The San Francisco call., 1908-12-20
TOMMY BURNS TO
DEFEND HIS
TITLE
PugiIisfic Fans of World Inter.
esfed i'm Coming Fight With
Johnson in Australia

For the first time in history heavy
weight championship fight will thrill
the sports OF Australia next Saturday
and the extraordinary attraction VIII be
furnished by Tommy Burns. holder OF
the title, and Jack Johnson. the foruid-
able black. who has spent most OF the
last year in hurting defis at Burns
The very fact that both men are Ameri-
cans apparently fails to rob the match
of any OF its luster and the Australian
sports promise TO make the occasion
the most memorable one OF its kind
that the country has ever known
Although the fight is billed in a
foreign land, thousands and thousands
of miles away from the Golden state.
every man, woman and child who has
a hankering for affairs pugilistic ~ in
terested and many thousands OF them
Will await with intense interest the
result OF the great conflict. which, BY
the way, will arrive here on Christmas.
owing to time difference.
A worlds championship glove contest
| always interests California no matter
whether 1t takes place in Reno. Johan-
nesburg or Odessa The very fact that
the title is at stake is SUFFICIENT IL
awaken our sporting enthusiasm and
prompt many of us to wager our hard
earned money on the man who We
believe has the better chance 10 prove
himself a meal ticket
RECORD CROWD EXPECTED
The American fight fans will be
amazed to learn that Burns and John
son will meet at the outlandish hour
of IL o'clock in the morning. This
would never do in the land OF the
lStarS and StTinnS- hHt in the Kangaroo
country they think nothing OF bring
Ing off their great sporting events at
times when many true American
sports are just thinking of rising.
The great International contest is to
take place in an immense stadiunr
at Rushcutters bay. few miles out.
side of Sydney. and will be a 20 round
affair. the limit for boxing contests in
Australia The bout will be promoted
by Hugh d. Mcintosh, wealthy
sporting man, who was responsible for
the last meeting between Burns and
poor old Bill Squires.
The mammoth stadium, fitted up TO
seat no less than 10000 persons. was
constructed by Mcintosh especially for
the Burns-Squires mill, and IL is said
to be of the largest of it's kind
in all the world. 1t is so constructed
that the spectators have a Splendid
view of the ring from it's most remote
corner.
According to the promoter. the seats
Will range all the way from $3.50 TO
$50 and the Australian papers say
that. every chair viii be taken when
the men answer the clang OF the
gong. Even Jimmy COffrOth in his
widest dreams never figured on such
a house. IL it does not break all
worlds records the Australians will be
sadly disappointed.
BIG PURSE GUARANTEED
Prominent Australian sporting au-
thorities who We're connected with the
Burns-Squires match say that it drew
that the coming event will pull no less
than 100000. This is just $4,000
more than the Jefrries-Corbett tight
drew here In 1903. and that gate re-
ceipt was always considered the larg-
est in the history of the ring.
Though McIntOsh's figures may stag
ger the American sporting world and
\ appear ridiculous. still he will have to
draw very close 70 that amount IL he
investment. Already he has guaran-
teed Burns $4,000, win. lose or draw,
while Johnson's share will be $4,000.
This sum was deposited with the
stake holder by Mcintosh several
months ago and there is no chance for
an argument on that score.
Outside OF the purse money. Burns
and Johnson were also allowed their
fare to the land of the Kangaroo to-
gein ggefner with i+sa1e their training expenses.
land when the whole layout is care
fully looked over the casual observer
viii readily see that the game pro-
moter must break the record il he ex-
poets to do any good financially.
Mcintosh Is evidently a very shrewd
fnancier, for he has secured control OF
a big rOadhouse near the stadium. as
well as the exclusive right Of handling
draws 10000 persons he will have a
royal chance to reap a rich harvest on
the side with all these privileges at
I his command.
AUSTRALIANS LIKE BURNS
Special railroad trains with special
radius of 1900 miles to the scene OF
the encounter that the entire civilized
world IS waiting to near from. Me
Intosh hopes that at least half of those
who will witness the fight will come
from these distant points. some Of
them perhaps UNDERGOING hardships in
Moving. pictures of the fight and the
incidents that lead up to 1t. as well as
taken. Provided the mill turns out to
be a slashing affair. as many expect
these hlms viii not only be worth
their weight In gold In Australia, but
In the United States and England and
France as we'll
Johnson rules 10 to favorfts in
this city. but in the country where he
will battle for the great championship
crown he is on the short end. the price
reading 10 to s against him at last ac-
counts. AS the Australians have the
regulations of being great sportsmen.
IL is likely that many a fortune will be
won and lost. provided the contest is
decisive.
From indications Burns is a prime
favorite with the sporting men in the
land OF the southern cross. This is
but another instance of the prophet
being forced to seek foreign land to
be recognized. Tommy was more
scoffed at than admired in this country
and Canada. his home. but after his
first Australian appearance he was
transformed into a popular idol.
BURNs-KETCHEL BOUT
The bare possibility of the coming
fight being a framed up affair appar-
emily has not entered into the minds
of the Australians. All OF them seem
TO have placed their utmost confidence
in the willy pair of fighters and the
shrewd promoter. and they can see
nothing save a great grueling battle
between the two greatest big lighters
in the world.
These views are not shared by the
San Franciscans. who have been stung
so hard and so often in the past There
is many a man of this city who shakes
his head and winks a knowing wink
when the subject Is mentioned There
fore should the big fellows fake, none
of the local followers of the game will
be taken entirely by SURPRISE
-. kTer