The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-12-15

cognize his mans claims to battle.
The New Yorker evidently will be
going after Jeffries next.
New York sporting authorities are
almost a unit in believing THAI Sam
Langford, the brunette scrapper, will
have an easy time putting it over Jim
Flynn when he meets the big Pueblo
stoker in San Francisco on Thursday
night At that, it seems to be of no
use for Sam to even mention fight to
Katchel, Papke or any other good one.
Samuel thinks that fight about now
would help the Christmas dinner pail
considerably, but the boys will turn
the other way whenever his name is
mentioned.
Great interest is now meing taken in
the coming battle between Tommy
Burns and big Jack" Johnson, which
will be pulled off in Australia late this
month. While some affect TO believe
that Burns was never properly rated
in this country, and is a much better
fighter than American sports have
given him credit for, the likelihood is
that the moke will rule a heavy favor
lite among the knowing ones.
| Gables from Australia say that
Johnson, if he wins, will hot foot it to
America and will challenge Stanley
Ketchel to- a bout Ketchell will soon
be a heavyweight, if he maintains his
present rate of growth, and the big
negro has picked upon him as being
the man most likely to give him a
profitable match.
al Kaufman would suit me if !
can get him. said Johnson, "but it is
doubtful if Delaney will take a chance
and let the youngster try his hand
with me. Al made a bad break when
he said that he would meet the win
ner of the fight between Burns and
myself. Al undoubtedly, didn't con-
cede me a chance with Tommy. but
take it from me there is going to be a
NEW heavyweight champion a day af-
ter Christmas.
| "Outside Of Kaufman, KetcheI is
the; only man 1 see fit to meet me. l
don't think that l will ever meet the
soft marks that Burns has been ac-
customed to meeting after I win the
title. Should l win over Burns I will
give him another chance, but I will be
the Dictator"
k2tchel has expressed his willing
mess to meet the negro, but SAYS that
he VIII rest up first before; he tackles
any one.
If Burns should prove a winner in
his bout with Johnson, he will not
lack offers that will add to the all
ready plethoric condition of his purse.
The California promoters evidently
nave bunch that Burns has a good
lchancS, and have 'cabled him Offering a
fight with the winner of the Kaufman
Barry forty five-round battle, which
takes place at the Jeffrie;s club of
Los Angeles, on the night Of Deem
DER 81. Jimmy Coffroth is willing to
hang up purse of $4,000 for the bat
Tie IN the event of Burns beating John
son, While Baron Long, of the Jeffrfes
club, says he will guarantee purse
OF $4,000, with the privilege Of let
ting the fighters take seventy per
cent of the gross receipts. If Burns
ishould be successful in beating John
son and decide TO take on the winner
OF the Kaufman Barry contest. the in
lolcatlons are that he; will want at Ieast
S2oO00 for his end alone.
There is also much talk of a Burns
ketchel match, if the former nuts
Johnson away in the pugilistic grave
yard-Which is a rather big "if. -
ketchel is reported to believe Rurns
VIII beat Jack Johnson, and if Burns
puts the negro away and returns to
this country ketchel will do his bes1
to get whack at Tommy. Strong
as ne Is ketchel does not possess the
IcieVerness nor experience of B1rns.
ana he would likely be defeated in a
match with the Canadian. But a fieht
between these Two men would draw at
least a $4,000 house in Frisco. and
ketchel would be willing to take q
chance unless Burns demanded all
but a few dollars of the. purse.
BY the way, if decisive victory is
lrecorded in the Johnson-R Burns fracas
the heavyweight, middleweight. light
weight and featherweight titles viii
be undisputed. Then the welterweight
land bantamWeight CHAMPIONSHIPS
should be decided. Harry Lewis claims
The welterweight title Lewis is such a
rank faker that he has queered him
self with the boxing patrons He has
not clear title, for he did not make
142 lounds, when he knocked out