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Show - - -t - -t-7- rv - ' o-T- f :':;:ll?iiovmigous Big Heavy-Weight's Desire for Cash Is Said to Be at . Bottom of His Plans. .No one blames James J. Jeffries, champion heavy-weight pugilist of the , world, for taking on Jack Munroe for a fight, to take place before the Tosemlte club of Ban Francisco In May, ,fpr a purse of J25.000, 65 per cent to the winner and , S3 to the loser, says C. B. Powell, a well-known sporting writer. Jeffries must live, and haying abandoned bollermaklng for prize ring honors, he must perforce pick up an occasional purse. Prise fighters, like other mortals, often find themselves them-selves In sore straits for the cash wherewith to meet the expenses of a life of ease and 'luxury Heavy-weight fighters with a burning desire to wrest the championship from Mr. Jeffrles seem to have taken to the woods, and as time was hanging heavily and expensively on his hands the former boiler constructor decided that -a friendly mix-up with Ir. Munroe, who once upon a time managed to fluke through an exhibition bout with the champion without sustaining permanent per-manent or even serious Injury, would draw to the somewhat depleted exchequer a fresh supply of slmoleons, .. Then It was that the little affair between Mr, Munroe and the venerable Mr. Sharkey, which took place In Philadelphia last Saturday night, was arranged. ; Everything ran along In the well-oiled groove prepared in advance. Mr. Munroe ( pummeled poor old Mr. Sharkey and was promptly challenged by Mry Jeffries. The two big fellows' and their managers met last Monday, and the .announcement .announce-ment was flashed over the wires that It took them less than three minutes to make .the match, to be pulled off In May. No doubt two minutes of this time were spent In the exchange of airy, persiflage; for there was no occasion to go over the details which had been so carefully looked after in advance. According to "well-Informed followers of affairs of the ring who saw Mr. Munroe In his bout with Mr. Sharkey the big fellow stands no earthly chance of making even a fair showing against the large and muscular Mr, Jeffries, so that as far as the purse for which they are to contest Is concerned the two mlgh as well collect and divide up In advance of their meeting. . Munroe is one of the most awkward big fellows the prize ring has ever known, while his lack of knowledge of ring tactics and the art of boxing will ' make him about the easiest proposition the champion haa ever faced. I do not consider Munroe even a good second-rater, and believe there are a number of heavy-weights, and even middle-weights, who could put It all over him. He is not the equal of Jim Corbett or Bob Fltzslmmons, and I honestly believe that the. ladylike-pugilist, Mr. Kid McCoy, could chase him from the ring, while Joe Walcott would cause him to start a search for the man who first told him he could fight. A fight between Munroe and Gus Ruhlln might prove Interesting, provided the Akron giant wasn't feeling well, but I doubt It. But Munroe Is to , meet Jeffries for the championship and the money there will be In It for both of thejn. It Is to laugh. |