BOXING IN AMERICA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 138, 9 July 1909, Page 4

BOXING IN AMERICA

JOHNSON AN'D JEFFRIES. Mr. John Wren, the well-known Melbourne bookmaker, ha" received ail interesting letter from iir. J. W. Coffroth, the well-known American manager of boxing contests. The writer says that he had matched the winner of the Monte Attell . Johnnie Coulon bantam championship against "Battling" Nelson. He had also arranged for a match between Hyland and Packie McFarland for sth July, the last-mentioned of whom is described as one of the best fighters in America. Then there would be a short interval, which would be broken by the match between Jack Johnson and Ketchell o;i 12th October, for £ 1000 side bet. Tlie season would be wound up with a contest .between Attell and Dris'coll for the featherweight championship on Thanksgiving Day. Mr. Coffroth said that he was billing Kelly and Papke as middleweight champions, as ISLetchell had acknowledged he could no longer box as a middleweight. Mr. Coffroth goes on to say that he had met Mr. Mcintosh (the Australian manager) in New York, and bad had several evenings with him. They dined together'one night, and then went to the Kaufl'manii-Ross fight together. Mr. Mcintosh s'trnck him as an extremely energetic chap. He was in Xew York superintending the Johnson-Burns fight pictures. Hie writer could not sec where tliey were going to make any immense sum of money in America, They were a failure in San Francisco, and at the Broadway Theatre, New York, they were not setting the world afire. Mr. Mcintosh told liini tliat he had the pictures with Klaw and Erlanger, the big show people in America, on a percentage plan, but with a guarantee that his share would be at least £SOOO. Mr. Coffroth writes that he tried for Johnson ami Jeffries, but the latter could not make up his mind when he would light. Since that Jeffries had stated that ho would start in eighteen months, but that Johnson must first beat Ketchell. He (Mr. Coffroth) expeeled to get "good and rich" if he handled that light. He had a £4OOO I certificate of deposit in liis pocket to put up on account of the purse he would ollei the men. Stories had come from the East that Willis Britt had nearly died in New York. At the time of ivnt3nK» however, lie "was recovering, and would be "on the water-waggon" until next time. Britt was getting along well, managing both "Battling" Nelson and Ketchell. Mr. Coffroth concludes with a statement that lie expected to have a mMitv gtood season all ways. Things weri getting grejit in 'Frisco, and money was loosening splendidly.