The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-01-05
ON TRAIL
OF SQUIRES
PugiIist Jack Johnson
Passenger Aboard
SonOma.

Jack Johnson, the colored heavy
weight pugilist, accompanied by A. A
MacLean, his manager, is a passenger
aboard the S. S. Sonoma, en- route to
the Colonies.
Johnson has cut a wide swath in the
heavyweight division in the States and
the topnotchers have all fought shy of
the sturdy Ethiopian's game, not ex-
cepting the mighty Jeffries.
The black is, to a certain extent, out
on an expedition, the object of whica
is to force Jeffries to fight him.
A match has practically been arrang-
ed between Jeffries and Australian Bill
Squires to take place An Rhyolite in
April and the latter is expected to sail
for the States on January %.
Johnson, however. piqued at Jeff's
drawing of the color line. has decided
| to seek out Squires and fight him on
his native heath, which will probably
suit the latters book better than a trip
to the States, even with Jeffries for an
opponent.
Besides, if johnson gets away with
| Squires, there will be worldwide de-
mand that the champion and the negro
clash.
Manager MacLean had the follow
ing to say yesterday:
I'VE did our best to get on with JEFF
fries but it was no go. Delaney said
that he would like to see Jeffries box
Johnson as $4,000 was bid for the
fight by Tex Richard, which is a big
ger purse than Jeff ever saw or is ever
| likely to see. The pictures of the
| fight would be worth another 500, 900.
1 asked Delaney why Jeffries refused
to fight Johnson for $4,000 and con-
sented to meet Squires for $4,000. Billy
said that Jeffries didn't want to take
chance of the championship going to
colored man. 1 then asked Delaney |
if Jeffries remark didn't indicate that !
he thought there was possibility of |
his being beaten by Johnson and Della |
ney said confusedly that he hadn't ex- |
pressed himself exactly as he had in |
tended.
I'VE have made arrangements with |
the National Club of Sydney whereby |
Johnson is assured two contests in |
Australia. We expect that the men he |
will be called upon to meet are Bill |
Squires and Peter Felix. We are sat-
isf1ed that Johnson can defeat both |
men, and when we return to this coun-
try we will try to force Jeffries into
a fight for the championship, Asl
Johnson, by that time, will be cham
pion of Australia, we think the extra
prestige he has gained will carry
weight with the public and that JEFF
fries will have to agree to a meeting"
johnson will probably tackle Felix
first and then Squires. We have
guarantee of $4,000 for each fight with
the alternative privilege of taking
third of the gross receipts. Johnson
will beat both Felix and Squires, east
~. We do not expect to return to
America until late in the spring.
Johnson will meet all corners during
his tour
The negro pugilist was born March
81, 1878, and few of his measurements
are as follows: Height, 6 feet 1 inch;
weight. 1S5; reach ~ L. inches; neck
Il; chest, Al; waist, SO; biceps, Is IL;
calf Is L.
He has only lost one decision in the ,
whole of his ring career of eight years.
That was in his battle with Marvin J
Hart in San Francisco last year, and ,
the consensus of sporting opinion is
that he was robbed of that decision. )
His last fight was with Joe Jeanette, :
in Portland. Maine. jeanette was !
badly beaten, being knocked down six
times in ten rounds.
Among other boxers of note whom /
Johnson has defeated are: Joe Choyn-
ski. Jack Jeffries, Sandy Ferguson, Jim
Jefords, Sam McVey, Frank Childs, I
Denver Ed Martin and George Gard
ner. ;
He won the title of light heavy /
weight champion from George Gard
ner in San Francisco some years ago. )
He is said to be the cleverest of ali the
heavyweights and for his size is GER
tainly as quick on his feet as any man ;
can be.
He is perfectly built for a fighter. ,
having his weight in his arms and
shoulders. He is a hard hitter and =
game and is a fellow who can rough /
il if necessary.
In. addition to the fighting game :
MacLean and Johnson have a side is I
sue. They carry a set of the O'Brien-
Burns films to Australia with them 5
and they will be displayed throughout I
Australia, New Zealand and South :
Africa
Manager MacLean was at one time
one of the worlds most famous bicycle :
riders.