TO-DAY'S BIG FIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 72, 4 July 1910, Page 8

TO-DAY'S BIG FIGHT.

BLACK VERSUS Wl-UTE. BOTH MEN COXi'IDIAT. By Cable—Press Association-Copyright ~ Ko:i:>, Jr.'v 1. , <'ov;>rnor Dickerson, of Wnuia! who lias watcned Jeffries and Johnson train- ")-. says the negro is A?, superior boxer, but Jeffries the hard-- hitter. Eitzsimmons and Burns have arrived 1 hey favor Jeffries, and brieve the hfht will last over twentv rounds ° Burns says:-" If Jeffries j* in cendition, he can't lose. The negro is a clever boxer, but no fighter." Mcintosh picks Johnson. Pvickard will be the regular referee and George Harding official timekeeper.

AH is ready for the fight. Jeffnes and Johnson finished training .m Thursday, and rest till the fight. They have posed for moving pictures. Jeffries, who is in excellent mood, says: "I am read, for the fight, and will rush for a kno.k-out as soon as possible. J am pie'uv.d to take plenty of punishment, but will give more u, finish quickly." "' "' Johnson is con.V,. „t, and his golden smile is om.nipre.eu:. In boximj exhibitions was perfect? and he-blocked all a.::iek*. He is fast. Jeffries is slower, but surer, and has n harder punch.

Jeffries "weighs 2201b. to 2251b.. John son 2091b.

Physicians have examined both men, and pronounce them in excellent condition.

Visitors are rushing to Reno, and all the old fighters have arrived. Betting j s light at odds of ten to six and a half, Jeffries being favorite. Some bets have been mack at 10 to 7 and even money that Jeffries will not win inside fifteen rounds, and some bets even that he will not win inside nineteen.

The fight starts at 1.30 p.m., San Francisco time.

THE PHYSIQUE OF THE CONTESTANTS. MAGNIFICENT SPECIMENS. BOTH MEN "DEAD SURE" TO WIN. JOHNSON WOULD SOONER DIE THAN LOSE. Received July 3, 5 p.m. London, July 2. The Daily Telegraph's correspondent states that Jeffries' measurements are: Chest, 46in normal, 51in expanded; biceps, l' 6y 2 in; forearm, I 3y 4 in; and it 20 per cent, superior to Johnson in strength.

Reno, July 2. Dr. Porter, Jeffries' physician, examined Johnson, and remarked that he was a magnificent example of an athlete, but physically did not compare with Jeffries. Johnson's heart and lungs are weaker; also, a long stretch of >his bodyJs unprotected by bone and muscle between the hip and the lowest ribs.

Jeffries' waist development is such that when he contracts the abdominal'i muscles it is possible to insert a finger between the flexed masses. Furthermore the ribs form a bony encasement protecting all the vital organs. Jeffries is m perfect physical! condition l inside and outside.

Corbett! is enthusiastic at Jeffries'' splendid condition.

Johnson is grateful for the spiritual' encouragement of negro pastors.

Hundreds of Pullman cars are sidetracked at Reno to be used as hotels. Beds are not available'.

Johnson yesterday boxed' before the cinematograph with two opponents, chiefly clinching, posing. There was a vast crowd of onlookers, miners, ranchmen, cowboys, cowgirls, and gaudilydressed negresses. Johnson's white wife was present.

Johnson backed' himself for another £4OO sterling, remarking: "I shall worry Jeffries for fifteen rounds,; then knock him out, but I would sooner be a dead man than let Jeffries beat me."

Jeffries' preparation is finished, and he spends his time in fishing and cardplaying. He says: "I am a dead sure win."

Johnson scales 2091b, and Jeffries is about 181b heavier. If Jeffries wins he receives over 30,000 dollars, and if he loses 20,000 dollars. Johnson, if victorious, will collect 27,000 dollars, or if not victorious, 17,000 dollars.

WHEN THE FIGHT BEGINS. By Telegraph —Press Association. Wauea.mii, Last Night. According to Mr. J. T. Ward, director of the local Astronomical Societv, the fifrht between Johnson and Jeffries will commence at 8 o'clock a.m., according to New Zealand time.

Allowing for cable transmission, etc., the result should be known in Taranaki between 2 and 3 p.m. to-morrow.

