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Show Jeffries Will Not Meet Johnson asy when be fought Marvin. He 6houM have exterminated Hart In seven sev-en rounds, but he didn't, and that lost decision has served as a barrier I rnd a stumbling block In Johnson's 1 path for years. (By W. W. Naughton.) San Francisco. Jan. S. The question i of the hour Is will Jim Jeffries fight again? It overshadows Jack Johnson's : Australian triumph and It sU.ps tport- , Ine men from discussing tho flstlc ; I.eU-hts to which Sam Langford or Young Ketchel may attain. Jeffries says he is through with the ring forever and aye, and I am beginning to believe him. Talking of Australian Invitations, by the way. Hugh D. Mcintosh, the man who handled tho Burns Jo'ans-n affair, af-fair, has a formidable rival when it cumes t trying to round up Mr. Jeffries Jef-fries of the alfalfa patch for a Queens-berry Queens-berry function in the land of tho kangaroo. kan-garoo. Jack Wren, the levlathnr book- i maker of Melbourne, who tent Bill j Squires to these hospitable shores, also ' wants Jeffries, and cabled the writer to inform Jeffries thereof. When said that he would like to bring Jeffries and Johnson together at Melbourne in November, No-vember, which is Melbourne cup month, and would give Jeff $50,000 for his services. When told of the Wren offer. Jeff simply said: "It goes Into the basket with the rest; there is nothing doing." But why continue? Jeffries Is determined de-termined not to be dragged into the ring again, and it is only a waste of words to dally with the subject further. fur-ther. Some ot his cronies here think that after he has sulked awhile he will listen to the voice of reason, or as one emotional character said, "to tho voice of the American nation." They are talking of rounding up a list of would-bo backers of Jeff in the firm belief that when It can be shown him that there Is half a million or a million of good United States coin waiting to be bet on him when he faces the stalwart negro, he will begin to feel that it is up to him to obey the wishes of the people. And in the meantime, so far as Australia Aus-tralia Is concerned, the light Is breaking break-ing on Jeff. Tho powers there, alarmed alarm-ed at the growing importance of the prize fipht industry, are about to take steps to modify the industry. In other words, the matches for which big money Is offered are likely to be tabooed, ta-booed, and if this comes to pass Jeff will have surcease from annoyance. Kaufman Robbed of Credit. There, Is no denying that Al Kaufman Kauf-man receives less credit for his victories vic-tories in the ring than any man following follow-ing the game. Tho big San Franciscan Invariably wins, but never in such brilliant bril-liant fashion as to thrill the followers of the sport of the glove. Al's recent triumph ovr Jim Barry is on a par with his defeats of Miko Schreck, Jim Flynn and a few others. Al is no further" advanced in the opinions opin-ions of the knowing ones than he was before. After ecelng him dispose of Jim Barry In what was anything but an Interesting contest, the sports of Los Angeles have about made up their minds that the champion goal is as distant from Kaufman as ever. Kaufman's health is not of the best, i big as he is, and he is to spend a few weeks at Murletta Hot Springs, in southern California. He will have time to think things over there, and his manager. Billy Delaney, who is back in San Francisco, will also have an opportunity of pondering as to what the future holds for Kaufman. In tho meantime Delaney's determination not to allow Kaufman to tackle a colored man is a wise one. Packey McFarland rather resents the report that he cannot keep within tho lightweight limit and do his best Packey and Manager Harry Gilmore declare that McFarland can make 133 pounds, ringside, and fight for a king's ransom. But Fackey will only reduce to 133, fighting hours, for one Battling Nelson. Any one of the lightweights who desire to step a QueenBbury measure meas-ure with Packey of the stock yards must bo content to have tho weight clause of tho articles read: "One hundred hun-dred and thirty-three pounds six hours before." |
