The Washington times., 1916-02-07

NEW YORK, Feb. flames ]. JEFF
fries. former worlds champion heavy
weight. win be asked to referee the ten
Ground battle between Jess Willard and
Frank Moran, which is scheduled to be
held somewhere" in this city on March
Il. Tex Rickard, who is promoting the
affair. will offer Jeff the job.
Rickard and Jeffries are great friends.
They have kept up correspondence
ever since the fight between Jeffries and
Jack Johnson, which was promoted and
refereed by Rickard.
In case Jeffries accepts TeX's offer,
application will be made to the State
athletic commission for a referees
license for Jeffries. Whether the COM
mission will grant this license Is prob
there may be some difficulties placed In
the way of Jeffs appointment.
However, this will rest entirely with
the commission. which has discretion
Rry powers in the matter.
Il think that Jeffri@ as referee Will
help the match along" declared Rick
ard ct the Waldorf-Astoria, where he
is staying, Il intend to invite ferries
10 see the bout as my guest, anyway.
There appears to be great interest
in the coming contest added RICK
ara. ALREADY / have received orders
and l have an order for two tickets
fiom a man in Little Rock, Ark. In
no case does any one ask what the
price will be, but all want to know
where they can mail checks. This
shows that the price will not be the
most important consideration with the
fans.
Dave Lewinsohn informs me that
he has already made arrangements for
special train TO carry fans from
Chicago, and adds that he may re-
quire two or even three specials, to
say nothing Of those who will come
in the regular way from the Win iy
II see that some of the newspapers
have alluded to the fight s gamble
and to me as q gambler" continued
Rickard. This is not gamble and
I'm not a gambler. 1t is strictly a
come to see it will not be paying eX-
orbitant prices. When one goes to
see Gaby Deslys or some opera singer
he pays anywhere from 50 to Sc. Say
Gaby gets $4,000 week. Well, I'm
laying many times that amount for
my show, and the prices in compari-
son will be extremely low. I haven't
made up my mind just where I'll hold
the fight, but one thing Is certain
1t will not be in the open. I'm not
weather.
II expect Tom Jones here Tuesday
and then I'll give out all the details
OF the match. Until then I will be
A report from Los Angeles says that
Jeffries has been Ill for three weeks
and is just convalesoing. He will not
he out for two weeks. However, the
Willard-Mora fight is more than five
weeks off, and Jeff would have plenty
Of time to get into condition to referee
the battle.
The possibilities Of Madison Square
Garden being used for the proposed
heavyweight combat between Jess Will
lard and Frank Moran are as remote
now as before negotiations were opened
by TEX" Rickard with Jimmy John
eton. commSnder-in-chicf of the Gar
den fighting arena RicSarIl and Iohn-
ston met yesterday and Rickard re-
newed his offer OF $1,000 for the uee OF
the place, but Johnston demurrcd and
asked for more time to think r. over
There Will be another meeting between
tn rival promoters today. IN which
Tom" Jones, manager Of Ward. Is
New York this morning from Chicago
10 complete arrangements for the night
and to sign binding articles as we'll as
TO put up his forfeit Of $500 for tho APP
pearance of the champion.
RicLATd intlmated last night that tie
meeting today between himself and
Johnston would be the last In this re,
spect. He says that II the Madison
to U take $500 for d one.Tisht lease cot Of
the building he Will look elsewhere. lie
asserts that he has three places be-
sides the Garden in view for the stag
ing Of the fight. Ono place he thinks
highly of, hut says there will have to
be some ren1odellfng done, which would
not be necessary IL tho Garden was OBJ
The fisht will be held in Now York
regardless Of our getting or not getting
the Garden" said Richard, I'VE have
guaranteed a lot of money that we
would stage this fpIht and You car
gamble II will bu held