Jeffries Says He Will Re-enter Ring

Announcement Throws Theater Crowd Into Tumult.

New York, April 21 - "I will fight Mr. Jack Johnson. I will defend my title as undefeated heavyweight champion of the world." Before an audience that filled the American Music hall, and in which there were as many women as men, James J. Jeffries made this formal announcement. It was a signal for great joy. Excited men leaped from their seats, shouted and cheered, and many women in the audience applauded, their shrill and excited cries of approval as they stood up and waved their handkerchiefs and their peach-basket hats to the ponderous, bowing and blushing "undefeated champion" added picturesqueness to a remarkable scene.

There are several conditions attached to Jeffries' re-entering into the prize ring. First, Johnson must defeat Ketchel. Then Jeffries can not sign articles for possibly 10 months, and he insists that the fight shall take place in this country and that it shall be unlimited as to rounds. He also declares that he is in splendid physical condition.

--The Mansfield News, Mansfield, Ohio, April 21, 1909, page 2.