The San Francisco call., 1903-12-12
FIGHT BY ROUNDS.
Description of Heavyweight Battle as
Seen by an Expert at Ringside.

cGCn DN All al INAilSSAb~"
For twenty rounds Johnson did the
aggressive work In every round he
sent Ferguson's head back with
straight lefts and had the white man
bleeding internally. He knocked Fer
guson through the ropes on two occa-
sions and had him down for the count
of two seconds during the battle John
son did not begin fighting hard until
the fifteenth. when he tried to win.
Ferguson claimed TO have hurt his
right hand early in the fight Follow
ing is description of the fight by
rounds:
Round Ferguson extended his hand to
shake with Johnson but the latter rsiussu, ISL
Both men assumed fighting attitude ana al.e5 I
fenting for A time Johnson lea WIN lei 49,, ~
Ferguson caught the blow on his glove Johh-
sent his left lightly TO race. sleolnsd Sso
swung his left and Johnson neatly ~ ~plocAeu.
johnson tried for the face ana tere Cson
swung q heavy right on the colored man
back Johnson outfeinted his man and then
let Nv with his left catching Sandy on the
nose. They exchanged lefts and botn e, LANCER
on face. Ferguson rushed ana trleo WIN It
both hands but Johnson blocked and got
away johnson rushed and Ferguson ducked
out Of danger. Ferguson became WIG ana
Johnson forced his head back with left on
face Ferguson tried a right for the head,
but the blow was blocked =
Round johnson opened the rouno ps
landing a left on face. Johnson rushed ana
the men clinched Johnson began using the
straight left and kept bothering Ferguson pg
sending his head back. Ferguson ansWersd
the request from his corner and used his left
He sent IL straight out and caught Johnson
on top OF the head johnson planted a left TO
body He missed a left hook a moment later;
johnson tried for the body. but Sandy olockee
with his big elbows. johnson sent haIu
lefr for the body and Ferguson smiled. john
son missed a right swing for head ana they
ali I'D as sounded
Round 3-Johnson led with his left ana
Ferguson met him. with a right swing Ior the
head which made the colored boxer cautious.
Ferguson tried a right swing moment later
and II came within an inch Of Johnson $ Jaw.
Had it landed It would have oeeh cutt'oS la.t nn
for Johnson. Sandy landed straight le1t , on
stomach johnson put both arms before ms
face and began moving side TO side IN me
hone Of drawing Ferguson on Ferguson iet
a1- bfe left for stomach but fell short. They
ciinched. johnson lands left and right on
bead and bodv and they clfnched- Sandy
landed straight left on Johnson's mouth and
The crowd cheered. Both men tried swings
ana missed Ferguson slapped Johnson on
the kidneys Sandy's glove was looseneo wnen
Round 4-The glove was still loose IN TINS
round. They SPARED arou9a 5or a 81 de y, b,,t
Ferguson held back. Johnson rushed planting
left and right on head and body. He sent yer
guson against the ropes and the Iorce OF te tne
blows and the shove sent Ferguson out among
the newspaper men. He was hoisted into the
ring agafn Johnson helping him in. Ferguson
SeaS johnson rushed and staggered Ferguson
with left and right TO jaw and BODY Ferguson
stopped and shouldered Johnson into the ar
Johnson landed a straight left 10 jaw and again
staggered the Boston man. Johnson trled
vicious right uppercut ana missed johnson l .
went TO his corner laughing because ne missed
the terrific blow.
Round johnson continued the use Of his
left. sending Fergusons $ head back with uner-
ring frequency. In a clinch the negro lost his
temper He grapped the white man under the
arms and swung him round the ring as II ne
were a boy. The crowd hissed johnson and az
ter that he fought cleanly. being the first 20
break In the clfnches Johnson landed his left
and then caught Ferguson hard-rfght on the
kidneys. Johnson followed this up by knocking
Ferguson's head back with straight LEFT.
grin he spared away from johnson. john
son sent Sandys head back again and they
clinched. Ferguson made a wild right handed
swing and missed. Johnson took advantage Of
the opening 70 land a heavy right on the body
Johnson planted his left on the body and Sandy
made q wrye face and claimed he had been
fouled. The blow a fair one and Referee
WEIGH would not recognize the claim. There
wcrs cries OF foul but no FOUL was committed
Round 6-Ferguson came I'D smiling and
Johnson removed the smile by knocking his
head back with a straight left. Ferguson
missed q straight left and then slapped John
son on thu back. He did not seem able 10
land right-hand punch. Ferguson broke
ground and blocked some Of JohnsOn's swings
and hooks. Both men mixed IT for a few
seconds and then clinched. Both landed heav-
fly on the body. Ferguson appealed TO the
referee and claimed Johnson was hitting low
His claim had no foundation and Referee
Melch sent him 10 his corner when the gong
sounded To many It looked If Ferguson
did not like the gam and was willing to quit.
Round johnson assumed the aggressive
al soon they reached the center Of the ring
he tried 10 finish Ferguson. but without sue
cess. Jack tried a left shift and missed. The
force of the blow sent the negro 10 the foor
He was up in an instant and fighting hard.
Ferguson thought he had sent Johnson down
and tried 10 win. He rushed and sent in
AMI others landed on the negro's head and
body Johnson seemed scared ana broke
ground. The crowd yelled TO Ferguson 10 go
IN and win and when Sandy rushed he was
met with left and rights that sent him back
Johnson rushed Ferguson 70 the ropes and
planted a heavy right to the body.
Round S-JOhrs1n as usual opened UP the
hattie. He sent his left to the face and tried
:; crcss Ferguson with his right The men
olinched and began fighting in the clinches
fb, r-en continue fast fighring Both held
back for awhile Johnson pressed forward
and Ferguson poised himself as II he was
about 20 deliver a right swing. Johnson let
fy with his left and landed on Ferguson 3
sore nose. Sandy tried his left but fell short.
Sandy rushed and slapped Johnson on the
back johnson planted left on the body and
johnson sent LETT TO the face Fergu-
son missed left swing by foot.
Both fighters posed in the center Of the ring
and the crowd yelled to them TO fight. Fer
guson re1lied by landing a heavy right on
Johnson's head johnson retalated with
left TO the face sending Ferguson head back.
Ferguson tried another right swing and grazed
in order TO bring johnson in. The colored
man laughed ana stepped away. Ferguson
laughed and Strengthened up and they re-
sumed the game of dare and dassent" The
gong sent them to their corners.
Round o--Johnson opened the round with
punch in the body johnson sent Ferguson $
head back with straight left. Ferguson set
himself and did nothing. johnson played for
the body and got in two good lefts Fergu-
sons stomach Sandy tried straight left and
fell short johnson rushed Sandy TO the ropes
and landed with his open glove. Ferguson
came back with straight left. catching Johnson
on the mouth. Johnson staggered his man with
a heavy left the jaw. Ferguson went
against the ropes and looked surprised. John
son jabbed Sandy IN the body. Johnson used
left to body and missed heavy right cross
for the 5a%
Round 1c-Ferguson made wild dash at
johnson when the gong sounded and the negro
side-stepped out Of danger and laughed. Fer
guson rushed again and went against the ropes
johnson took advantage and sent left and right
10 the body. Johnson caught Ferguson a little
bit low and Ferguson appealed TO the referee
II accidental and the referee told him to
go and fight johnson iabbed Ferguson in
the mouth. Johnson rushed and Ferguson
clinched. johnson played for the head and
landed repeatedly. johnson followed Ferguson
round the ring and the crowd ieered the
white man because he would not mix things
with the colored man AS the round closed
Johnson sent heavy right over. catching Fer
on he hrr