"For the past year both my manager and myself have tried to obtain a contest with Jack Johnson. We have repeatedly sent him challenges, all of which he has ignored. This moving picture champion, who by a lucky break at Reno became the World's Champion, now refuses to defend that title. I hereby defy him to meet me. I further add that this refusal to fight me is due to cowardice. He knows that he will lose his title if he ever meets Langford or myself. He is now stalling about meeting Langford, but really wants to pick on Jim Flynn or Al Palzer, and he knows right well that Palzer is a novice but these are the kind of men he would fight. I have whipped him decisively several times in Philadelphia, and he deliberately quit on me in one contest over there. I say quit because when I had him bad he maliciously fouled me to save himself from defeat. He has been offered $10,000 to box me six rounds in Philadelphia and $10,000 to fight me in this city ( New York) but both these offers he has ignored. If he can get up enough courage to box me twenty rounds I will bet him $5,000 that I will stop him. I will not say "knock him out" for he has not enough courage to stand up and fight and be knocked out. I sail for Europe this week and will return on the next ship if Johnson has enough nerve to accept my defy. I know that I can beat him and I know that the public would like to see the title change hands. Now, Mr Johnson, are you a fighter or a 'four-flusher.' Your answer to this letter will decide the question."
Joe Jennette 1912.
Joe Jennette 1912.
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