The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1908-12-26
NEGRO FIGHTER
IS CHAMPION
Johnson Wins From Burns on Points
PsIice Stop the
Fight.


Johnson, the big negro from Calves.
ton, Tex. is the worlds champion
heavyweight pugilist He won the
title in the big arena at Rushcutters
Bay from Tommy Burns, the French
James j. Jeffries relinquished it and
after chase of Burns that has led
half way round 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, mercifully stopped the fight.
Previously it had been arranged that
If the police interfered a decision
should be rendered on points, and
Referee Mcintosh without hesitation
declared the big black man the win
ner. 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
fought the best | could and fought
hard. Johnson was too big and his
reach was too great"
Johnson appeared fresh after the
fight, while Burns eyes were badly
pulled and his mouth was swollen to
twice its normal size. The Canadian
fought a game battle and showed in
domitable pluck, but he was no
match for the big Texas black
Twice only in the annals of pugil-
Ism has a colored man been permit
ted to fight for the title emblemat.-
Of worlds championship heavyweig.r
pugilist. Peter Jackson tried it with
John L. Sullivan, but Sullivan would
not consent to go. After James j.
Jeffries took the scalp Of Bob Fitz-
simmons, he took on Hank Griffin At
Los Angeles, but the colored man
was easy for him and never had
chance to win the honor. He was
knocked out In four rounds. Johnson
had tried to get On fight with him.
unavaiiinsiy. e
The crowd was estimated at be.
tween. $4,000 and 10000, and II kept
perfect order throughout the h6ht.
A brass band enlivened the holiday
throng. - y
Before the contestants entered the
ring Bill Squires, who thrice has
been defeated by Burns. challenged
the winner. r $50 -
The betting was to. on Burns at
the start, but It veered after few
rounds to 2 to on johnson. ''...5
The spectators conceded that John.
sons victory was due to his physical
advantages over Burns, his superior
knowledge of the lighting game and
his unruf1ed demeanor while being
tainted by the champion, The stakes
were paid the men while they were
In the ring. 49, - -.<'
Jack Johnson Is the first negro who
ever won the worlds heavyweight
pugilistic championship. and tho
second negro who ever was permit
ted to battle for the honor He was
! born in Galveston, Tex, in 1878, and
began his ring career in 1901. He Is
feet IL inches in height. and
weighed at the ringside close to 100
poundsN
ada, in 1881, and started fighting
when he was - years old. He is 5
feet ~ inches in height and weighs.
when trained for battle, about ITS
pounds. Burns always was rough
and ready fighter, who delighted tc
sail in and mix things with his adver-
sary. Favored with great length Of
arm-his reach measuring 74h
inches-Burns has proved himself q
bad man at close range. Despite the
fact that Johnson overtopped him In
height by 6H inches, Burns had the
better of the argument in reach BY
1% inches.
A purse Of $35. 900 was hung up for
the battle, which was scheduled to 90
20 rounds. OF this amount Burns de-
manded and received $4,000, this
sum to be paid to him despite the
outcome of the fight Johnson had to
be satisfied with $4,000 and return
tickets for himself and his manager,
Sam Fitzpatrick
According to reports both Johnson
and Burns bet heavily on themselves
at the prevailing odds, which slightly
favored Burns at the ringside. The
fighters were trained to the hour and
fought before what was probably the !
largest crowd that ever witnessed 2
pugilistic contest
/ Since James J. Jeffries retired and
Tommy Burns claimed the championr
ship, Johnson has been trying to get
the Canadian boy to meet him, and
he has trailed him throughout tie
( United States andeyen to England b
quest of match. It was not until
Mcintosh, the promoter of this nxht,
and who also acted as referee. oHsfed
= purse Of $4,000 for battle Is
Rushcutters Bay. a suburb of Sydney
Dr,x-r,o <,<xx. 81 m