Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-10
BURNS DEF|ES
JACK 0 'BR|EN
WIRES SAUCY MESSAGE TO
LAWYER-PUGlLlST
Invites Him to Fight or Cease Talk
ina and Offers Side Bet of Five
Thousand Dollars If Battle
Is to Finish

Tommy Burns came up from Long
Beach last evening and tarried long
enough to hurl telegraphic challenge
to Jack OBrien to fight or shut up
Tommy says that since jeff has re-
peatedly expressed himself IS unwill-
ing to defend the championship and
confirms his REIMBURSEMENT of the title
he is ready to take on any other heavy
weight in the world.
Because O'Brien has been talking so
bravely of late Burns feels that 1t is
about time to call the Philadelphia
serapper and, force him to fight or cease
talking.
Accordingly. he posted $1,000 with the
sporting editor of The Herald as a
guarantee of good faith in backing up
his challenge and authorized the issu-
ance of a def 10 O'Brien for unlimited
round battle and offered a side bet of
$4,000 that if the battle should be to
finish he would stop the lawyer
pugillst.
Burns is anxious to take on any OF
the heavyweights, but prefers tackling
O'Brien first If O'Brien declines the
issue Burns will take Jack Root
AL Kaufman. Gus. Rubin or any Other
battler who is willing to face the music
If O'Brien is willing to fight Sam
Berger for purse of $4,000 he should be
willing to take on any of the heaNies
who are in his path to ring glory
Burns assuredly has the best claim OF
any of the heavyweights barring Jen-
ries, and unless O'Brien really fears
the result it is probable that he will
take up the def sent him last night.
o'Brien Sidesteps
Since O'Brien defeated Fitzsimmons
he has been claiming the heavyweight
championship and has had the nerve tC
ask JEFF to lay dowr the plow long
enough to do battle for the title,
Jeff is weary of the little claimants
to his title and refuses to be dragged
into the ring again. With him out of Il
and determined to stay out until some
heavyweight of unusual Caliher shows
up, O'Brlen and Burns are the only
ones who are seriously considered Il!
having any claim upon the title.
1t is up to them to scrap it out, ant
Burns has repeatedly sought to entic'
OBrien inside the ropes, but withou
avail. The Philadelphian resolutelS
declines to be enticed.
Although refusing to meet Burns, N
is willing to take on amateurs like San
Berger. If O'Bren is seeking a mattel
| that would draw a good house he coul(
get on none better than with Burns.
| If he is looking for "easy' money h
is justified in playing at oix-roun'
| affairs, which decide nothing, or cater
ing to the amateur class. But claim
ant upon a title usually bars no one il
his class
McCarey would accommodate Burn
and the fans would supply goo
house. The battle would attract a
least $4,000 in Los Angeles, with pros
poets favorable for much larger sun
This is quite in contrast with all $500
purse.
! If O'Brien backs up. Burns will civ
Jack Root chance. He also offers t
| take on Al Kaufman or Sam Berger
the public demands meeting betweel
| them.
Burns prefers to battle before Nc
Carey's club. inasmuch as the loca
manager staged the battle where!
Burns won his claim on the title. How
ever, he will not demand any specia
| battle ground.