Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-28
SETTING THE STAGE FOR GO
johnson and Flynn TO Meet in New
Mexico.
HAuGHroN SIZES UP THE MATCH
Believes Flynn o. Imprevinn While
the Dope All Points to Jack
Johnson's Going the
Othe rWay.
ny w. w. NAUGHToN.

SAN FRANClcIUs SAl-t Aptai @s0o
far as can be judged at this writing. the
Johnson-Flynn match for the champion
ship Of the world Is fixture. The nnan-
eiai ARRANGEMENTS. whatever they may be,
were agreed upon long ago. The only
thing that clouded the atmosphere was
the question Of q battle-ground. and now
ali uncertainty on this score seems 10
have been removed.
The passage of law In New Mexico
providing for the handling Of pugilistic
enterprises in that section opened new
field for the wandering knights OF the
padded mitt and when. on the day the
Trip measure went through the house
at Santa Fe. Jack curley named Las
Vegas the place of meeting for the cham
pionshlp. there was q suggestion Of team
work and the eternal fitness of things.
Nothing succeeds like success. and now
that Curley has succeeded in paving the
way for his championship venture he
viii compel critics and sporting men
generally to sit up and pay attention to
the heavyweight event. II will be pretty
hard to eradicate the opinion that Fire
man Flynn lis not worthy adversary
for the black skinned world heater. Jack
johnson. The only possible way 10 In
duce the public TO regard Flynn's chances
with any degree OF seriousness Is TO cause
speculation to arise as to the effect that
. couple Of years OF Incidence and luxury
have had upon johnson and Johnson's
uppercuts-
n there were good grounds for thinking
that johnson can take up his work again
and perform a. dexterously as he did
against Jeffries at Reno. this match
that hangs in the balance would be Iii
subject for investigation by some Of the
societies who make a speciality Of pre-
venting unealIed-for cruelties.
But there's tho rub. In Fiynns case
there Is reason for believing that he Is
improving as q fighter. The most elo-
auent evidence In favor OF this assump-
tion can DO found in his defeats OF Al
Kaufman and Carl Morris. In both affairs
the fireman performed In q workman
itke manner. AT that. however. the
gains be has made would avail him
nothing II johnson could be counted on
20 display his old-time form.
johnson has passed his thirty-fourth
year and has not been In the ring for
two years. John L. Sullivan was u and
had been out OF harness for three years
when he lost 10 Jim Corbett There 10
always disposition to attribute the de-
feat Of champion to physical retrogres-
sion and slowing up. and II was 30 when
Sullivan lost TO corbett. And the chances
are that sullivan, II he had been a few
years younger and he had not enjoyed
q thrse-year layoff would have made
things far more interesting for Pompa-
daar Jim
Jim Corhett Was only a few months
past his thirtieth year when he lost his
Iaurels to Fitxsimmons. This was IN
March. iS7. and three years had elapsed
siuce corbett defeated Charlie Mitchell
- % slEpgtfy At jacksonville
Weli. Il may BE- that Fitxsimmons woul,
have proved corbett's master n they ha,
met years sooner. but I have my doubts
In speed and cIeverncss corbett did no
show any particular failing away a
Carson. but In nerve foree--in the abii
nv to endure fatigue and remain proc
against excitement he was a mere mock
cry Of the lad who trounced Sullivan an.
Mitchell
Fitxsimmons was 81 when he wen
under TO Jeffries at coney Island. ans
had been out OF the ring couple Of
years.
Il II hard thing to figure In the eass
ck freaiy Individual like F1txssmmons
There was something about the feliov
that are could not wither and a gianc,
At his record viii suggest that so far q
~ many lives - . cat.
hut the style Of fight he put up witt
Jeffries Indicated that his two years
holiday had taken the edge off his fight
Ing prowcss.
A year later, when he made an aetiv
campaign. II win be remembered that b
knocked out a whole lot OF fellows 4
short order. the list including Tom shar
key and Gus Rubin, both OF whor
were disposed Of within a week.
Jim Jeffrfes was q few months owe
sfc swensy-nine-year notch when h
boxed Jack Monroe In San Francisco
fbortly afterwsrd he retired. iiteraiI
beceuss there was nothing In the shape Q
: hpman fighting animal that could hoi
= candle TO him. Six years later, at tn
eiamorinx Of press and public he cam
forth TO give battle To Jack johnson.
Nov this Il a painful subject. but
there was anyone at Reno who saw any
thing about Jeffries to recall In III
slightest measure Jeffries the puiverixe
Of sfx years previous. he has not bee
located
or course. SIX years Is enough to pu
man out Of touch with any kind OF
game. but In the present instance II !
not a question OF what difference 4
years viii make. but what two year
with make. II may be that two year
would have made a. much inroad o
Jefffiss In fighting force as six.
According 10 popular opinion. three year
knocked all the championship class on
Of John L Sullivan and Jim corbett an
this. too. when Sullivan was the sam
sxe ~ Johnson Is now and Corhett wa
nearly four years younger.
In view OF what has happened dow
through the championship years. TIL
DOES not seem failacinus line OF reason
inx. In man of Johnson's habits an
age two-year sap in his activities /
sure to work 70 his detriment to som
extent.
There Ia a double-taIked question Ii
VOWED
How much has johnson depreciats
since be boxed Jeffrses?
How much would he have to depreciai
So $e-axaxs Flynn an even money choices