Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-04
WORLD OF SPORTS

the growth of his waist line. He never
intended to fight again. And had the
championship remained in the keeping
of a white man. he never would have
fought again.
So, after all. it is Johnson's black
skin that has won him his chance to
fight Jeffries.
When tine gong signals the fighters
to their work tomorrow, they will be
surrounded by the greatest gathering
of sport lovers the world has ever seen.
Row after row, rising toward the sky
line, the spectators will fill the great
octa gonal structure that has been built
to stage this fight of fit,hts.In gate
money they will represent approx
mateIy half a million dollars. The
crowd has come from all quarters of
the glote to see the giants battle. There
are men from London and Paris. from
Berlin, and even from Manila, and the
cities of Australia. Japan and China.
1t is doubted if there is town of any
size in the United States or Canada
that is not represented by at least one
man Tickets were booked months
ahead. and special trains were run the
breadth of the country to bring the
multitude together.
Physically. both Jeffries and johnson
are remarkable men. They are big men
in every way. and yet are scientific
boxers. last IN every motion OF their
great bodies, with wonderful control of
the bloWc< they launch, and which are
backed by the power Of steam ram
Their supe- iority over the rank and file
of heavy weights was won because OF
this combination of skill with great
strength. of Judgment and clear head
work with the greatest offensive force.
Jeffries is a bigger man than JOhn-
son. but they are more evenly matched
than am two heavy weights who have
entered the ring in mary years. What
Johnson lacks in size he makes up for
in skill and in the fact that he has
never known a period of physical re
taxation such as Jeffres has enjoyed
for the vast ttv" &c RS
Ripht there is the 'soond lestion
thai is to he &C led tomorr w-the
ouestion to which III h'do mas
| been seeking the answer sin this
fight va" frat eu~-Gsted Could JET
| fries "cornc back ~
Jeffries thouoht he could ana De-
lievce that he haG. His opinion as 10
| the possibit;tv of reetoratbn was p2seu
| unon tho Sts tement5 of renowned lot
! e;gn nb-si ia who eXaInlned MN IL
| wac a nueytA.n he could not answer
| bip,celf when the desire to hight John-
| cor, first came t. him. He doubted that
he could regain such physical cndltloii
| nc would warrant his return 10 the
ring. and because. of that DOUBT ne re-
| fused to discuss the matter, althousli
| the sporting writ erS OF tne Whole
country were trying TO draw hun out:
II became known, however that ne
was beginning to talse care OF nliilseil
AGAIN: that physical exercises were tile
order of the day at his home' ana tla
the old war horse was teellng hiiiiSeil
ont in a tentative way Inc results
n,oased him, and then came ms Zip
abroad and encouraging reports lloli =
the medical men. Jeffr1aS was sure VI
himself at last, and he at ono Oh
,,,o.d that he would fight the black
champion. oa 1.ok,,
uis belief that ne has "come PACK
crows from his own judgement IN the
weeks since when early in May ne lias
49,, seek;ne athletic re birth in MS
camp at Ben Lomond' ~ -.
There in the picturesque up1lse VI
tho santa Cruz Mountains, ana within
easv motoring distance of the surf III
sh;ob he loves to plunge his great ooay
49,, 10 man has been watched by
tr,,r.rs phvsicians. ringside experts
va corne of correspondents These
nr, from, their various points OF vie"
mite in saying that Jeffries is once one,
more fit. and equal to the stress 'n nt
faces him. OF Johnson's physical ., Ut
ness there is and has been no aues.,om
With him it is simply, is he the ma man III
skill KILL auickness and endurance ,'ians the nc
match the self-retired Champion champ Tomo "e
hatting is the public's opinion lo'''oh
row will tell. .,. 80 tho msy
following are the statistics o, tne ' .n,
a. thew have been given out du'lis '''
training season rohnson