Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-24

NEW YORK. December o4.--What
dom in the Burns Johnson heavyweight
championship fight at Sydney, n. S. w?
is the question that is burning up the
doubters in this town. There is feeling
somehow in the atmosphere that all Is
not right and that Burns has gone halt
around the world to get a mark to stand
for knockout or a liedown.
A telegram from Jim Jeffries last night
las world of meat in it. He says:
Il don't like the fight. Would rather
not express my opinion.
Here in New York the wise push who
bet on fights when there is chance to
put a bill down say: We'll. why did
Burns cross the briny deep to meet john
son. when he could have taken him on
in the United States. where We could all
see the show?
Asking Questions.
The question. of course, can be an
swered only by Tommy, but in the mean
time there are queries coming in all the
day long. to which trere is but one an
swer. TO wit: The progress of the fight
and it's result will be faithfully por-
trayed in these columns.
1t is amusing in this case, as in all
eases of professional sport. to hear the
yells that come before the fight. The
partisans seem to care nothing for local
conditions. and they stick to their opin-
ions as they frame them up The Ameri-
cans have nothing to guide them but the
dope that Tommy Burns has been mail
ing for the last several weeks. while
.Iohnson's people have not tried a bit to
get into the limelght of the press.
Which would be a good lunch to the
fight followers to keep his greenbacks in
his pockets and pay no attention 10 any
offer of odds on or Off
There are many views of the situation
presented to the generous Australians.
but John McGraw summoned it up last
night in one sentence when he said:
Says John McGraw.
Il am not a fight expert. But when
was out on the coast Jim Jeffries
told me he thought Burns would be
foolish to fight Johnson Why, the
coon will knock his block off, said
jeff And naturally. 1 take Jeff's opin-
ion on a thing like this. because l think
he should know.
But does jeff know? The opinion is
in these parts that Burns is up against
a stiff, who quits when he gets jolt.
II he's that sort of dawg it's easy money
for Burns for many and many day.
Fight Makes Precedent.
the heavyweight championship of the
world. Tommy Burns is violating all
ring traditions. Johnson has achieved
such great reputation Il fighter. and
has such following in pugilistic
circles. that Burns has almost been
forced to fight him. But the fact re-
mains that Jim Jeffries, the daddy of
them all. never lost any of his prestige
by steadfastly refusing to meet Johnson
Outside OF the purse. the advantage
that will accrue to the victor in this
fight is enormous. Theatrical engage
Inents and other moneymaking enter
prises will follow thick and fast. The
men will get certain amount for their
services in Sydney December e Burns
will receive $4,000 win, lose draw,
and if Johnson knocks Burns as dead
as a door nail in the first round he will
get the same amount as if he gets
whipped.
The real feature of the fight is that
il establishes precedent-it will be the
first time that a negro has fought for
the heavyweight championship of the
world.