The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-28
NEXl, BIZ FIChl.
Tommy Burns and Gunner MOir
to Meet i'm London.
First international Bout Under
the Queensberry Rules.
YANKEE SHOULD WIN.
Englishmen Think MOir Il
Really a First Glass Man.
In America He Is Placed in the
Same Glass With Squires.

Chicago, Nov. 2S.-The most i'm
portant fight on tap at present is the
ship battle between Tommy Burns.
Americas representative, and Cum
ner" Moir. champion of England,
which is scheduled to take place at
| the London Sporting club on Decem-
Der 2. Although it wrfI De the first in
ternational fight for the worlds heavy
weight title ever fought under the
Marquis of Queensberry rules, 1t is
| causing but little interest in this coun-
try and a great deal in England. This.
presumably. because the followers of
the game in America do not take
Burns seriously as a champion, and
because they think the Gunner" is
of the Bill SQuires brand. Regarding
stands head and shoulders over any
heavyweight in this country, and has
proven 1t in his recent fights.
Burns was laughed at when he
matched with Marvin Hart. who was
pronounced heavy weight champion
by Jeffries after he defeated Jack
Root, and before the battle odds of
10 to 4 on Marvin went begging.
Tommy Won that fight, but received
little credit for it. His battles with
Jack O'Brien. although he demon
strated his superiority over the clever
and shifty Philadelphian, were not
taken seriously. When Bill Squires,
the Australian champion. appeared in
fight Jeffries. and was heralded as
world beaten by, Of course. his press
agents, Burns matched with him and
beat him in a round. SQuires proved
a mo account" but it remained for
Tommy to show him up. Burns did
not know that Squires would be easy
picking when he matched with him,
but he took a chance. Before that
battle, it was reported by those who
knew more about the Australian than
IA 4 - G-&S
scribes. that the foreigner would
show up Tommy in his true colors, a
false champion. After the fight those
who had been bolstering up the
Antipodean, practically admitted they
knew Bill was a false alarm. Burns
received no credit for winning that
fight because Bill was easy.
Now. Tommy is going. to fight NOR
IS The to
ports. have better opinion of the Gun
ner's'' fistic abilities than we have. and
Should, however. Burns prove the victor
he will be grilled for seeking easy money.
their n ina Manages e and the tight promoter prom
are in the game only for what money
the better they are pleased Should the
Englishman come out victorious, there
viii be a 1ollification among those Amer
leans who never have recognized him as
their ideal Of an American champion.
Moir, it is said. fights at about 200
pounds. Burns, IN excellent conditlon, VIII
tip the beam at about u.s.. difference of
Is pounds. besides a handicap of several
inches in height and reach, and still is ac-
cused of scratching up something easy.
Admitting that Tommy is not up to the
of some of the earlier day cham
pions that is to heft, height and reputa-
ton, he sizes up well alongside of Tom
Sharkey. Is much cleverer and faster than
was Tom still the ex-sailor was a forrnid-
able opponent for the best of them. and
that includes Jeffries. What a number of
pugilistic writers in this country desire to
see is a corored heavyweight champion,
Judging by the manner in which they are
patting Jack Johnson the back and
kicking at Burns. The latter has prom
ised to fight the big black. but, should he
lose to the Gunner" there will be no
for the colored man to fight
for unless Moir agrees to meet him in this |
as the London Sporting club has
put up the bars against colored fighters. |
OF course. they might fight for the Amer |
lean title, but should Burns return to this |
a loser his value from a box Of
flee viewpoint will not be worth the purse. |
s25. Co., which recently. 1t was stated, had |
been offered for the fight