The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-18
BURNS AGREES TO
TACKLE JOHNSON.
The Two Formidable Hcayies,
Who Are to Battle Soon,
Are Compared.
1T WILL BE FINISH BATTLE
Both Men Will Go in to Win and
Are Regarded as Fairly
Well Matched.
1T WILL BE FINISH BATTLE.

NEW YORK, August 17.--Now that
Tommy Burns has accepted the chal-
lenge OF Jack Johnson. genuine
heavyweight championship battle will
certainly come off. Johnson rejoiccs in
the dignified title "Colored Heavy
weight Champion OF the World"
Burns. who has been combining his
attention to white men. has announced
that he Is willing to assert his claim
to supremacy regardless of race or
color.
Jimmy Conroth's offer of a $4,000
purse Is the Incentive Coln1a, CAL.
will be the battle-ground: forty-fve
rounds the distance. Forty-five rounds
Is practically finish flght for few
finish affairs have passed that mark.
This one surely will not. The big Zulu
is a magnificent physical specimen.
Few better built big men have ever
put on a boxing glove. He stands six
feet two and weighs we'll over two
hundred pounds. He reminds one of
the ancient bronze statues of the
Creek boxers. He is long of limb. huge
of shoulder and clean cut. Under his
skin the bronze muscles stand out In
sharp relief
Physically, johnson Is far more than
match for Burns. And he Is q re-
markably clever boxer. Ills quickness
and great strength give him ability
to hit n heavy blow. With gameness
and good intentions, Johnson Is one of
the most dangerous men that ever
fought in a ring. Sam McClintick,
manager of Dick Hyland, has seen
Johnson fight in the West. John
SAYS McClintick, sis game enough. he
has no yellow streak. The only trou-
HE with him is that he isn't agrees
sive enough. EIe Is too careful. He
stalls along all through his fights.
taking good care of his face ana let
ting the other man do the work. It's
almost impossible to reach him. no
doesn't take any chances. He has
faxed n lot of fights. Perhaps that
was because he couldn't get the
matches without promising to be
good"
Fight VIII he Genuine.
Tommy Burns has faxed fight or
two as we'll as johnson. But neither
Johnson nor Burns has ever laid
down" when there has been any
thing "fixed" 1T has been fixed for
Johnson or Burns to win or draw
without putting the other fellow In
the hospital Burns has n great money
making future IL he wins this hght.s
Johnson has the same prospect II ne
wins. Either can make more by WIN
ming than by laying down. and pet
ting on the result. Dealing win fish.-
ers who are inclined to arrange mat
tars hefore entering the ring It's best
| To regard the whole thing as bust
ness proposition-or commercial
| propositions"
viewed as Commercial PROPOSE
| ton" this Burns Johnson fight prom
| ises best results If 1t Is fought on
| the level 1t is case where honesty
lis the best money making policy. 1t
will be hummer-fouSht on the
square. No one ever accused Tommy
Burns of having yellow streak. He's
great fighter for his inches. he is
savage fighting man. For all Sof
his SQUAT figure he will probably tear
into the ebony giant as if he were
justj another Jack O'Brien or Bill
Suuires. Burns Is half foot shorter
than the big Zulu. But he has long
reach. His arms are Just as thick. He
is broad -shouldered. And he is tough
and enduring as any heavyweight In
the game. He can take world OF.
punching without losing a grain of his
courage This will surely be a longer
fight than the affair between Burns
and Squires or the short one between
Johnson and Bob Fitzsimmons. Thirty
rounds may finish 1t up.
What Burns Says.
In recent talk Tommy Burns said:
"While am not challenging Jeffries
and am not camping on his trial. II
the big fellow decides to again put on
the gloves, would like to get the
first chance. think that ] am en-
titled to it In view of past perform
ances My personal opinion Is that
left will never reenter the ring, al
though such a magnificent offer as
that made by Jim NIay--viz.: SAD, 900
may tempt him c forsake his business
for n few months to train for one
more fistlc battle. 1t Is not my IN
tention to go about the country on
my theatrical tour challenging .Jef-5
fries. AS i said before. II he wants
to fight. we'll and good, III be READY
10 sign with him.
Speaking Of Jack Johnson, Burns
said. "I,m not afraid OF johnson, as
SO many people seem 10 thlnK. Wnlie
the husky negro Is clever. no nus
streak Of yellow IN his wake-up tnat
will show itself in short order Wheh
he gets into the ring with me-.
So far MS Mays offer for battle
with Jeffries as one Of the principals
&c concerned. there Is not much stock
5t,kan in II In well-informed sporting
circles either In California or the
East.