Evening star., 1912-07-04
NEGRO ODDS-ON FAVORITE
Champions Own Money Offered at
2 to l, Finds No Takers.
FIREMAN PICTURE OF HEALTH
Probably Will Weigh 100 Against
212 for Opponent in Scrap
for Worlds Title.

EAST LAS VEGAS, n. NJ, July A.
The streets of Las Vegas presented an
animated scene today. many hours be-
worlds heavy weight championship battle
since Jack johnson defended that title
against Jim Jeffr.es at Reno two years
ago today.
This time it was Jim Flynn OF Pueblo
who assailed the negros claim to the
puglistic supremacy, and he was backed
by a big following of Colorado sport
lovers, who poured into town all last
night and today.
Two years ago Johnson was a short
ender in the betting. Jeffries. then un-
beaten, but retired, being 10 to 7
favorite. Today 1t was all the other way.
Johnson's own money. offered at 2 to 1
on himself, found no takers.
Wide Interest in Fight.
Despite the one-sided look of the bet
ting commissioners boards there appear
ed to be a wide interest in the fight. A
great many fight followers had gathered
in this city to witness the match. and
Las Vegas looked in small way today
much as Reno did two years ago. The
rattle and click of roulette wheels, the
droning voices of the faro dealers were
missing, but the same restless, foot
weary crowd surged back and forth along
the narrow sidewalks.
The crowds. the Fourth of July bunting
here and there, and the cries of newsboys
and hucksters lent an air of excitement
and anticipation. but the feeling OF un-
certainty and eager interest In the out
come which marked Fourth of July morn
ing at Reno was absent. There were no
heated debates on the street corners.
Everybody seemed willing to talk over
the probabilities in a dfspassionate and
purely philosophical way.
There was marked difference in the
way the fighters spent the last hours be-
fore the battle. Johnson devoted last
evening to the Unholz- oakum fight in
the arena in which he was to meet Flynn.
He occupied a front seat at the ringside.
and sat in bored silence while the little
fighters pulled and hauled about through
twenty rounds. From the ringside John
camp in his automobile and went straight
to bed. Today's fight apparently was
not I'm his mind.
Flynn Picture of Health.
Flynn paid his first visit in several days
to the town last night. He came clad in
brilliant red sweater which showed to ad-
vantage the lines of his huge chest and
powerful shoulders. AS he marched about
the hotel porch his ruddy sunburned face
and springy step indicating perfect
health. he was followed by a mob OF
fight fans. His stay was short, however.
and before darkness he was back In his
quarters six miles away, and visitors
were discouraged.
While the exact weight of the men will
not be recorded until just before the
fight Johnson will probably tip the beam
at 212 pounds and Flynn at 1870 or there
abouts.
A final drying OUT process was the
order of business in the morning at both
camps The men expected to rid them
selves of a pound or so of excess weight.
Weather Good, With Cool Breeze.
Indications this morning were for per-
feet weather. with clear skies and
light cool breeze, sweeping the mesa just
out of town where the arena stood within
it's canvas walls.
The canvas, which was placed in dou-
BILE walls some ten feet apart to shut on
the view of those not provided with box
office credentials, stood about ten feet
high, leaving plenty of space TOR the
breeze to dip into the inciosure itself.
The seats ranged back from the ring on
very gradual slope. the last row OF
bleachers being about on a level with the
ring. while the first row was all but on
the ground behind newspaper row..
Promoter Jack Curley had lost the
a.ned look of the last few days He
wore a broad smile. probably induced by
reports from the box office. which was
open until midnight last night to accom-
modate late corners. 1t seemed certain
early today that he would have q good
audience within the inclosure when the
men were started on their forty-hvs-round
journey.
Short Battle Expected.
The question of the length OF the fight
appeared to be the most absorbing one
in the minds of the fight fans" No