Los Angeles herald., 1908-07-21
FANS PUZZLED
OVER BIG BOYS
UNABLE TO SELECT EITHER AS
FAVORITE
KAUFMAN AND JOHNSON ARE
EVENLY MATCHED
All Advantages Considered, Even
Money! ke-Your-Pick Appears to
Be Correct Dope on Fight
Friday Night

The big boys got down to real busi-
ness yesterday afternoon in their train
ing camps and attracted quite a good
crowd to each of the seaside training
quarters The fans have seen Battling
Johnson in action so often recently
that AL Kaufman outdrew the big
Russian, yet his work was none the
more impressive. Both are in such
good condition now. however, that
work is not an absolute necessity be-
yond that which is required to put on
the finishing touches to their already
good form.
The fact that johnson is always doing
light work, regardless of whether he
has match pending, and that kauf-
mann had been training up north be-
fore starting for the southland, makes
strenuous labors unnecessary in the
final hours preceding the fight. That
both will be in perfect trim goes with
out question, as each fully realizes the
Importance of winning in the first of
the elimination contests If he is to be
considered as contender for cham
pionship honors in the near future.
1t develops now tat Johnson will go
into the ring with a substantial adj
vantage in weight and inasmuch as
his friends know he will be in as good
trim, if not better than ever, as when
he fought Flynn both times, he is get
ting good support in the early betting.
Kaufman will have an advantage in
experience against classier fighters and
his long and successful career, with
only one defeat to mar It, gives him
an edge on the Russian to a certain
degree. However, the fans refuse to
m nIrn al a1,aa Fox o.ffa
it is probable that when they enter
the ring the native son will not be more
than 10 to favorite.
Another advantage that is having its
influence in favor of Kaufman Is the
fact that he is to have the able ad-
vice and counsel of the veteran Billy
Delaney in the ring. Delaney is a
maker of champions and is one of the
most competent judges of a fighter in
the world. The fact that he is I'M
usually confident regarding the result.
encourages the friends of the native
son in an immense degree, as Delaney
usually does not become enthusiastic
at the chances of any fighter unless
he knows the relative ability of each
of the scrappers. In this fight he can
not see where Johnson has any reason
able chance to defeat the boy wonder,
saying that AL is better now than he
ever was in his life and that If he
cannot whip johnson he would do well
to retire from further ring battles.
This is a strong statement for Delaney
to make and it is having its weight.
Johnson resumed work yesterday
afternoon at Santa Monica, being as
sisted by Abdul the Turk and Battling
Carsey. The remaining days of the
training period will be used to good
advantage and the Russian will not
have room for excuse if he loses be-
yond the fact that Kaufman really
is a better man. He is improving faster
than any fighter in the ring, as all
his recent battles attest, and will be
ready to go at a terrific pace Friday
night. His punch and his stamina, OF
course, are his chief dependence. AT
punching and taking punishment. even
IL not in speed, he cannot be rated as
inferior to Kaufman, and the general
opinion of the fans Is that he has
big advantage in this regard
The second preliminary to this tight
was arranged yesterday. Bobby Burns
and Joe Rogers will go on for SIX
rounds in the opening number ana
Billy Morris and Jim Tremble will
wind up the prelim stunts. The card.
therefore, is complete, and Manager
McCarey contemplates it with much
satisfaction, content in the knowledge
that he has an excellent attraction Tor
reopening the big game at his Maud
Junction pavilion.