The Washington times., 1916-02-07

NEW YORK. Feb. james j. JEFF
fries. former worlds champion heavy
weight. will be asked to referee the ten
Ground battle between Jess Willard and
Frank Moran. which is scheduled 10 be
held somewhere" in this city on March
l.. Tex Rickard. who is promoting the
affair. will offer JEFF the job.
Rickard and Jeffries are great friends.
They have kept up a correspondent"
ever since the fight between Jeffries and
Jack johnson, which was promoted and
refereed by Rickard.
In case Jeffries accepts Texs offer.
application will be made to the State
athletic commission for referee S
license for Jeffries. Whether the COM
mission will grant this license rs prob,
there may be some difficulties placed In
the way of .eff's appointment.
However, this will rest entirely with
the commission. which has discretion
ary powers in the matter.
Il think that JeffrieS as referee VIII
help the match along" declared Rick
ard ct the Waldorf-Astoria ia, where he
is staying, Il intend to invite Jefries
There appears to be great interest
in the coming contest" added Rick
ard. "Already I have received orders
and | have an order for two tickets
Il ON n 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 Tor
r,ic hat -
Guire two or even three specials. to
say nothing OF those who will come
IA the regular way from the Win ~
city,
have alluded to the fight As a gamble
and to me as gambler" continued
Rickard. This IL not gamble and
I'm not a gambler. 1t Is strictly a
business proposition. And those who
come to see it Will not be paying eN-
orhitant prices. When one goes to
see Ciaby DeslyS or some opera singer
lie pays anywhere from 81 to So. Say
Gabv 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. | haven't
made up my mind just where I'll hold
the fight, but one thing Is certain
it will not be in the open: I'm not
weather.
Il expect Tom Jones here Tuesday y
and then I'll give out all the details
OF the match. Until then l will be
unable to do So"
a report from Los Angeles says that
Ieffries has been Ill for three weeks
and ia just ConvalesCing. He will not
he out for two weeks. However. the
willard Moran fight is more than five
weeks off, and Jeff would have plcnt
of time to get into condition to referee
toe battle.
The possibilities Of Madison Square
Garden being used for the proposed
lard and Frank Moran are as remote
now as before negotiations were opened
by Tex Rickard with jimmy John.
atom. commander -in-chicf OF the Gar
ston met yesterday and Rickard re.
newed his offer OF 5000 for the use oi
the place, but Johnston demuTrcd and
asked for more time to think T. over
There will he another meeting between
tn rival pr omotcrs today in which
Tom Jones, manager Of Willard. i:
expected to participate. Jones is due il
New York this morning from CEicaG
to complete arrangements for +he fight
and to sign binding articles. as we'll As
10 put up his forfeit or sS, 100 for the ap,
pearance of the champion.
Eickard intimated last night that tie
meeting TO-DAY between himself ant
Johnston would be the last In this re
spect He says that II tho Madison
Square Garden promoters do not care
to take 5000 for, n one-niCht lease o
the building he will look elsewhere. He
asserts that he has three places be
sides the Ga rden in view for the stag
Ing of the fight Ono place ne thinks
highly of. hut says there will have t.
he some remodellins done. which woulC
not be necessary II tho Garden was oh
tained.
"The fisht will be held ir New York
roeardless of our getting or not gettinI
the Garden said Richard, I'VE hav,
guaranteed a lot of money that ",
would stage this frtht and You cal
gamble il will bY held