Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-04
BURNS SAYS HE
WILL FIGHT JOHNSON

LONDON, December 4.-Tommy Burns,
heavyweight champion of the world. de-
clared last night that as soon as ne re-
turned to America he would fight the
famous negro heavyweight, Jack john
son, for the title the American won when
he battered Gunner Moir into insensibility
at the National Sporting Club Monday
night.
Burns was asked the question point
blank.
"Os course. I will" he replied instantly.
Il now claim the heavyweight champion
ship of the world, and will certainly not
refuse to fight any man who challenges
me II the public thinks enough of his
chances to come and see the battle.
More than that, I announced publicly
before I left New York that IL defeated
Gunner Moir 1 would fight Johnson as
soon as I returned to America. also
gave Johnsons manager that promise,
and l was not joking.
IF Johnson still wants to meet me he
will have first call as soon as L set my
feet on my native soil.
Burns was asked when he expected to
return.
L can't say definitely" he answered.
If there is enough money in it I will
stay in England long enough to fight
Roache, the Irish champion. Unless I can
pick up at least $4,000 in the fight some
way there is nothing in it for me. L am
not fighting anybody because like 1T.
Can't See Roache Battle.
Personally, I don't see much in this
Roache fight. but If the public here is
willing to pay for it / will meet him. 1
am told that he is not considered as good
a man as NOR, and if that is the case
don't see where the gate Is going to come
In. unless the fight public here is even
more different from the one at home than
| supposed"
Burns said that he planned to take a
vacation if the Roaclse proposition fell
through.
Unless L see something doing here very
shortly he said. Il am going to take
rest of a month or six weeks before I go
back to meet Johnson. I think that with
my friends I will make q short tour of the
continent. / have never seen that part of
Europe. and l think it would do me lot
Of good to run around France. Germany
and Italy for d short time
The Yankee champion did not show any
marks of his battle Monday night, except
few light scratches. There was no
sign OF bruises or discoloration on his
face. He looked and said he felt ready
to step into the ring again at once.
Moir Doesn't Know Much.
Gunner NOR is a game fellow. but he
doesn't know a great deal about fight
ing" he said. discussing the battle. Il
knew after the first round that had him,
and that it would be a question Of the
number of rounds. He has u good wallop,
but he don't know how to get it over He
landed only two blows that hurt me any;
one was the smash in the nose, that
started me bleeding in the fourth, and the
other a short jolt on the chin that shook
me UP toward the end of the third. After
the fourth round none of his punches had
any steam. l think he realized that he
was up against losing game
Though his face is terribly cut up and
he is stiff and sore about the body, Moir
is feeling no very bad effects of the beat
ing he took. He took down about 5000
the pictures OF the battle Will bring in
some more. 1t was his most profita BILE
fight, though his only defeat