Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-12-22
THE PUGILISTS
Conditions of ,be Big Fight and the Odds on Favorite -
 More Fight News.

Word was received in New York from Sydney, N. s, w., yesterday that Premier Wade had announced that he would not interfere with the Burns-Johnson heavyweight cham plonship fight scheduled to take place next Saturday morning in the stadium at Rushcutter's bay. Accord Ing to the latest adyices from the scene of action Burns is the favorite at to 1, with much money wagered . both ways, Hugh D. Mcintosh, the promoter of the mill in a statement received from him yesterday gives the Following details concerning the bat tie:
 The fight will take place at II o'clock on the morning of boxing day, December 26, the early hour be- ing fixed to enable patrons to get to Ranwick afterward to see the run ming of the Summer cup, one of the biggest of Australian horse races. The prices of admission range from S5 to $50 and already considerable number of the best young sporting bloods have paid $50 for seats. The success of the fight from d financial point Of view is already assured and the crowd promises to be the most tashlonable that has ever witnessed a championship struggle in Australia, the whole of the viceregal staff, in cluding the representative of the king, the Earl of Dudley, having sig -nli1ed their intention of being pres cnt.
 or course the usual rumors were in circulation at first that the amount or the purse, $37,500, together with transportation and living expenses for each man, was exaggerated, but this was promptly silenced by the posting of the entire purse with the Referee, the leading sporting paper or Australia, in bank checks, a bank s own draft, which in British banking 1 procedure is recognized as being just as negotiable as q Bank of England note. Nothing more is heard now i upon that score and the fight is ev- eryWhere regarded as the greatest 1 sporting event Australia has ever i known. Burns and Johnson are bot h training hard, Burns at Medlow Bath in the Blue mountains. one of the fla nous tourist resorts here, and John i son at Sir Joseph Bankss grounds at Botany, the scene of many pedestrian events in days gone by.
 While Johnson has plenty of sup porters in Australia Burns will start favorite in the fight, and the best judges here think that he will win. He is immensely popular and his de- meanor, also his fighting ability, has made him an idol of the sporting l public. The idea of his ever having been afraid of Johnson is absolutely secuted and no one could be keener for the fray. Johnson is also confi- dent and a great fight is confidently anticipated. The railways. will run special trains from points as far dis tant as 1,2O0 miles from Sydney and it is probable that more than 25,00O persons will be on hand. Of this number 10000 will have seats in the stadium.
 There will be no interference with the fight by the authorities, in spite of intense opposition by the wowsers. Premier Wade will be a spectator himself, He is an athlete and big strong man of the Roose- welt type. He was the best Rugby three-quarter that England ever pro duced, having gone there from Syd- ney to be educated at Oxford. He be- lieves in the manly art and sees nc harm in the meeting between Burns and Johnson"
 Promoter Mcintosh is native Of Sydney He is justice of the peace former secretary of the League of x s. w. wheelmen, president of the Australasian Federal Cycling council a leading caterer and the proprietor of a number of government tourist houses. He is recognized as the lead, Ing sporting promoter in the Anti podes and the coming fight will cost him an outlay of nearly $60,00 be fore he can secure dollar in profit