Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-13
BURKE A CHOPPING
BLOCK FOR JOHNSON

BRIDGEPORT, Conn, September b.
Jack Johnson. the colored heavyweight,
outclassed Sailor Burke in their x-round
bout before the Liberty A. C. in Smiths
Theater here last night, but at the end
of the sixth round the sailor was on his
feet, very wobbly and hanging to his an
tagonist for support, but still in the ring.
The affair could hardly be called a con-
test. 1t was merely an exhibition in which
Jack johnson showed what a c.ever boxer
and accurate hitter he is. He showed that
he is Infinitely cleyercr than Burke as a
boxer, much too strong for him as mix
err and far too fast as a fighter for the
sailor to even hope to compete with him
Burke was knocked down or wrestled to
the floor fourteen times in the six rounds
III fact. he hit the floor about five times
oftener than his glove colIded with any
part of Johnsons anatomy
1t a ptiful exhibition, and only
served 10 show that Burke can take a
lot of punishment. Nearly every time that
Johnson hit at Burke after the first round
he sent the Brooklynite to the floor, and
every time that Burke found himself re-
Ginning on the canvas he settled himself
snugly and rested for nine seconds.
Philadelphia Jack 0 Pren sat at the ring
side and observed that it was merely an
to allow Burke to stay the six rounds He
added:
Il think that Jack Johnson is wonder
full boxer puncher and fighter. 1 believe
he could whip JeffrieS and 1 don't blame
any OF the big fe lows for 'ducking' him
But most of the spectators disagreed with
OBrien when he said it an act
of charity on Johnson's part to let Burke
stay the limit. They were of the opinion
that 1t would have been much more char
liable If the colored heavyweight had ended
the exhibition quickly, and not cut poor
Burke up so much.
Johnson weighed 1S3 pounds and Burke
tipped the beam at 1G5. The negro was
the first to enter the ring He was ac-
companied by Sam Fitzpatrick. his man
ager. and Larry Temple Burke came in
a few minutes later attended by Joe Hum
phries. his manager: Joe Mulvihill and Jim
Savage. Dan Walker. the referee called
the men to the center of the ring and
announced that they were to break clean
The men repaired TO their corners and the
fight began.
Burke tried a left swing. which john
son blocked, and after some preliminary
fiddling Jack planted a left to Burke's law
and the sailor went to the floor He arose
and tried again Johnson spared at long
range and he laid his glove on every part
of Burke's body above the belt. The Brook
Ignite was bewildered, and just to keep the
crowd from becoming disinterested Johnson
keeed Burke over again
Burke early saw taat he stood no chance
WITH ms opponent. so he began to stall,
and every time that he was knocked down
he stayed the nine seconds. At the end
of the first round Burke landed a right
swing and the crowd cheered him vocifer-
ousy. Johnson looked surprised, and then
burst out laughing.
In the second round the principal thing
that Burke did was to hit the floor being
propelled by Johnson; fist. Jack seemed
to hit Burke when and where he pleased
and seemed to have his punches so gagged
that they mercy knocked Burke down with
out putting him out
In the third round Burke landed left
swing and the crowd went wild with ex-
element. Johnson smilingly took the punch
and reprovngly let Burke have an extra
hard one for having the temerty to hit
able to get up at the count of nine but
he succeeded in reg gaining his feet and fall
ing into long lost brother" clnch John
son methodcal!y knocked Burke down until
the end of the round
From then until the end of the fight
Burke either spraw;ed on the floor from
a punch delivered by Johnson or else
Rugged and clnched to avoid punishment
When the final bell sounded Burke could
hardly walk to his corner. He was COW
cred with blood, but smiled through his
swollen lips as II to say Il told you So"
p Colored Middleweights to Scrap.
James Janey and Alex. Brown. two COL
ored middleweghts of this city. signed arti-
oil yastarday for fiye-roupd hnnf IN hN