The Washington herald., 1908-01-20
BURNS CONES HOME In MARCH
American Fighter Says Roche Bout
Is Last in England.
Heavy-Weight Champion Takes NO
Chances on Losing Money and
Asks for Guarantee.

London, Jan. 6.-After a week. holiday
In Paris, Tommy Burns returned last
night 10 settle his match with Jem Roche
and to complete his training arrange
ments for tine Palmer contest. which
viii take place at Wonderland on the
evening Of February TO- Burns VIII not
do any more music hail work until aftei
the Palmer fight, at any rate
This evening Burns said that tht
Roche match, made to-day, probably vii
be his last fight In the United Kingdom
this trip and that he viii go back Z,
America about the end of March At The
present time, the champion says. nothing
beyond the latter contest is even under
consideration
The contest viii take place at the The
ater Royal. I'm Dublin, on the evening OF
March Il. and the purse, including two
side bets of $3.50 each. VIII amount "a
N2591. The fght VIII go twenty rounds
unless one man becomes so disabled he
cannot proceed. and the referee VIII be
r. T. Watson. Roche is already at work
Burns viii go into hard training in q
few days time, his first preparation, OF
course. being for Palmer His camp vii
he established on the edge of Hampstead
Heath, a large stretch Of high. oper
country on the northern border Of Lon,
don and here he will stay until ten days
before the Roche match.
OF the principals in the Irish syndicate
standing behind Roche. Richard Croker
was the only absentee when the TWO par
ties met al the Office Of Sporting Life
this afternoon. The Squire of Vantage
is still enjoying the Egyptian sunshine
but he was represented I'm London by an
attorney. Martin Fitzgerald, millionaire
brewer Of Ireland whose name appears
i'm the articles as the person responsible
for the purse. did most Of the neg0tiat-
ing on Roche'S side. Mr. Fitzgerald was
accompanied by d. orc, Miley and Z. B.
Healy. also members Of the syndicate
and many other well-known sporting men
were in attendance
The drawing up of the articles brought
forth even more discussion than those
for the Palmer contest Considerable
argument arose over the deposit of stake
money. but it was finally arranged that
81 on of the 5000 should he put up on
4-itAllE ga AlAt az ttlltEAlL anu the idt-
auce by February Is. Without difficulty
Burns obtained consent TO his proposition
of 50 per cent of the purse to the winner
and % TO the loser. and II was soon
agreed that there should be twenty
rounds
Mr.. Fitzgerald said he was prepared "a
give his personal guarantee that If,
through any default or negligence on the
part Of those who were putting up the
purse. they did not bring off the contest.
the money should be forthcoming.
But I don't want any conditions az
all, said Burns. If the contest doesn't
come off, whatever the reason, We want
the money. ] cannot 60 to a lot Of eX-
peuse 10 prepare for this contest unless !
know I'm going 10 get the money if Il
doesn't come of.
Burns related his experience with his
Fitzsimmons match in Philadelphia. and
took the question so seriously that a
clause was inserted 20 the effect that MIR
Fitzgerald should forfeit to Burns $50 in
case he should not carry through the con-
test. At the same time it was provided
that all the money. purse and stakes
should be in the referees hands before
the fighters enter the ring.
Impressed, perhaps, by the size Of a
crowd which made Fleet street outside
the Sporting Life Office ALMOST impossible
while negotiations were going on. James
WOolf, Of Wonderland, made a strong bid
10 bring the fight To London.
I thought that this was to have come
of at the place where the best purse
was offered, and have come here with
an offer of E1.750."
It was explained to WOnderland's man
ager that Burns, having agreed to take
the first offer of GL5O0 or more that came
along. he was bound to close with Mr.
Fitzgerald. Furthermore. it was stated
Roche would not come to London for the
purse offered by Wonderland.
1t is not yet settled who will receive the
mOving-picture concession. Burns thought
himself entitled to a commission on the
earnings of whatever pictures were taken
but it was finally arranged that when
the concession Is closed Burns shall be
given outright the first two films. which
the latter says will be sent to America.