Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-22
BIC FIGHT LOOKS
LIKE SQUARE DEAL
Everything Seems to Point to
a Real Scrap for the
Championship.

NEW YORK, December 22.-There
seems to be a great deal of doubt In
sporting circles in this country at presen,
of the genuineness of the Burns-Johnson
championship battle, which is scheduled
to take place near Sydney, N. S. W., next
Saturday
Many OF our prominent sporting writer's
as we'll as an unusually large number OF
those who come under the general classi-
fication of fight fans, seem inclined to re-
gard the coming contest as a prize rims
swindle of gigantic proportions. in the
preparation of which both principals are
equally interested. Why this feeling
should exist to the extent it does Is not
exactly clear, but that there is such
feeling no one will attempt to deny.
So far as Burns and Johnson are con-
concerned neither has done anything since
his arrival in Kangarooland to JUSTIFY
the slightest suspicion that he Is not 60
ing to do his level best to win. Both men
haves been hard at work preparing FOL
the contest and both are said to be IN
prime condition.
Their training has been open and above
board. Neither man has attempted to
do his work in private. Large crowds
have been in daily attendance at the
here are reliably Informed the visitors
have seen nothing in the camp OF either
man to arouse suspicion.
Both men have sent their friends word
that they were as fit as it was possible
for them to be and felt sure of winning
In view of all these facts it is hard to
understand why any one should entertain
any doubt as to the merits OF the battle
In this connection, however. 1t might be
we'll to state that most of those who
assume to question the honesty of the
contest predicate their opinion on the
absurd theory that Burns would not fight
the big negro unless he had it cinched to
win. Such an argument. to those who
know the Canadian best, must appear
more than ridiculous.
Burns is said to be guaranteed SIC. Ooo
for his share, win, lose or draw. That is
a fortune in itself and a sufficient incen-
tive for Burns to fight any man in the
world regardless Of what he might think
about his chances OF winning.
Burns would jump at a chance to fight
Jeffries for such a purse, even though he
knew he would be knocked stiff in one
round. That is the sort of prize fighter
Tommy Burns is.
Besides If he is game fellow-and
there is no reason to think otherwise
why should he fear Johnson? What has
the big smoke ever done in the prize ring
to give Burns a chill? Johnson Is no
doubt corking good fighter and may
beat Burns handily when they meet, but
the record shows that the Canadian has
cleaned up quite as well as the darby.
Besides getting more money out of this
fight than he ever did out of any previous
one, Johnson also gets crack at the
championship title. and that Is something
worth taking a chance for.
johnson could well afford to accept q
guarantee of 5000, besides his expenses
from England to Australia. for the privi-
lege of fighting for the heavyweight
championship OF the world.
Peter Jackson, the greatest fighter Aus
tralia ever turned out. never received
more than half of this amount out of any
one Of his Australian battles. If John
son whips Burns he will then be in a
position to fix price on his services
Meanwhile he should be satisfied with
what he is getting.
There is not the slightest reason for be-
lieving that the fight is frame-u On
the other hand there is every reason for
believing that it will be contested strictly
on it's merits and that the best man Will
win Both Burns and Johnson are aware
that the Australians are not a set OF
yokels when it comes to the fighting
game and on that account would hardly
dare to attempt to fake the fight.