Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27
NEW WORKERS ON
THE BIC FIGHT
General Opinion That Tommy
Is an 0verrated
Boxer.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December 26.--Jack john
sons decisive victory over Tommy Burns
fo- the heavyweight championship Of the
world was widely discussed by local sport
ing men today. 1t was the general opin-
ion that Johnson had shown Burns up
as an overrated boxer who had won
fame and fortune by whipping lot of
alleged fighters in preference to meeting
first-class ones. Burns never had chance
VITA the big negro from the moment he
was knocked down in the first round. He
was severely handicapped by his height
and weight, and was also greatly out
classed in the scientific points of the
game. while Burns did not suffer an
actual knockout in the fourteenth round
he was on the verge of one when the
police interfered, SO that 1T is conceded
by fight critics that he would surely
have been put to sleep if the battle had
been allowed to go on. That Burns evil
IDENTIFY knew Johnson was a dangerous
man was shown by the fact that he ran
away from him for nearly two years,
and when finally cornered in Australia
he insisted upon $50, 1000, win. lose or draw.
That Johnson was supremely confident
of beating Burns all the time was illus
trated by his willingness TO accept the
unfair terms laid down by the French
Canadian. From all accounts Burns was
beaten to DEATH to use q ring expression
and was so badly punished that his face
was a sight when he was helped from the
ring. Johnson was SO clever that he eS-
capped without a mark that was visible,
Burns landing only "A few wild swings on
his head. Naturally, the question asked
by sporting men all over the world just
now is WHO will be Johnson's next op-
ponent"'
city after the battle said he was open
to meet any man in the world. Jeffries
preferred. Jeffries has already placed
himself on record being determined
not to re-enter the ring, but many fight
ing men, including John l.. Sullivan, say
that he is the only heavyweight In the
world who is capable of giving Johnson
a hard battle. Bob Fftzsimmons, who
is in England, is quoted saying that
he will match with Johnson, but his as
sertion is not taken seriously here.
johnson stopped Fitz in two rounds at
Philadelphia two years ago. Some of the
spectators who saw that mill have been
insisting ever since that F'itZ feigned
knock out while others have declared
that the Cornishman was fairly smotll-
cred into submission. Tom Sharkey. who
predicted Johnsons success, declares that
rather tnan see Il negro retain tle Clldui-
pionship he will challange him to
finish fight and will bet 5000 on the
side.
Sharkey insists that he can get into old
time form in three months and that as he
is only thirty-five years old. he Is still
young man. Marvin Hart, who once got
a questionable decision over johnson in
a twenty round bout. states that he wants
to meet the negro again and that arter
his battle with Mike Schrek in Lexington
on New Year evening and will issue a
formal challenge. Stanley ketchel, the
middleweight champion, says that If his
manager consents. he will agree to box
Johnson some time next year, but not
before he has taken on enough weight
to give him chance to stand UP against
the new champion. Jeffries, who has
fighting club In Los Angeles, states that
If Kaufman defeats Barry in their forty
five round bout at his club next Wednes-
day night. Kaufman will be the best man
to pit against Johnson. Kaufman is as
tall and as heavy as the negro and has
improved so rapidly in point of ring
science that he has been regarded TOR
some time as a dangerous contender Tor
the heavyweight title.