Signed Jack Johnson Letter To Jim Jeffries, 1909

Typed letter on paper, signed and annotated in pencil, accompanied by the signed and dated Weston Cone collection letter; 2 pieces total

During the negotiations for the historic fight with Jim Jeffries, Johnson sounds off and issues a challenge.

The Stanley Weston and Toby Weston Cone Boxing Collection, 2005

Very Good Condition, Minor Spotting, Center Fold And Edge Wear
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The typed letter reads, " I Jack Johnson, heavyweight champion of the world to [sic] hereby challenge James J. Jeffries to either fight me at once for my title, or to henceforth hold his tongue. I believe he is a four-flusher to the back-bone and to show that I mean business, hereby agree to fight him within two months from this date, one round or fifty, for a purse of not less than $30,000 for own end and a side bet of $10,000. Aside from the purse, I make but one condition, that Jeffries shall accept this challenge within 10 days from date and as a token of thatt acceptance, post a forfeit of $5,000 within two week. The other four-flushers are not excluded from this challenge, but I aim it directly at James Jeffries who has long been making capital out of phone challenges hurled at me which he has no intention of keeping. " In pencil Johnson writes, "I have $5,000 with the New York _____ x will post $10,000 any time x, Your's Truly, Jack Johnson."

Johnson would ultimately back up these words with a convincing beating of Jeffries on July 4, 1910, in a fight sometimes described as "The Fight of the Century."


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