The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-12-31
JACK JOHNSON IS
NOW CHAMPION
coLoRED BOXER DEFEATS TOM.
MY BURNS AT SYDNEY.
WINS FIGHT ON POINTS
Police Stop the Contest After Fourteen
Rounds-sketches of Puaillsts
Who Battled for
i $4,000 Purse.

\ Sydney. N. s. W., Dec. 26.--Jack
johnson Saturday won the heavy
weight championship of the world
from Tommy Burns. The fight went
l4roands and, Johnson was declared
the winner on points. The police
stopped the bout.
First Negro to Win the Belt.
Jack Johnson is the first negro who
ever won the worlds heavyweight pu-
gilistic Championships fact, he is
the only negro who ever was permit
ted to battle for the honor He was
born in sGaReston, Tex, In 1873 and
began his ring career in 1901. He is
6 feet ~ inches in height and
weighed at the ringside close to 100
pounds.
Burns was born in Hanover, Ont, in
1881, and started fighting when he was
10 years old. He is S feet 7A inches
in height and weighs when trained for
battle about ITS p0sinds. Burns always
. was a rough and ready fighter, who de-
lighted to sail in and mix things with
his adversary. Favored with great
length of arm-his reach measuring
741A inches-Burns has proved himself
bad man at close range Despite the
fact thatiJohnson oyertopped him in
height by 61a inches, Burns had the
better OF the argument in reach by ~
inches.
Purse of $4,000 Offered.
A purse of $4,000 was hung up for
the battle, which was scheduled to go
20 rounds. OF this amount Burns de-
manded and received $4,000, this sum
to be paid him despite the outcome of
the fight. johnson had to be satisfied
with $4,000 and return tickets to Lon
don 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 probably was the
largest crowd that ever witnessed
pugili.tic contest. Burns did his train
ing at Darling Point, while Johnson
got in condition at Marley, seaside
suburb --
H. Johnson's Chase of Burns.
Since James ]. Jeffries retired and.
Tommy Burns claimed the champion
ship, Johnson had been trying to get
the Canadian boy to meet him and he
had trailed him throughout the United
States and even to England in quest of
match. 1t was not until Mcintosh,
the promoter of this fight, and who
also acted as referee, offered a purse
of $4,000 for a battle at Rushcutters'
Bay, a suburb of Sydney that Burns
consented to meet Johnson. Then he
stipulated how the money should be
split up, the size of the ring and all
the conditions surrounding the fight.
Johnson Immediately accepted and
sailed from London for Australia to be-
gin training.
Johnson, during his ring career, has
fought Ga battles, and % of his oppo-
nents have gone down to defeat by the
Knockout route.
Winner Fine Boxer.
Not since the days of James J, Cor
bett has the prize ring seen so perfect
boxer as Johnson. Long and 1.-the,
he is as graceful as dancing master
and as true as an arrow in placing his
blows. Especially def is he with his
left hand, and few boxers, unless they
have great skill, are able to keep the
big black man from beating their faces
to tatters.
In courage, Burns was bulldog al.
ways; Johnson, it was said by some,
had yellow streak" In none of his
many battles, however, has it been
proved chat Johnson would not take a
good beating. Neither Burns nor John
son, however, has been considered men
Of the stam~ of Jeffries, Sullivan or
Corbett in the fighting game.