Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-25
BELIEVES HE IS ENTITLED TO
H0N0RS
Unjust Criticism by Imported Fight
Experts" In Attempt at Be-
Hitting New Champion
Not Well Received
BY Jay Davidson

Marvin Hart, who reigned for many
months as the real champion and sue
cessor to Jim Jeffries, the retired and
only unbeaten champion.
If Hart was entitled to make the
claim, Burns has demonstrated that he
is more entitled to the honor, as he
clearly outfought outponted and out
generated Hart at every point of their
battle Friday night, numerically
whipped the Kentuckian and emerged
from the battle with not q scar or
bruise to denote that he had engaged
in championship fight.
Burns was a revelation to the fans
who have made the same mistake all
along that the former champion made,
that of holding him too cheaply and
belittling his abilities as a battler.
Throughout the twenty rounds of
gruelling, Burns was ever cool and
collected in his conduct, quick to take
advantage of an opening, effective
when he landed and so speedy on his
feet that he could rush in and lam
lam Hart and get away before the
slow-moving and desperate Kentuckian
could make any return.
Burns fought Hart in much the
same manner that Jack O'Brien fought
Bob Fitzsimmons. Criticism of
Burns tactics is, therefore, criticism
of O'Brien's methods. OBrien, how
ever, was much sung about for his
avoiding punishment, while Burns is
roundly criticised by a few who are,
probably, melted by the pangs of dis
appointment.
Hart was made to look like an anna
teur overgrown boy fighter because
Burns clearly outclassed him at every
point. Because Hart was so greatly
utclassed, it cheapened the victory of
urns in some minds and robS him of
Tluch of the glory of the battle in which
J e won the right to wear the toga of
ne worlds champion until he is beaten
~ better fighter.
Burns Is Champion
Those who accepted Hart as cham
lpion must also accept Burns as the
! new champion. Jeffries is in absolute
retirement and when he quit the ring
he tossed the title aside and directed
Hart and Root, whom he is accredited
with selecting as the two heavies best
entitled to fight for the honor, to scrap
1t out and assured them that he there
by retired and expected the victor to
defend the title.
Hart defeated Root in a decisive man.
ner and was recognized as the cham
pion None of the big battlers have
since dared to accept his standing def
directed at any heavyweight in the
world until Tommy Burns, through the
Herald, challenged him to do battle in
defense of his title
Bob Fitzsimmons sdestepped Hart,
as did Jack O'Brien, each of whom
Hart challenged and backed his def
with forfeit money which he posted.
These were believed to be the legiti-
mate claimants upon Hart for fight,
but they could not be induced to enter
the ring against the big Kentuckian.
Early after New Years, after he had
despaired of getting on match with
Sullivan, Tommy Ryan or Jack
OBrien, all of whom he challenged and
which challenge was backed by $1,000
rosted with the sporting editor of The
Herald. Tommy Burns authorized a
challenge to Hart to fight for the
heavyweight championship of the
world and Hart accepted the challenge.
This challenge to Hart was also
backed by a deposit of $1,000 with The
Herald as forfeit money in the event
that Burns should refuse to meet Hart.
Burns met and defeated Hart in one
of the best battles, despite that 1t was
a one-sided affair throughout, that has
ever been pulled off in Los Angeles.
BY defeating Hart, Burns becomes
champion of the world in the heavy
weight division, and none can gainsay
his claim upon the title since Jeffres
has retired and refuses to further de-
fend his claim.
viii Defend Title
Burns is one of the lightest heavy
weight champions of modern days, but
is young and what he lacks in weight
he makes up for in cleverness, speed
and ability as a fighter.
1. His most ardent supporters and ad-
mirerS were amazed at the great i'm
provement shown by Burns since he
was defeated by Jack Twin Sullivan
last summer.
The battle put up by Burns demon
strated the strength of his claims af-
ter his defeat by Sullivan that he was
in no condition to fight at anything
near his true form on that night, being
weakened by the arduous and very
strenuous training to make weight at
a secrifice of condition.
Burns is too heavy for the middle
weight division and realizes that 1t
would be rank folly for him to attempt
~sS make the weight necessary to get
on fight with any Of the middles.
When he entered the ring Friday
night he was in the best condition to
Night at his true form than ever before
IN his ring career. He was trained
with respect to condition and regard
less of the weight requirements. He
was as hard as steel, faster than ever
before and had developed a punch
which brought to him the title of
heavyweight champion of the world.
With the exception of a few loyal
friends there We're few who gave him
a chance with Hart, just as they now
hoot at his claims and scout the ability
of the new champion to defend his title
Burns announces that he will defend
the title against all comers. regardless
of size, weight and pretensions, and
has made good beginning by tempt
ing Al Kaufman and Sam Berger both
OF whom have been suggested by the
wiseacres Of the game as more entitled
to fight for the title than Burns, and
Burns says he will fight both of them
ten rounds on the same night If allowed
thirty minutes between battles, and ex-
presses the same confidence In his
ability to defeat them that he had when
he signed articles to battle Hart.
May Go on Stage
1t has been long and weary climb
to the top Of the heap, but Burns is
Wiling to stand the test of ability and
demonstrate full that he is entitled to
the honors with no unnecessary delay.
Although he has been tempted by Of