The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-20
TOMMY BURNS HAS MADE THE MAzUMA American Fighter Is EnthuSed
 Over His Finances EASY MARKS IN THE RING Burns Thinks Well of the Fighting Game in England and Also Talks
 Enthusiastically of Dub
 lin Battle.
EASY MARKS IN THE RING
BY RICHARD DAHLoREN.

London, April 19.-'t IS not true, salu Tommy Burns, champion heavyweight .prize fighter of the world, that l am 1 about to purchase the late Duke of Dew onshire's mansion on Piecadilly. This much I will say, that if the easy things continue to roll in as fast as they have done since I struck these hospitable shores I will soon have money enough to buy any of the fancy palaces that may be on the market.
 As it Is, I have enough money now to make me independent for life, and what is more. I propose to hold on to it. When get through with fhe fighting game l don't want any benefit to save me from the soup house. I've got mine now. and all the slaps on the back and the bullcon handshakes and hes good fellow won't get it away from me. I've seen too many in my game down and out and passed up | by the people they made money for and spent it on to be taken in by the hot air.
 My theory of being a good fellow Is to be good to yourself and your family first. My motto is the old one, that a mans best friend is his pocketbook. ]"
 It was in this fashion that Mir. Burns, who first discovered that easy things ! grew in abundance in the English fistc arena, philosophical in talk had with him recently.
 He sat in his armchair in the sitting room of his suite at Jack Straw Castle at Hampstead. His faithful typewriter was at his right hand, and his eyes would
  and take in one of the most glorious views in England, Hampstead Heath. 1 The interview was frequently inter- 1 rupted by some thought coming to Burns of a chance to get some more easy money | that he was on the point of overlooking. Burns, with gentlemanly apology would swing to the typewriter and make the gentle machine shudder as he pounded 1 out def a proposition
 Burns as he talked showed no signs of the big head. His sense of humor hadn't deserted him. The fighting game to him was merely a business. Every 1 proposition made to him he regarded from a business standpoint He was out to get the money, and was getting it, he said. He didn't regard himself as a hero, although his natural vanity was pleased at the receptions and ovations which had been showered upon him. He regarded himself purely as a business man.
 There is no use of my denying that l have been up against a lot of easy marks here in England,' said Burns. T haven't been obliged to extend myself once in any of my contests. From what l have seen, England hasn't a heavy weight fighter that is worthy of the name. Those 1 have been up against don't seem to possess any knowledge of ring science The English heavyweghts go into d ring and biff-bff-bang until one or the other goes down and out. Science doesn't count with them. English fighters play entirely for the head. The value of fighting for the body is not recognized. A good body fighter can lick about any of the men in England The English fighters have the willingness, but they haven't had the experience. They don't fight often enough. In America a man to be a prize fighter realizes that in order to get to the top he must fight, fight, fight. The worst dub teach you something
 "In the lightweight class in England have seen some promising boys, particu- larly Driscoll, who would make it lively for the best of our boys on the other side.
 'In ring arrangements America is way to the good. l don't like the English style of having the referee out of the ring. With the referee sitting in com fortabe chair by the ringside, it is im- possible for him to see half the things that are going on. In my fight with Moir at the National Sporting club, at one time Moirs back was turned to the ref cree and he delivered several blows that were foul, not intentionally, mind you, but foul just the same. The referee didn see them, and I didn't make any kick, but if I hadn't worn a protector I might have been injured for life As it was, my legs just below the hips were black and blue from the blows l had received there.
 "The referee, in my opinion, should always be in the ring, as the present English system gives too much oportun- ity for dirty work.
 ''One change I have brought about at the National Sporting club is to have the timekeeper count out the seconds when a man goes to the floor. The night fought Moir I went to the timekeeper and said: I want you to count the seconds when either Moir or myself go to the floor. Previously Manager Bettinson had agreed to this. The timekeeper, Zareba, imme- diatey got nasty and said; We never have done so and we will make no change now
 linen I got nasty myself and said: I don't care what you have been doing, but you'll count those seconds out good and loud for tonight
 Manager Bettinson then came over, and he said, Why, certainly the seconds will be counted out and they were.
 Now the National Sporting club in every important fight counts the seconds out Just think of the crooked business a timekeeper who was fixed could pull off by not announcing the time man was down.
 Tt was during this conference that l was hissed. The audience had the idea I was demanding the purse to be put up. I never made any such kick. l simply in | the first instance in accordance with the National Sporting clubs own stipulation, insisted that the side bets should be placed in the referees hands, which was done. The audience, misunderstanding inc situation hissed me. Otherwise my treatment at the National and at other places has been aces.
 .In Dublin, however, l got the recep- | tion of my life. Great as my reception was it didn't compare with that given to Croker when he entered the place. The audience went wild. l tell you, MT. Croker is one great old sport. l went ont to his place and had lunch with him. | He showed me all over his house and about the stables and brought out Orby for me to see Then he turned to me and said, Burns, why didn't you give us a little longer. run for our money Tn that Roche fight? Well, I said. MT. l <,fIf fOrf h