Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-02-26
HART SAYS BURNS
IS REAL CHAMP
GIVES HIS CoNoUERER FULL
CREDIT
Believes He Can Regain Lost Laurels,
But Insists That Detroit Boy
Is Now King of All
Heavywelghts

departed for the east, Curley going 10
Chicago while the former champion
returns to his farm in the blue grass
region.
Hart naturally takes his defeat to
heart and retains the feeling that he
Is yet the best heavyweight in the bust
ness, and while at times talking of
quitting the game says that he hopes
to get on a return match with Burns
in the next six months.
Curley and Hart say without hesita-
tion that Burns victory Friday night
entities him to wear the title of heavy
weight champion Of the world and de-
cry the criticisms hurled at himself
and Burns for the showing in their
battle.
The former champion is morose and
but little inclined to discuss things
pugilistic as yet but says that in all
fairness Burns is the legitimate claim
ant OF the title and all aspirants for
heavyweight honors must first defeat
him before setting up any legal claims
upon the title.
Curley, who has been in charge of
Harris press bureau and acting in the
capacity of assistant to Manager
Tommy Ryan, exhibits a high degree
of fairness in discussing the criticisms
of Burns ability as battler and his
claims upon the title. He said yes
terday:
All this criticism Of Burns and at
tempts at arguing him out of the full
right of wearing the heavyweight
championship honors is bosh. Burns is
the real heavyweight champion and
predict that he will surprise even his
friends by the manner in which he de-
tends the title.
"Jeffries has repeatedly asserted that
he has retired and that he will never
u, ,-f,,
tainly he is the retired champion and
has never been beaten, but with him
out of the game who is there to deny
the Righteousness of Burns claims after
his victory Friday night?
Hart won the title relinquished by
Jeffries by defeating Root and at that
time Jeffries announced that he was
out of the game permanently and con-
sidered Hart the rightful claimant upon
the title. Burns defeated Hart and
succeeds to the title. That is all there
is to it, in fairness and justice.
Hart may never fight again, but I
do not take him seriously in this re-
gard. I do not believe he is yet ready
to quit the ring and will not be sur
prised if he and Burns arrange another
battle for this summer. Hart believes
he can regain the title if given a re-
turn match. and it is my opinion that
return match if Burns is willing"
When asked his opinion as to what
chance Burns would have with the
ether big fellows who aspire to cham
pionship honors, Curley said:
ION the showing made by Burns last
Friday night believe he could defeat
Al Kaufman in jig time. and Berger is,
in my opinion, easier game than Kauf-
man.
"O'Brien is the hardest game Burns
might tackle, and 1 really believe that
he would defeat the Philadelphia. In
other words, Hart is about the only
heavyweight in the business excepting
Jeffries whom 1 believe has chance
to defeat Burns.
Rubin would have no chance with
Burns, as his bulky frame naturally
makes him too slow to successfully
combat any man as speedy as Burns
and if they ever meet 1 shall pick
Burns as an easy winner.
Jack Root would have a better
chance with Burns than most of the
heavies, but 1 do not expect Root to
bother Burns with challenges and 1
believe that when Burns gets ready to
fight again he will either hook up with
Al Kaufman OF Jack O'Brien, and he
should defeat either of them"
Burns Not Chesty
The new champion spent Sunday
quietly at his rooms on South Hill
street and when seen last night APP
peared to be the same old Tommy
Burns of other days and his Uranium
was not visibly enlarged by the new
honors acquired by his excellent battle
Friday night.
Yes. l appreciate the fact that am
champion, but it is only the attainment
for which 1 have fondly hoped and
sought since l first entered the ring
and / accept the situation with the be-
lief that / accomplished my ambition
by hard knocks and systematic efforts
and I propose TO defend my title as long
as worthy opponents are in existence.
Il shall soon take up a vaudeville
career of fifteen weeks and then take
a vacation. Afterward I expect TO give
attention to any challenges that may be
in waiting and will give all the heavies
chance at my scalp.
II prefer now to take on Jack OBrien
and believe will be able to defeat him
more easily than 1 beat Hart. | saw
the bout between Hart and OBrien in
Philadelphia and am sincere in the
sta tement that O'Brfen was very for
tunate to stay the limit.
"O'Brien cannot. in my opinion, take
the punishment Hart stood for Friday
night and 1 know that O'Brien's tender
the battle put up by Hart and stand for
the stomach lacing the Kentuckian
took.
Il shall issue no challenge. l am
champion and those who want to meet
me must come to me. Many of those
who are willing to fight me for the
championship would not heed my chal-
lenges some months ego and | shall
not bother them again. However. 1
will consider all challenges directed at
me and will endeavor to show to the
world that I am worthy to wear the
honors 1 have won.
Il am a different Tommy Burns at
IT'S pounds than at 1853 rounds and I
am sure my critics will give me this
credit. l am too heavy 10 fight in the
middlewelght division and should 1 he
so foolish as to attempt to make weight
for that class would be beaten before
entering the ring, as / would not be
strong enough to whip a kitten at 1853
pounds.
coincidence was my portion when I
began to fight Friday night and after
L. id 4 4 o. L