Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08
THE PRIZE RING.

Jack Johnson. the big colored fighter.
has no right to tell Tommy Burns how
and where he shall fight. If Burns feels
inclined to defend the title in England,
and Johnson is earnest in his desire to
fight him and believes in his ability to
beat the Canadian. he ought to be glad
of the chance to fight anywhere. There
may be a difference In the size of the
purse he would get in this country and
the one in England, but Johnson. if he
could win, would easily make up for 1t
after he got through with his man.
Burns is the worlds champion. Johnson
may go about saying he can knock the
block off Burns in twenty rounds in a
fourteen-foot ring" That will get him
nothing. Action is more substantial than
words Pretty soon the public will tire
of the Johnson talk and pass him along
as an advertising agent.
Johnson has been lucky. He never did
anything very remarkable in the ring:
While his record has but two marks OF
defeat on 1t, it cannot be said that he
fought men who had any pretensions 10
the championship Marvin Hart he lost
to, and the latter was nearer to the TOP
notchers at that time than any man. VI
by the colored fellow, but it was not the
Fitzsimmons who fought Jack OBrlen
that went against Johnson.
The man who probably gaze Johnson
the hardest fibht was Joe jeanette, and the
latter was but a novice when lie met the
championship claimant the first time.
Then jeanette went six rounds with hlm
and there was little to choose between the
pair at the finish. Five times more they
net. On the second meeting Johnson lost
on a foul In two rounds. They went SIX
rounds later, and it was a case OF mo
decision again. Their fourth meeting
was a three-round affair in New York.
and It again was close. They were once
more sent six rounds In Philadelphia ana
Jeanette again gave as good as ne re-
ceived. The last time they met was In z
ten-round bout in Portland, Me. and the
oout again went the limit and was called
a draw All of which showed hat the
novice Jeanette was coming and Johnson
not improving. 1t would not be bad ar
gument for Burns to say, wen; John m,
son, go and beat jeanette and then II
talk fight with you
jeanette has recently shown that he is
a fighter of more than ordinary aplllty
Reports received here say that the sports
of Ireland have prepared to back their
champion. Jem Roche, to the limit when
ne gets into the ring with Burns on
March II. Several bets have already been
laid one of $1,000 to $3.50, but those are
the highest odds noted to date, the next
offer being of 1915 to $3.50.
Honey Melody, the welterweight
pugilist of Boston, paid a visit to New
York recently. looking in pretty good
shape. He had a few things to say in
reference to the story that he was I'M
balanced In his mind. The Boston boxer
talked freely about the tales that he was
1 physical wreck, and that his weak heart
had about ended his days as a fighter.
II am far from being crazy. said Mel
iody. IF the person who sent out the
reports says that l am crazy and he Is
right, why, then I want to be crazy. Peo-
ole close to me sent this story around.
The next time I get into the ring l will
prove to my friends and others that l
am far from being 'dippy.' The pro-
noters of the Boston club were told not
o put me on because l might get killed.
I have not been punished much in my
battles. 1 just want the public to have
me in the right light in this matter.
Melody then produced certificate
signed by DR.. John A. Allendorf of Bos-
ION. which said that there was nothing
It all the matter with Mellody's heart and
that he was one of the best specimens
Of an athlete he had ever examined. Mel
,ody said he would engage in some boxing
matches soon In the neighborhood of
New York.
Anxious to pick whatever loose change
Tommy Burns may have overlooked, Jack
Blackburn. the Philadelphia lightweight,
Jim Flynn and Mike Donovan are plan
ming an invasion of England and France.
The first two expect TO get Under way
some time next month. but Flynn will be
too busy on the Pacific coast to leafe be-
fore May.
Young Ketchel. who is now In San
Francisco. says he has no desire to spend
all his days in the ring, though the
chances are that he will be fighting as
ong as there is a bolivar in sight. Fight
70 IL ,lNat,f ipc he
game. but few ever leave when they can
Earn a dollar. Jeffries is among the few
great men who was serious when he said
he was done" Ketchel talked like JEFF
fries when he remarked, II want to night
another year, save my money and then
quit My ambition Is to buy a farm
either In California or in Michigan, where
my people reside, and live on it, Me for
the country life. l have always liked 1t.
II I have little luck I ought to be well
year. have done well so far
Ketchel stated that as he had beaten
Mike Twin Sullivan he would give Jack
Twin a chance. He wants the honor of
beating both brothers. which no fighter
has. If Jack Twin will make the miauic-
with him. but he must come to los
pounds. But ketchel is more anxious to
light Papke than Mike Twins big brother.
Papke has been posted SO much all
through the east that the Montana slug
ger can't keep still until ne gets his hands
IN him. Ketchel got a look at Papke
when he was visiting his people recently
and he thinks he has good line on him.
Jim Flynn, the fighting fireman of
Pueblo, Col, says he is aching to get
chance at AL Kaufman. whom he
charges with sidestepping to avoid meet
ng him. Kaufman has sidestepped me
o give Jack Sullivan battle In Bost on"
declared Flynn. 'In my opinion the meet
ng of Kaufman and Sullivan In Boston
8 one of those reunions we often read
about; that's ALL" Flynn says his am
,ition is to meet Tommy Burns just as
;oon as that fighter returns from Europe.