Lindrum issued the following challenge to Gray:—"I am willing to play George Gray a level match—of 18,000 up for choice— and to back myself for £500 or any part of that sum.
"In regard to the challenge that Mr. Harry Gray has already issued, on behalf of George Gray, in which he proposes that Gray should receive £3,000, win or lose, and that he should give me a start of 3,000 in 16,000, I can only say that the conditions imposed seem to me to be prohibitive.
I do not think, in any circumstance, that we could even take £3,000 gross. In regard to the proposed start, I would point out that my record (which I refer to unwillingly) shows that I have beaten on level terms Inman, the champion of the world; Stevenson, who relinquished the championship; and also Reece, amongst other professionals."