
II want to say that I am not favor
Ing Johnson because we are OF the
same color. If I thought that Jeffries
could whip Johnson, would be one OF
the first to express my convictions. I
have been in the game too long TO al
low sentiment to cut my figure Its
simply a case of which man consider
the superior and my choice is john
son. Again. we me there Is no such
thing as the color tine.
There III no doubt that all fair
minded men viii agree with me that
a fighter is a fighter, pure aud simple.
no matter whether he is white or
! black. SO. therefore, no ono must think
that am prejudiced.
when Johnson returned after beat
/ ing Burns every one got excited and
shouted: 'Jeffries will have TO lick
| johnson aud bring back the title to
| the white race There was a day
| when he might have done so. But
| HOW II is entirely different. In his
/ prime Jeffrlc5 was a bunch of muscle
FsaWa Al n
| has had years OF rest. and at present
the retired champion is simply mass
OF soft flesh that Is In such condi-
| ton that IL viii be impossible for him
/ to get back to the old days. Jeffries
will train hard, but nature has had
] such an easy time that 1t Will not re-
/ spond sufficiently to the treatment.
and when he faces Johnson he VIII be
far from the Jeffries of old
"Jeffries may manage to get rid OF
4 lot of overweight, and may appear
as fine as a fiddle when ne sits In his
corner. but take ii from rnc, that old
vitality, which is absolutely necessary
| for any kind of a battle, will be MISS
ing. and then what can you expectf
A ''It Is almost positive fact that all
the folks who refuse to give Johnson
j chance with Jeffries simply figure
through prejudice against the colored
! fighter.
'fHe can't hit, he always hacks UP,
he hasn't got the punch. and lie is
alwayH stalling. are few things that
they charge to Johnson. Nov. In my
4 estimation. and you know that 1 have
seen them all. think that Johnson is
one of tho greatest fighters of the
past twenty years. Jim corbett Is
4 admitted to have been marvellous
. fighter AS good as Jim was. l claim
that johnson is just a little better
than Jim at his best. Many Will dis
;, agree with this statement, but know
lot of inside dope regarding John
son.
.'JohGson Will enter the ring With
no fear of losing to JefsrieS. That. you
must admit. is u great asset In q
championship battle. In fact. he figures
that this fight Will be the easiest IN
his career. This may not please JEFF
frfess admirers. but IL is the plaii
truth. You viii see Jack use all his
. cleverness in the first round to prevent
Jcffries from landing his right that
has Landed so many men. That means
that johnson will keep on the defen'
sive until he thinks Jetfries has los'
lot of his strength and is having
trouble with his wind
when Jack is satisfied that he hold;
. the upper hand then he Will change his
tactics and try to beat Jeffries doWr
with those sharp uppercuts and sting
ing jabs that will take tho big Ael'
lows energy away and leave MN
mark for his colored rival