Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-12-26
GETS
DECISION IN
FOURTEENTH
POLICE SAVE TOMMY
BURNS FROM KNOCKOUT
Heavyweight Title Goes to the
BurIy Texas Negro After Bat
tie in Which White Champion
Is Beaten Badly


lBy Morntug journal Special Leased WlreI
sydney, \. :. w. Dee. 2O.-Jack
johnson, the big negro from Calves
ton, Texas is the worlds heavyweight
champion pugilist He won the title
today IN the big arena at Rushcut-
tors Bay from Tommy Burns. tina
Fronch-Canadian, who had hoId IT
since James j Jeffres reIinuuisned
It and after chase Of Burns that led
| half way around the world
The end came in the fourteenth
round. when the police. seeing Burns
! tottering and unable to defend him
| self from the savage blows of his op-
! ponent, mcrcifully stopped the fight
| Previously 1t had been arranged that
! # the police interfered a decision
should be rendered on points. and Ref
cree Mcintosh declared tho black man
a winner for all through the fight he
! had shown himself Burns master in
every style of fighting
Burns, in an interview after he had
gone to his dressing room, said: Il
did the best could and fought hard.
johnson was too big and his reach
was too great"
1ght while Burns ewes were badly
puffed and his mouth swollen To twice
it's normal size lie fought a game
battle and showed indomitablc pluck
but he was no match for the big Texas
black
Twice only in the annals Of pugi-
lism had colored man been permit
ted TO fight for the title emblematic
ot worlds heavyweight pugilist Peter
jackson tried il with John L. Sui
Ivan. but sullivan would not consent
e. go After james j Jeffries took
the scalp of Rob Fitasimmons he took
ON Hank Griffin at Los Angelo y but
the cplprcd mau WIS easy for him. O.
and meyer had a chance TO win the
honor He was knocked out in four
rounds Jeffrics then drew the color
line, and several years later retired.
johnson had tried to get on a fight
with him, but without avail
Then Tommy Burns. or Noah Brus-
So ass his name really is took up the
mantle of Jeffrics. Since then. and
until today Johnson has cndeavorcd to
get him into the ring, declaring that
he was Burns master
The fight was for a purse OF S35,-
600 of which Burns received $4,000
Johnson, $4,000. Tho ring was a "a
foot one, ana was pitched in tho CEN
ter Of "a big arena built especially for
the purpose NJ Rushcuttors BAY Tho
bout was to have been for twenty
Tho day daWucd overcast and cool
Thousands Of persons from all parts
Of tho country were attracted to the
scene Of the fight and many reached
there Christmas night ana slept I'm the
open. They came by street cars. au-
carriages and on horseback,
and at 10 o'clock this morning. one
hour before the fight was scheduled
10 start, every seat WAS occupied. The
prices of seats ranged from $3.50 to
B25.
The crowd was estimated at between
$4,000 ana 10000 persons, and it kept
perfect order throughout A brass
band cnlivcncd the holiday throng
Before the contestants entered the
ring Bul Squircs, who thrice has been
ictrutcd by Burns challenged the win
lor
Burns weighed in at LOS pounds and
Johnson ut 1872.
The betting was to ( on Burns
30 the start but it veefcd after
Tine spectators conceded that John
ou's victory was due to his physical
dHantagcs over Burns. his superior
.noWlydgc of the fighting game. and
MS unruffled dcmosnor, while being
auntcd by the champion
THE stakes were paid while the men
we're i'm the ring.
At to:42 o'clock johnson entered
ha arena accompanied by his seconds.
am ritzpatrick Muuens. tnholz.
ang and Bryant Wild cheers greeted
Iu and the big black man turned
ud bowed To- all four sides OF the ring
ust as johnson took his seat Burns
ppe4rod re was smiling. and the
laudit~ of the spectators were even
lor' enthusiastic than those accorded
uhu-uu Burns took up his post I'm
1r western corner Of the ring. sur
nuudcd by his seconds. Heating,
l<r,t,. oponuoL Burke and Rus
.I When tho cheering had died down
'm,Whrt. Johnson crossed the ring
nd shook Burns haid The Canadian
anccd at the big mauleys OF the Tex
N aud noticed that both were covered
18th bandagcs Fearful that they
night not be of the soft. surgical
ind. ne scrutnized them closely. but
inding them 20 his satisfaction he
made no objection
The referee. however. took "A hand
d the controversy. and said the wear
3g of bandages was not IN the articles.
ehnseu stiu domurred. however. and
,urns with "a show of impatience,
ad his seconds unwind the tape. His
ction brought forth from the spec
ators a large round of applause.
The announcement was made that
{ during the fight the police should
interfere and stop IT, the referee
would Immediately give a decisiol &
,ased on points scored
Al Il o'clock Johnson and Burns