The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-07-14
GEORGE SILER ON
BILL SQU|RES
Veteran Who Picked Australian
to Win Anxious to Give
Him Another Chance.
BY GEORGE SILER.

The work of nearly three months IN
done in less than three minutes, just
about fits Bill Squires in his fight for the
championship of the world with Tommy
Burns at Colma, Cal, on Independence
day In other words, Squires trained
nearly three months, received three
punches from a man who, 1t was said
was not gifted with a knockout punch and
was lugged out Of the ring, the quickest
defeated American champion aspirant in
the history of Queensberry rules fighting
To say Burns hurried victory came
surprise would be putting il mildly. He
was the non-favorite in the betting, was
the smaller man, was considered a MAYER
lex champion, and was touted a sure
loser. In fact, he was not given a look
in. For weeks the cry has BEEN not who
would win, but how many rounds Burns
would stay. OF course. we knew nothing
of Bits fistic qualifications. but the
western students of the game. those who
had seen him go through his. training
stunts, and those who had assisted him
In his preparatory work, never considered
Tommy in the hunt.
Not Strong on Burns.
The fact that Burns won champion
ship fight in the shortest time in the his
tory of the Queensberry rules does not
make it necessarily follow that he is the
greatest fighter. bar Jeffries, that ever
shed a bathrObe in a ring. Neither can
he be termed a lucky fighter who landed
4 lucky punch or two that won him the
greatest honors in the game. He may
fight Squires again tomorrow a week
hence and may not win, but he turned the
trick on Independence day without the
assistance of what is generally termed a
luke punch. He cannot be credited
with planning the blow that first sent
the Australian webbing along Queer
street, nor the two that followed which
kept Squires on the unconscious thor
oughfare long enough TO be counted out
as he was ignorant OF the fistic ways OF
the Antipodean-
Knew He Had Speed.
He knew which thousands of others did
not that he had speed and force enough
in his right mawley, if he could land It,
to make Bill wonder what had struck him.
He did not introduce that speedy and for
chile right in any of his previous fights,
but the man is studiOus, and while the
sporting world was reading of the dOings
of the Australian, Tommy was practicing
the punch and how to deliver it. While
so doing he also hOt-foOted from ten to
fourteen miles every morning, over the
mountains at Hardin Springs, and in
letter. received several days before the
fight, he Stated he never was better in his
life, that he surely would win and that
Squlres would have to be a wOrld-beater
to defeat him
The fact that he said he surely would
win did not flusteT me, as that is stere-
otyped saying of all fighters. as SQuires
will admit.
He was confident of winning. but not
so quickly. Confidence is a staple article
with fighters. but Tommy must have
more than the regular allowance, as he
repeatedly signified his Willingness to
fight Jeffries, and he really believes he
can defeat him.
Victory Not Popular.
| doubt if Burns victory was gratifying
to a certain class of fight followers who
hoped for his defeat for the part he took
in the Jack O'Brien affair at Los Angeles
last March. Also because he is not a ma
tive American, his birthplace DeIng Han
over, Canada. He is not responsible for
his birthplace, but is for adopting this
country, so he will have to be considered
an American.
The result of the battle may be a Sc
we're blow to Squires and his manager,
Barney Reynolds as they behaved like
gentlemen and true spOrtsmen since their
the quickness of it, will shock his ad
mirers at home.
Give Him Another Chance.
They thought him capable of defeating
any man in America, even Jim Jeffries,
and to be settled in less than one round
by a man whom they considered easy
picking is indeed shocking Bills going
down and out in the initial round leaves
us in the dark regarding his fighting
abilities. During the short period he was
before Tommy he was never given
chance to demonstrate his fiSt1C qualities.
So let us not judge him haTshly nor too
quickly, nor dub him no-accOunt
He was unfortunate to get in the road
of Burns right hand delivery and from
which he never fully recovered. There Is
no doubt he can fight else why should his
hackers toss in so much money behind
him? They know the game from A to 4.
have seen all the good ones perform IN
their country and surely would not go to
the trouble and expense of sending over
fOurth-rater. Bill may want TO hike
right back home but he appears such
nice fellow we would like him to get an
other chance at some of our heavy
weights