Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-25
Expected of
Australia Statements From Fighters and RefereePmse
Largest EverO Offered Tom Ryan Starts to Follow
Racing --Tennis Solons in Session.

is staging the contest, will lay out in
the neishborhood of $4,000 for the at
traction that is the classic feature OF
1903 in the pugilistic realm.
A Big Purse Guaranteed.
The fighters have been guaranteed
$4,000. almost $4,000 has been expended
on the new stadium where the match
will be held and other expenses, such as
advertising and sums for travelling for
the principals. will bring the total well up
to the amount mentioned. The fight fol-
lowers of the island continent are worked
up to the highest pitch imaginable about
the struggle that will decide the holder
of the worlds heavyweight crown, and
the demand for tickets bids fair to exceed
the supply. Over a week ago 10000 reser-
vat1ons were disposed of, and all attend
ance figures for the land of the kangaroo
and bushwhacker WIN undoubtedly be
shattered Saturday. The prices of seats
range from s. to $50 and all of the
Autographed tickets will have been dis
posed OF before the men enter the ring.
OF the $35.N'O that has induced the men
to display their prOwess in far-off Aus
tralia $4,000 will go to the shrewd and
calculating Burns. The champion has
been censured by many sporting men for
driving such hard bargain, but in agree
ing to meet Johnson he is giving the negro
unusual concession on the part of a
heavyweight champion. Johnson is con-
tent to take the s. 600 end. for by so doing
he obtains the opportunity that may be
cartwheels rolling into his Golfers.
Furthermore. the astute Tommy will real
ize SLIGO from the moving pictures of
the fight and has received two tickets to
London. valued at $500. Purse. pictures
and tickets will net the champion ap-
proximately $4,000. Johnson. however.
is far less fortunate. AS has been said
before, the negro will receive but 5000
as his share of the purse, while the NOV
ing pictures will return him but $500
round-trip tickets to England for travel
ing expenses. as he made the trip to Aus
tralia expressly to meet Burns.
Skeptical of Wagering.
While betting in the antipodes is re-
ported to be brisk on the coming battle
with Burns reigning to ) favorite
sporting men are rather skeptical of
wagering on the outcome owing to the
fact that there is no way of finding out
whether or not the fight is on the level
Sporting men have showed a wide diverg-
ence Of opinion as to the probable winner
but many held that Burns gameness
would pull him through. An almost equal
number claimed that If the fake element
did not enter into the contest johnson
would be returned victorious From this
can be seen the uncertainty that is at
tached to the battle and the magnet that
is attracting the now fisht-crazed natives
of Australia. Burns Z to : rating may
be accounted for from the fact that he is
the titleholder while Johnson Is the chal-
lenger. Provided that the mattel, has not
been put in cold storage for several weeks
by the principals. fact that appears i'm
probable when the circumstances are TAX
en- into consolidation, a hard-fought bat
tie should be waged from gong to gong
A nerve-racking struggle will probably re-
suit. with the element of personal enmity
as big factor. A victory means
big theatrical engagements and many
profitable f1Stic ventures aside from the
heavyweight title, and 1t Is safe to pre-
dict that despite the cries of fake that
will be put forth from bell to bell and
that the real worlds heavyweight cham
pion will he crowned in Sydney on Sat
urday.
Comparison of Boxers.
A comparison of the physical qualities
of the contestants shows Johnson to have
the advantage in every respect save that
Burns is blessed with sturdier underpin-
nings and longer reach. The negro is
8 feet q inches in height, while Burns
falls short Of these figures 81 inches. be-
ing but . feet "A inches tall. Johnson
scales 1856 pounds when in perfect condi-
ton. as opposed to lie pounds, the cham
pion's lighting weight. Tommy will, in
all probability, enter the ring around the
1SO-pound mark. AS there is no weight
limit and every little helps to offset the
negro's advantage in this respect. De-
spite Johnson's height he has not corre-
spondingly longer reach, his stretch is
but 72al inches. while Burns can boast of
a reach that is IL inches longer.
The champion. moreover. as has been
mentioned before, has sturdier pair of
legs. His hips measure 80 inches. an inch
more than his rivals, and his thighs are
26 inches, as opposed to Johnsons meas
urement of 90 1-3 inches. Burns calves
measure 1914 inches, while his opponents
fall short of this mark a half inch More
over. Burns legs are better muscled than
Johnson as the negro's seemingly as
large measurements are due to his big
frame. Both men have powerful arms. as
is attested by JOhnsOns 141t-inch biceps
and Burns 1874 Inch measurements. The
champions forearm is 10 inches. while
the negrO's is an inch more. Burns neck
measures 16 inches. while his opponents
is inch more.
OF the two men Burns has the stockier
build and is credited with more strength
and stamina than the negro a4,irant for
honors. Johnson is consid-
cred faster on his feet, but Burns is far
from being statue, and many students
of the squared circle sport look for him
to hold his own at the fOotwork phase of
the battle. Burns takes far better care
of himself than his rival. and as a conse-
quence his followers predict that his en-
durance will wear Johnson down in the
session. Despite Johnson's
in height Burns is confident
that no disadvantage will come to him
through this respect and values his slight
advantage in reach far more than he
would a gain in height
Negro Has the Punch.
Jack Johnson was born at Galveston.
Tex, March 81. 1878. He weighs 1876
pounds and is six feet one and three-quar-
ters inches in height. The big negro.
who is thirty years old. is rated as one
Of the fastest big men in the ring to-
day by followers of the fight game. Box
ers who have faced Johnson are almost