The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-12-24
Up IN
AIR OVER BURNS
JOHNSON FIGHT
Much Suspicion Felt Over Out
come of Big Heavyweight
Battle.

Assuming that the fight between
Tommy Burns and Jack johnson in
Australia on December Is is on the
level, via both men trying their best
TO win. popular opinion seems 10 be
we'll divided as To what the result Will
be. Some say hat Burns has never
beaten a really good man and that he
will find i'm the big negro something that
will surprise him. They say that a
good big man can always eat a good
little man, no matter how good the lit
Tie fellow is, and they class Johnson as
p really good big man. This class say
that Johnson should win to = certainty
provided the fight is honestly contested l,
The second class of critics declare
that Burns has never been forced to
show all that is in him and profess TO
believe that he will put ND a great fight
against odds when he meets the negro
giant They say that Tommy will find
that weak spot in Johnsou's makeup,
of which 50 much has been written,
and that once he finds II Johnson will
surely he beaten. This class think that
Burns hogged the purse before agree
ing to fight Johnson. not because he
was afraid of the black, but because
he saw a chance for some more sure
money.
A third class of fight critics. the class
inclined TO lock for snakes. say that me
cies call for, and that both men VIII be
on their feet at the sound OF the last
bell: that the fighters, will then 60 10
England aud have another battle and col
lect another big gate, and finally come
home to America and fight It out here;
They do not say that all these battles VIII
result in draws or that there VIII be no
knockouts.=but they think that the puGil-
lists viii collect all the money they can.
The fact that both, fighters have been
mixed up in fake fights gives this latter
predictions. but it seerns rather severe and
almost too far-reaching to ever come true.
a writer. ON boxing, who believes tnat
says: AN attempt has been made to ere
ate the impression that the bout Will not
he honestly contested, but there Is no
ground for suspicion in that direction. As
Burns under the agreement will get oil the
money. there is no incentive for him to
do otherwise than win and retain his title:
II dishonesty were attempted 1t would
be in the line of n surrender by Johnson,
and he would want considerable money
for so doing. No matter how much Burns
might pay the black fellow to accept de-
feat. 1t would not approach the sums that
Johnson could make in England, America
and Australia were he to Wrest the title
from the white man.
Wtlt JoiiilSon " WI ne NhhubllohShiH II
would be an assurance of fortunes for
both himself and his manager, and Fitz-
patrick is keen enough to see all the pos
slbilities contained in the possession OF
the heavyweight title. Should Johnson
accept n certain sum and permit Burns
to take an unearned victory, 1t would mean
the close of the negroes pugilistic career,
for Burns would not, under such condi-
tons, consent to another match, and John
son would be ont of the game.
From all points of view there is no
reason to believe that the bout will no
dishonesty contested. Zach man has Il
strong incentive to win, and the indica-
lions are that the bout will be a smash
ing one from gong to gong"