The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-02
American Expected to Retain
heavyweight Title ia Bont
With BritiSher.
OF THE
FIGHTERS.

80 - 80 - -
sA inches. -. Ankle........s inches
For the first time since James ]. Corbett
dispatched Charley Mitchell in three rounds
in Jacksonville, Fla. in 1894, an American
and English fighter will battle for the
heavyweight championship of the world.
Tommy Burns, born a French-C Canadian,
but of the American schoo of boxers.
fights Gunner Moir a tw%enty-round bout
before the exclusive National Sporting
Club. in London, tonight, for a purse OF
1880, OF which 5000 will be awarded to
the winner and $500 to the loser. In adj
dition, a side bet of $1,000 hinges ON the
result.
Moir is the incontestable heavyweight
king of the British Isles. Burns is the
accepted title-holder in America, but few
believe that he has the class of James ].
J~effries, the retired champion. while Burns
has studiedly lodged Jack johnson, the
colored man in his path.
With these exceptions. although in the
two instances mentioned there nave been
no actual fights to prove the correet-
ness of the assertion. Burns ranks head
and shoulders over everybody else il
America. He has steadily worked his
way to the top, and in the last year or two
has defeated Marvin Hart and Jack
- 1A%NAAt ~ VI "AACh CA0ahA1A AZ - >
title.
Hart insisted thai Jeffries bestowed his
toga upon him when he whipped Jack
Root, while O'Brien called himself cham
pion when he stopped Bob Fitzsimmons,
who prior to that reverse had been de-
feated by no man except JeffTies. In add
ton. Burns knocked Bill Squires. the
Australian champion, cold in less than one
round.
nv daFoatinO thaSa man aod othora -
lesser ability, and by promising that he
will meet johnson when he returns to this
country, Burns can Justly set up his claim
rs the logical successor OF J~effries, and
his record shows that the American cause
is in worthy hands when the men grasp
gloves for the big International bout to-
night.
Not so much is known of the skill OF
Gunner Moir. He has participated in only
one fight in which there is an American
angle. He won the British title by de-
feating Jack Palmer on a foul.
Palmer IN his recent tour of this country
said that he had all the better Of the milf
Ing up to the time he violated the rules.
A few weeks after his arrival In this coun-
try Palmer went to the Pacific coast and
met Jack Twin Sullivan, a light heavy
weight, of second-class rating. Sullivan
stopped the British topnotcher in less than
twenty rounds, which came as a great sur
prise, for Sullivan has few knockouts in
his record.
Twin Jack also holds a decision over
Burns. but this fight was held before
Burns became conspicuous. When Burns
became good he whipped men who have
defeated Sullivan. Judging from the Moir-
Palmer and the Palmer-Sullivan bouts. the
form favors Burns by a distinct margin.
Many Englishmen concede that Burns
has the better record, but think that Molris
superior physique will enable him TO get
the larger division of the stake money.
Rurns will enter the ring with 10 pounds
Of bone and muscle. NOR win exceed that
mark By ten to fourteen pounds.
In addition, Moir will ave height and
reach in his favor. Burns is only 5 feet 7
inches in height. while Moir is 3k inches
taller.
Burns. however, is a fast boxer, per-
sistent puncher and a gritty man. This is
by no means the first tlme he has given
away weight. He whipped Marvin Hart
when the loser weighed 200 POUNDS. and
Bill Squires. a marvel Of strength AMI
ruggedness, came here from Australia and
lasted less thai n round with Burns.
Burns has n good eye for distance. and
is quick to take advantage of an opening
He caught Squires mapping a second at
| the OuletA, anu utQNt Al PhAANu NV
Jaw which finished the foreigner Moir,
| with his weight, is not rated a harder
walloper than Burns.
NOR is undoubtedly a pluoky man, who
can stand toe to too and slug, but his
own eountrymen admit that he knows
| little or nothing about boxing or the fine
points of Queensberry art. 1t is said for
him that he can weather the sternest kind
Of punishment. and the courage he has
| shown In some of his battles has caused
many a five-pound note TO be wagered
on him. r
There is always the chance that only the
lack of opportunity makes Moir's record
look rather commonplace. This fight may
draw out qualities in him that he has
never shown before.
The fight will be open only to the men,
bership Of the National Sporting Club.
whose lists include many OF the aristoe-
racy and nobility of England.
This exclusive club is handsomely fur
nished, and resembles a luHuriously APP
pointed theatre. The ring is situated in
the centre, and there is a balcony with a
circle of boxes.
The members are assessed n stipulated
sum for every fight held. For the Moir-
Burns battle the choicest seats cost $3.50,
the next best 26. "a. and the cheapest St5. g.
This phenomenally high admission tarltr
reflects the interest in the bout-in fact,
1t Is said that not since the days of Mace
and Slavin has England been so stirred
over a boxing contest.