The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-12-26
JACK JOHNSON IS
THE CHAMPION
PUGILIST
Defeated Tommy Burns in
Fourteenth Round
POLICE PUT STOP TO FIGHT
Big Negro from Texas Had Best Of
Battle from Beginning of Opening
Round

Sidney, n. S. W., Dec 26.-Jack
for the worlds heavyweight champion
ship, receiving the decision at the
fourteenth round after the fight had
been stopped by the police. Johnson
was awarded the decision on points,
which was in accordance with the
agreement between the two men.
which was 10 the effect that should
The contest be stopped by the au-
thoritics or for any other reason the
referee should award the fight to the
man who was superior on points.
The fight drew recOrd-breaking
crowd and Burns was fayorite at odds
of to4 before the men entered the
ring. Johnson put up an aggressive
hight and secured decided lead in the
hrst round when he dropped Burns
with an upperCut The negro kept his
advantage and forced his opponent all
over the ring in nearly every round.
AT lO:42 o'clock Johnson entered
Jhe arena accompanied by his seconds
sam Fitzpatrick, Mullins, Unholz,
Lang and Bryant Wild cheering
greeted him and the big black man
turned and bowed TO all four sides of
The ring
When the cheering died down some
what johnson crossed over and shook
Burns by the hand. The Canadian
glanced al the big hands OF the Texan
and noticed that both were covered
with bandages Fearful that perhaps
they might not be of the soft kind. he
Scruunized them closely, but finding
mem 10 his satisfaction he made no
objection.
me announcement was made that if
during the contest the police should
Interfere and stop il the referee would
! immediately give a decision based on
points scored
Jack Johnson is the first negro who
ever won the worlds heavyweight
pugilistic championship fact. he is
the only negro who ever was permit
ed to battle for the honor. He was
born in Galveston, Texas, In 1878. and
began his ring career in 1901. He is 6
feet ! 10 inches in height and weighed
al the ringside close to 1870 pounds
johnson during his ring career has
Tough siXtyfour battles, and twenty.
Two of his opponents have gone down
to defeat by the knockout route.
Prominent among those who have
been put TO sleep by the big negro are
! JACK Jenries, brother of the former
heavyweight champion who was knock
ed ont by Johnson at Los Angeles in
1902 in five rounds, and Bob Fitzsim.
mons, who, I'm Philadelphia i'm 1907.
was unable to withstand Johnson's
shitty work but two rounds. Fitzsim-
mons, however. had an injured arm
when he engaged In this bout. He has
lost but two fights. one a twenty round
decision TO Marvin Hart and the other
ON foul TO Joe jeanette.
Not since the days of James ]. Cor.
bett has the prize ring seen. so perfect
a looking boxer as Johnson. Long and
1.-THE and graceful, he is as true as an
arrow IN placing his blows. Especi.
ally def is he with his left hand and
few boxers unless they have great
skill are able to keep the big fighter
from beating their face to tatters.
In courage Burns was always a bull
dog Johnson IL was said by some had
= yellow streak" In none OF his
many battles however has It been
/ proved that Johnson would not take
% good beating Neither Burns nor
Johnson however. have been consider
ed men Of the stamp Of Jeffries, Sui
Ivan or Corbett in the fighting game