The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-20
TOMMY BURNS ID WIN MORE LAURELS American Fighter Is Cleaning
 Up Engllshmen
WILL MEET JACK JOHNSON
Burns Has Not Eagerly Sought Fight With the Negro, But There Is Money In the Proposition,
 Win or Lose.
BY JEFFERSON THOMPSON.

BY JEFFERSON THOMPSON. | New York, January 19.-(Special.)- A story Is current in pugilistic circles to the effect that Tommy Burns has promised to meet Jack Johnson on May 20, by which time he will have cleaned up about all there is in sight in Eng land. and will be ready for business on this side of the water I am inclined to doubt the accuracy of the report. | While I have never been able to see wherein Johnson's danger to a big game fellow like Burns lies, the Canuck Is no mans fool, and he would be a candidate for the foolish house if he were to take on the big black withou he had plenty of time to get himself in first-class shape.
 1nasmuch as Burns is to meet Jem Roach on St. Patricks day and prob ably will not sail for this country for some little time after that date. he would not have time between the date of his arrival here and May 20 to get himself in the proper shape for a championship battle.
 l believe that Burns will meet John-
 
 dollars and the black fellow has been so assiduously touted that here Is It. tie doubt that match between him and Burns would bring a most prof. itable crowd to the ringside, but unless my calculations are very much out, 1t will be a date later than May 20 when the fight takes place.
 It is curious the way in which the hammer and anvil brigade keep after the Canadian fighter. I don't imagine Burns could pose successfully as a spotless pugilistic angel but so far as have been able to follow his career. he has been nearly always on the level, and if he has not demonstrated the fact that he is the best big man we have in the ring now, outside of Jeff fries, it is difficult to see how he can demonstrate 1t. He has whipped every man that he has gone against and has been perfectly willing to give everybody a chance, except Johnson, and there are reasons in plenty why self-respecting pugilist should prefer to steer clear of the darkie.
 
 Tommy Murphy certainly is hard luck kid. When everything was in readiness for his meeting with Packey Mcfarland, the tough youngster from the Windy City. Tommy wrenches a ligament in his leg while training and the fight of course had to go over. Once before when the little Harlemite had match on with Mcfarland, an attack of malaria upset his plans. Tom my now hopes that the hoodoo has done his worst and the next time a date Is set for an argument with Packey he will be able to carry it to a successful conclusion. So say we all of us.
 The old question of what constitutes the weights of the different classes in boxing is again being discussed. There is wide difference of opinion as to what is the limit of weight in a number of classes and it would seem that there should be some method by which the question could be settled.
 Experts vary on practically all of the classes with the exception of the light weight. The general consensus places the figure for this class at 133 pounds. In the other classes the experts figure the bantam weight from no to 112; featherweight from 11S to 122; we1ter from 40 to 145; middle from 154 to 158 and lightweight from 165 to 175 pounds As matter of fact, the man who wins the championship now, prac- tically fixes the weight within certain txr,f+ at,d ttfaft fo dn6n ffa ruling by competent authority, this system will of course continue.
 It is all very well for a man to say when he is making a match that the championship is not involved be- cause of the weight at which the fight may be held, but as matter of fact the public does not recognize this diff ference and a whipped champion Is no champion, in the eyes of the public.
 For instance, if Joe Cans were to go against a welter at 145 pounds and should be whipped. he might claim the lightweight championship until he was black or, shall say white in the face, but the general public would not rec ognize his claim.
 It is hard to see where the authority can be found for fixing these weights and I doubt very much whether any change in the present system is prac- ticable.
 Another step in the solution of the question as to who is the best middle weight will be taken at the Ketchell- Papke mix-up. They have been matched and If Papke succeeds in wining the fight he will be a long step nearer to the top of the heap. Ketchell Is a hard boy to beat He is tough, shifty, and has the punch.
 
 Conditions Favorable.
 New Orleans, January 19.-(Special)