Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-01-31
TEX RICHARD
ONLY POOLING?
BY CLARK.

One nnds It pretty hard to take seri-
ously the plans Of Tex Richard to pull
of another fight between Jack John
son and Jim JeHries. Yet the Reno
promoter is not merely talking, but is
likely to go through with his scheme.
Richard has given 1t out that he holds
Johnson's promise TO meet JEFF at any
time that 1t might suit his pleasure,
provided the right sized purse was
offered, and Richard Is now working
hard to get Jefffs consent to arrange
the match. The fact that Jeffries has
repeatedly charged that he was drug
ged on the day he fought johnson
leads to the belief that 1t will not be
a difficult matter to induce hin to
fight the negro again.
Jeffries recently stated that he
would not fight again. Still, 1t must
be remembered he said the same thing
when he was first approached to meet
Johnson after the latter's defeat Of
Tommy Burns. 1t is not necessary to
review unpleasant history which was
made when he changed his mind. It
is a possibility of similar reversal Of
ideas that Tex Richard and his assocf-
ates are banking or at the present
time. Jef's real friends hope he will
close the argument for all time with a
curt refusal to fight again, but this is
far from assured.
If the men are matched, where will
the rgnt be nesaf ~xe ssrreaywwih not
take place In san Francisco. And II
Richard plans to hold it In Reno he
would lose q fortune.
Just what view the public would
take Of such a match remains to be
seen. Right now the sentiment would
be against a return engagement. for
those who can figure Jeffries as having
q chance are few and far between. 1t
would be looked upon as a mere effort
on the part of those interested to get
the public's money.
Jeffries and johnson might make a
fair amount Of coin out Of the bout.
thanks to the repeated hollers from the
california bear that he is positive
he was drugged, but 1t would be no
worldwide sensation. Outside of JEFF
fries, his immediate family and n
or t@o newspaper writers who are
warm personal friends Of the defeated
Idol, no one even hints that Jeff could
come back, even with the most strenil-
Gus training.
II he was all in at Reno, why
shouldn't he be In worse shape, SO far
as fighting is concerned. a year or SO
hence? Fight enthusiasts might attend
because the sporting public sometimes
likes to be bunkoed. but the fight, In
all probability, would have the same
sort Of ending. But there would be
this satisfaction In handling the
match-Jen would have to come down
from his lofty throne of indifference
and s~ullenness to make the match o
financial success He would have to
train under orders and be more agree
able to the world at large.
AS a defeated champion. and defeat
ed with no credit to himself. Jim JEFF
fries would likely discover the sporting
public inclined to treat him more
coidlv. There would be less running
after JEFF and more necessity for him
to play the courtier, however painful.
In signing for such a fight the Call
fornian would make 1t apparent that
he wants the money rather than. as
he once loftily put 1t, the glory of re-
claiming for the white race the heavy
weight championship. Nor viii he be
able to lay the blame of forcing him.
back Into the ring upon the newspa-
pers.
The former boilermaker should I'M
derstand once for all that public senti-
menf does not require him to get back
into the game. The public Is either in
different on the subject or would OPP
poseit II 1t had d word to say. JEFF
fries may fight for the sake of gold.
but that win he all. The proposed
fight cannot stand out by Itself and
would be nothing more than q contest
between the recognized champion and
one OF the familiar sights OF the prize
ring-the beaten man who wants n
more chance.
ML