SOME FIGURES. Thirty miTSion citizens of the United States 'will'"follow the fidit" in the newspapers, and afterwards pay anything up to 5s a head to see it reproduced in the moving pictures. At least 70,OOn.OdO throughout the world will do the same thin?. What is the secret (a=ks a New York writer) of this immense interest in an exchange of blows bv two men, one a white and the other a black? Clearly not because they are the 'biggest of their kind, human Dreadnoughts stripped for action, nor because they are of races widely apart as the poles. "Brutality," will cry thousands, 'Wot |at alp replies science. "Merely the normal manifestation of the plav impulse and the love of games and contest in man and the animals." In the battle between the burly Jeffries and the bull-necked, sinewy Johnson, the struggle and the play of life are epitomised. Statisticians on the "other side" are indulging in a riot of figures, and

one autliority Ims worked out the exact energy contained in Jeffries' left and Johnson's famous right upper-cut. Coming to the expenditure on the fight, the figures given are staggering, no less a sum iha'n £20,000,000 being the amount that will bo spent directly or indirectly. The purse for which the fighters will contend is £30,000. From 50,000 to 100,000 persons will travel to Reno, Nevada, where the battle will take place. In hotel hills, railroad fares, and other ways, it is estimated that these visitors will spend at lease £OO,OOO. In bets £1,000,000 will change hands. On the day of the light every newspaper in the United States will have representatives at the ringside. Hundreds of thousands of words will go over the wires and the cables to all parts of the world. Another £1,000,000 would barely cover the cost of telling the balance of those interested, and not at the ringside, the result of the fight. The gate receipts will undoubtedly amount to £IOO,OOO, and probably more. The price of the seats has been fixed at from £1 to £lO a-pieee. There is, too, the money which will be spent for newspapers all over the world on that day. Perhaps £400,000 as a figure is not excessive. Here we have more than £4,000,000 already. The greatest money distributors will be die moving picture companies. They are reported to have paid £40,000 for the privilege of taking films of the battle, The moving picture trust expects to milfo at least £12,500,000 out of the fight. The stake Is than any other offered. It is said that the winner of the fight will receive £35,000 when he gets his share of the purse and the moving picture bonus. If the fight continues" for 45 rounds of three minutes each this would be at the rate of £279 a minute!

THE CONTESTANTS. THEIR COMPLETE RECORDS. The following is a complete list of Jeffries' and Johnson's records: — JAMES J. JEFFRTES, horn April 15, 1875, at Carroll, 0. Height, 6ft iy g in. Weight 2201b. 1896. July 2—Dan Long, knocked-out, 2 rounds, San Francisco. 1897. April !)—T. Van Bushirk, knocked-out, 2 rounds, San Francisco. May 19—Henry Baker, knocked-out, 9 rounds, San Francisco. July 17 Gus Ruhlin, a draw, 20 rounds, San Francisco. November 30—Joe Choynski, a draw, 20 rounds, San Francisco, 1898. February 28 Joe Goddard, won, 4 rounds, Los Angeles. March 22—Peter Jackson, won, 3 rounds, San Francisco. April 22—Peter Everett, won, 3 rounds, San Francisco. May 6—Tom Sharkey, won, 20 rounds, San Francisco. August s—Bob5 —Bob Armstrong,. won, i\i rounds, New York.

1899. June 9—Bob Fitzsimmons, knockedout, 11 rounds, Coney Island. November 3—Tom Sharkey, won, 25 rounds, Coney Island. 1900. April 6—Jack Finnegan, knocked-out, I round, Detroit. May ll—Jim Corbett, knocked-out, 23 rounds, Coney Island. 1901. September 17 —Hank Griffin, won, 4 rounds, Los Angeles. September 24—Joe Kennedy, knockedout, 2 rounds, Los Angeles. 'November 15—Gus Ruhlin, knockedout, 5 rounds, San Francisco. - ~"-y k <-- 1902. July 25—80b Fitzsimmons, knockedout, 8 rounds, San Francisco. 1903. August 14—Jim Corbett, knocked-out, 10 rounds, San Francisco. December 19—Jack Munroe, failed to knock out in 4-round exhibition spar at Butte.

