The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-03-05
WAS HIS TOUR A
BENEFIT TO JEFF
Some Doubt Expressed as to
Whether 1t Helped the
Least Degree.
NEEDS SEVERE TRAINING
LATE, IRREGULAR HOURS AND
FLY BY NIGHT WHiRLS ENOUGH
TO UPSET THE STAMINA OF GI-
ANT ELEPHANT.

The settling down Of Jim Jeffries to
do hard training for his coming fight
with Jack Johnson has been decided
relief to the many thousands of fight
fans who pin their faith on the ability
of the big fellow to win back the
championship.
Despite all the assertions of Jeffries'
astute manager and clever press agent
Samuel Berger. to the effect that Jim
has benefited greatly by his work with
Gotch, the worlds wrestling cham
pion, and several other members OF
the troupe, it has proved hard mat
ter to convince the public that play
ing one night stands throughout the
country is an invaluable aid to a vet
eran who wishes to get into top notch
condition for what promises to be the
toughest and most trying of his career
Late, irregular hours, badly cooked
meals, fly by night whirls across the
country and consequent strain on
nerves and temper make up combi-
nation calculated to upset the physical
stamina of a bull elephant. and JEFF
fries, Hercules though he may be, is
only human, after all.
That he is far from being in shape
even to box at fast clip is the Opln-
ion of fistic experts in every big city
where he has appeared. His bouts
with Berger on the stage have always
been conducted in leisurely fashion
and have proved rather a disappoint-
ment to those who expect the Jeffries
Of old days forcing his opponent into
rafting pace and showing the vim
and dash of an athlete who thoroughly
enjoys his work.
For it must be conceded that the big
fellow spared very much in the style
of the man who had disagreeable
task to perform and was heartily glad
when it was finished.
Yet when it is remembered that JEFF
fries has not participated in ring en-
counter since the fateful night Of Aug.
26. 1904. when he put stop to the
aspirations of Jack Munroe by effec-
lively squelching the Butte miner in
two rounds, there is scant room for
wonder at his failure to display any
astonishing amount of speed in his
preliminary warming up gallops.
Five years of absence from the
squared circle must inevitably slow
down any fighter. even if he has led a
life Of Spartan simplicity during the
interval. And the world at large. at
least the sporting portion Of it. knows
that Jeffries has not done so. The big
fellow was never known to deny him.
self any of the creature comforts of
existence. He lived WELL drank as
much as he thought fitting and, in a
word, enjoyed himself thoroughly, as
a man may be expected to do who
never intends to pick up a challenger S
gauntlet and engage in warfare for
the championship crown
Up to the present. therefore, when
these things are taken into considera-
ton, JET has accomplished something
worth doing by getting rid Of much Of
the adipose tissue which the years of
idleness added to his belt line. It is a
far cry from now to the Fourth Of
July. the date set for the contest. but
the time is none too long for the con-
ditioning OF the retired king of the
heavies.
He must undergo training siege Of
unusual length and severity If he ex-
poets to bring his breathing apparatus
up to anything like it's old standard
OF perfection. restore elasticity and
power to his mighty muscles and step
into the ring fit and dangerous op-
ponent for the willy negro. Nobody
realizes this better than Jeffries him
self.
Despite the many interviews pub
lished as coming from the ex-cham-
pion. in which he is supposed to have
expressed himself contemptuously re-
gardins Johnson's fighting ability. it
can be safely asserted that Jeffries
does not undervalue the prowess of
his prospective antagonist. During his
entire career as Il pugilist he never
made the mistake Of holding an op-
ponent too cheap. an error which has
led to the downfall of many a high
class glove artist.
Munroe was undoubtedly the softest
sacrifice that capricious fortune ever
offered up at the Jeffries shrine. and
the then champion knew i'll advance
that the miner was not even Of coed
third class rating. Yet he did not
neglect his training on this account.
for when he faced Munroe at Frisco
he was in superb shape. keyed up to
concert pitch and fit to battle all night
if it had been necessary.
1t is only fair to surmise that Jeff
possesses just as much horse sense to-
day as he did some FIVE years ago. and
the man who refused to take chances
with Jack Munroe is not likely to be
gulled into accepting the much more
formidable johnson as an easy money
gift