William Brady , Jim Jeffries ex- manager, offered Jeffries $10,000 to fight Al Kaufman in Nov 1909. Jeffries having to fight him within 90 days. Obviously it did not happen . Brady also had a bet on Johnson to beat Jeffries. http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6269,1032199&dq=al+kaufman&hl=en
Shame the fight didn't happen in some ways, it would have been a good yard stick for how much Jeffries had left.
Very interesting article. I had not known that such an offer had ever been made. I agree that it would have served as a measure of how much Jeff had left. Jeffries should have had at least one or more tune-up bouts before going up against a battle-ready Johnson who was at the peak of his powers.
Jeff did not want tune ups. He just wanted to fight Johnson. He did not want to fight again, and if he was going to do so, it was to recover the crown from Johnson. He didn't want a career either. Perhaps also, he didn't want to risk losing for 10k when he might blow a 50-100k payday.
Jeffries tired a come back in the gym in 1909. The man who guided him early VanCourt ( spelling? ) saw him, and told Jim should not come back. While we may never know for sure, Johnson's struggle as champion in 1909...Being perhaps out boxed by O'Brien, being floored by Ketchel, and being knocked silly in a 4 round exhibition match with Gunboat Smith might have factored in the comeback in 1910. There was a newspaper article offer to match Jeffries with Lang prior to Kaufman.
How sad is this? It doesn't even merit a response.atsch For the record ,Jeffries was already in training to make his comeback before Johnson sparred with Smith, or fought Ketchel [16thOct 1909]. Jeffries and Johnson signed preliminary contracts to fight on August the 11th 1909. Jeffries scaled 235lbs in October 1909, some 9 months before their fight. What a complete joke you are.