1904. Augnst 26—Jack Munroe, knocked-out, 2 rounds, San Francisco. JACK JOHNSON, born March 31, 1878, at Galveston, Texas. Height 6ft o%in. Weight, 2001b. 1899. May fi—Klondike, lost to, 5 rounds. 1901. Beat John Lee, 15; J. K. McCormaek, 7; J. K. McCormaek, 7; Chas. Brooks, 2, k.0.,- Horace Mills, 3; Geo; Lawler, 10. Lost to Joe Choynski, 3, a knockout. Drew with Klondike, 20. 1902. Beat Bob White, 15; Jim Scanlan 9; Peter Everett, 20; Frank Cliilds, 12; .Geo. Gardner, 20;, Fred Russell, 8, foul; Dan Murphy, 10, k.0.; Ed. Johnson, 4; Joe Kennedy, 4; J. K. Jeffries, 5; Klondike, 13; a draw with Frank Childs, 6; beat Bill Stift, 10; Hank Griffen, 20; Hank Griffen, 15.

1903. February 3—Beat Denver Ed. Martin. 20 rounds, Los Angeles. February 27—Beat Sam McVey, 20 rounds, Los Angeles. April 16—Beat Sandy Ferguson, 10 rounds, Boston.

May 11—Beat Joe Butler, 3 rounds, knockout, Philadelphia.

July 31—Andy Ferguson, 6 rounds, no decision, Philadelphia. October 27 —Beat Sam McVey, 20 rounds, Los Angeles. December 11— Beat Sandy Ferguson 20 rounds. Colma, California. ' 1904. February 16—Black Bill, 6 rounds, no decision, Philadelphia. April 22—Beat Sam McVey, 20 rounds, knoek-out, San Francisco. June 2—Beat Frank Childs, 6 rounds, knock-out, Chicago. October 18—Beat Denver Ed. Martin, 2 rounds, knock-out, Los Angeles. 1905. March 28—Lost to Marvin Hart, 20 rounds. San Francisco. April 25—Beat Jim Jeffords, 4 rounds, knock-out, Philadelphia. May 3 —Beat Black Bill, 4 rounds, knock-out, Philadelphia. May 29—Beat Walter Johnson, three rounds, knock-out. Philadelphia. Joe Jeanette, 0 rounds, no decision, Phila delphia.

June 2(s—Jack Munroe, 0 rounds, no decision, Philadelphia. July 13—Beat Morris Harris, three rounds, knock out, Philadelphia, Black Bill 0 rounds, no decision, Phidadelphia.

July IS—Beat Sandy Ferguson, seven rounds, foul, Chelsea.

July 24—Joe Grim, 6 rounds, no decision, Philadelphia. November 25—Lost to Joe Jeannette, 2 rounds, foul, Philadelphia. December I—Beat Young Peter Jackson, 12 rounds, Baltimore.

December 2—doe Jeannette, (! round: no decision, .Philadelphia.

11)00. January 10—Joe Jeannette, 3 rounds, no decision, New York.

March 15—Beat Joe Jeannette, 15 rounds, Baltimore. April 19—Beat Black Bill, 7 rounds, knock-out, Wilkesbarre.

April 26—Sam Langford, 15 rounds, Chelsea.

June 18—Beat Charley Haghey, one J round, Gloucester. September 20-Joe Jeannette, six rounds, no decision, Philadelphia. November B—Beat Jim Jeffords, six rounds, Lancaster, Pa. November 20 Joe Jeannette, 10 rounds, draw, Portland, Me, 1907. •--""* February 19—Beat Peter Felix, one round, knock-out, Sydney. March 4—Beat Bill Lang, nine rounds, knock-out, Melbourne. July 17—Beat Bob Fitzsimmons, two rounds, Philadelphia. August 28 —Beat Kid Cutler, one round, knock-out, Reading. September 12—Beat Sailor Burke, sixrounds, Bridgeport. November 2 —Beat Jim Flynn, 11 rounds, knock-out, San Francisco. 1008. June—Beat Al. McXamara, 4 rounds. Plymouth. July 31—Beat Ben Taylor, 8 rounds. knock-out, Plymouth. December 20—Beat Tommy Burns, 14 rounds, police, Sydney. 1909. March 10—Beat Victor McLaghlen, 0 rounds, Vancouver, B.C. • May 19— J. K. O'Brien, 0 rounds, no decision, Philadelphia. June 30—Tony Ross, 6 rounds, no decision, Pittsburg. September 9—Al. Kaufman, 10 rounds, police s'opped, Sau Francisco. October 16—Beat Stanley Ketchel, 12 rounds, knock-out, Colma.