The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-30
Jack johnson of Topeka Would
Fight Worlds Champion.
Was His Sparring Partner Last
Year.
HE HELD HIS GWN.
Had Some Lively Contests on
the Stage.
The Two Men Are Evenly Match
ed in Size.
HELD HIS GWN.

On Christmas day, Jack Johnson
colored, defeated Burns, Cup to that
time a champion) in a fistic battle
which won more than ordinary atten-
ton from the sporting fraternity OF
the world. Burns was considered an
impossibility, and Johnson was con-
sidered a second or third rater among
the worlds fighters.
Although the heavy negro has de-
feated some of the big men recently,
and holds the distinction of having
knocked out the old champion. Fftz-
simmons, he is little known in his own
country
Last year. he made a living by Civ
ing sparring exhibitions in road
show. He was accompanied on this
trip by his namesake, Jack Johnson of
Topeka. The Jack Johnson who
claims Topeka as his home, was chos-
en-. on account of his size and fistic
ability, as Wis n Wis to the coming
champion, and it is recorded, even out
side of Topeka Jacks story, that the
made an excellent showing with the
champ"
This picture, not of the two
Dromios," but of the two Jack john
sons. is interesting because it shows
the Jacks together in their sparring
tour of last year. The picture is out
of focus to a certain extent, and
makes the Topeka Jack look larger
than the colored champion who won
the big Australian match a few days
ago. AS a. matter of fact, the younger
Johnson is half an inch or more short
or than Old Jack, and four pounds
lighter.
Jack johnson, the Topeka celebrity
and colored heavyweight, was spar
ring partner and close companion to
the other Jack for two months, just
Is,4f Es-r1,&
in San Francisco last year. The pair of
Jack Johnsons travelled together
giving sparring exhibitions. Our
Johnson, in telling of this "trip, says
1.-The fact that we We're both Jack
Johnsons' was confusing until our
manager hit upon the plan of intro
ducing us as Chicago Jack'-that
meant me, and Texas Jack meaning
the other one. He is about 4 pounds
heavier than 1. and 1 and one-half
inch taller, or at least he was when
we were together
81 always thought he was a hard
man to reach-cLever blocker and
scientific in his system. However, by
hard work, l could hold my own with
him in the exhibitions We used to
mix it to such an extent that we would
be called down by the managem ent,
after the audience had jumped on the
chairs and taken too active an inter
est in the game. Perhaps 1T looked
some times like we were working for
q cham pionShip, instead of salary
The other Jack is about 80 years old,
and an old ring general-better now
that he was several years ago. 1 ex-
pected him to win in the Christmas
fight, but was suspicious of the man
agement of the fight, and never expect
ed him to win easily as he did. He
has whipped Jack Jeffries, brother of
Gentleman Jim Frank Childs, Sandy
Ferguson, and several lesser lights
like Joe Jennett and others. He lost
to Hart in a 20-round limit on decision
and pounded up old Bob Fitzsimmons
in two rounds at Philadelphia last
year.
"Old Jack used to tell me that he
could chop off one hand and whip
Burns This was stretching 1t, of
course. 1t took both his hands to get
away with 1t. OF course am glad he
IN some of our warm mix-ups, claim
ed that I held him level He never
got far ahead of me in our hottest
fistic arguments, and the fact that he
IS inclined to be rather savage on dress
parade as well as in the real thing,
leads me to believe that 1t would not
be very long shot for me to take
him on If got the chance.
ct am married now, and feel in
clined to settle down But it would
not be safe for any one to offer me a
first class opportunity with Old
Jack or any one of his class. unless
they meant business. I am not going
to butt in, and It will take induce
ments."