Omaha daily bee., 1912-04-14
FIGHT FANS ARE WAITING
Jack curley's Scouting for Site Must
Soon Come to End.
WILL JOHNSON MEET HYENi
Foxy Promoter Plays for Time
in Naming the Field
for Battle.
BY w. W. NAUGHroN.


SAN FRANCISCO. April lS-Befor'
long we VIII know IL there Is TO be
Jack Johnson-Jlm Flynn match. Just
at present the prospect is none too
roseate. but a. Jack curley has promised
to give out some definite information on
May !, there is no harm continuing In q
guessing mood a while longer.
curley, by the way. still insists that
the championship event will take place
in July. The only doubt be says, Is In
regard to the place where the ring VIII
be pitched and II IS on this point that he
1 10 enIighten Us al the beginning OF
the merry month Of May.
Jack is surely persistent fellow. He
has hunted high and low for a loca-
ton that viii serve as an appropriate
setting for the heavyweight battle. and
he has shown wonderful determination
and marvellous qualities Of optimism In
tho face of Encouraging conditions
When last heard from. Jack was look
ing over the ground at Juarez. across the
river from Fl Paso. and was said TO be
trying 10 pave the way for the coming
together OF Jack and Jim at that point
Considering the status OF affairs around
Juarez. this seems like a sign Of weak
ness on Jacks part.
The revolution down that way has now
worked beyond the bounds OF a moving
picture speculation and there Is no tell
ing who may be In power and possess
sion at Juarez on any date during the
next few months. IL certainly seems as
though Jack mist have felt that all other
doors were closed TO him when he crossed
the Rio Grande 10 look for sure ground
for Flynn and johnson.
II may be. however. that curley Is
playing a deep game. Just as Dan Stuart
did when casting around for the mort
suitable site for the Bob Fftzslmmons-
Peter Maher match. Jack may be cross
ing the Mexican border in order to
throw the authorities in other directions
off the scent Possibly when Jack tells
where the fight is TO take place We
will have 20 admit that he covered his
tracks well and fooled us completely.
II Is said that Jack Johnson IL begin
ming TO feel dubious about curley's ability
to pull off the match aud is considering
certain offers placed before him by Tom
o'Rourke. Furthermore that one OF these
offers calls for ten-round bout between
johnson and Al Palxer in New York.
In view Of some Of the things that have
been said during the past six months.
this IL startling news. To begin with.
one OF the members Of the New York
boxing commission has set bis face
against johnson being allowed to appear
in New York ring and had threatened
10 disrupt the game II any promoter at |
tempted to sign johnson.
In the next place. a great deal was |
said about holding Palxer back Cor q year |
and permitting him to develop before |
sending him against Johnson. Then |
again. johnson was supposed to be In
censed against Tom oiRourke through |
some slight placed upon the champion in |
his cub days and that he would on no
account become party to any match
In which 0Rourke was interested.
Well. IL o'Rourke has made offers and
Johnson is considering them H. means |
that the dove Of peace has descended |
somewhere and that there Is a bettsr |
understanding all around. o'Rourke |
knows the ropes OF the fighting game
thoroughly and is not likely TO make
any fool breaks. II he approached John
son on the subject Of q match In New
York. II is a safe bet that New York IL
not considered closed to the champion.
notwithstanding the attitude Of the box.
ing commission.
IL the Fiynn-Johnson match is TO 20 |
BY the boards and johnson elects 10 box |
paizer, II should mean general loosen
ing up in the heavyweight division.
Flynn. when he finds himself fancy free.
other directions. and he viii have no diff
ficnity in securing dates. II would not |
surprise the writer II Tommy Burns and |
Flynn were signed up in quick order In |
case the Flynn-Johnson venture collapses
II Burns hestates or names insult |
able terms Jim has only TO say the word |
and Joe Jeanette will place himself at
Fiynn's disposal.
Before very long Mcvea and Langford
should be wandering this way from Au-
straiis. The open air boxing season closes
around sydney in May and there will be
nothing worth while after that for the
two 70 remain abroad for. When they set
back here and Bombardier Wells puts
In an appearance from England there
should DO plenty OF activity among the
big men ofethe ring.
With Carl Morris out of the lists. the
white hope brigade has dwindled 10 very
small Dimensions. As matter OF fact
Palxer seems to be the sole survivor OF
the movement In America and II
o'Rourke Is determined TO send his prom
isine novice against Johnson II may be
that Psiser will aehiese the distinction
Of being the last hope 10 go out OF bus
mess. 1t does not follow that defeat
by johnson will cause Paizer to quit
fighting entirely. bun he will be white
hope no longer.
But fighting Il q precarious business.
Jim Flynn has said that he considered
himself lucky in being matched with
Johnson. as he believed the champion
was doomed to deafeat the first time he
encountered fighter who would go at
him and exchange smsahes- II James
diagnosis Of the case Il correct and the
chsnse Flynn so ardentiy wished for
passes TO Pslzer. wont the fireman be
furious?