Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-21
Burns and Johnson Both
In Pink Of Condition.
Ready for Fight at Sydney,
n. S. w. on Saturday Next.
The Betting Favors Burns, 5 to a..
Big Crowd Expected.

Sydney, n. S. w. Dec 20-"Tommy"
Burns, the French Canadian heavy
weight pugilist, and Jack johnson, the
american cOlored pugiliSt, who are 10
light here on Saturday next for the
heavyweight championship of the
world, are both in the pink Of condi-
ion Hard work has made them fit
or long and hard battle, and al
though the odds favor Burns, probably
because of his recent signal victories
>ver the best of Australia's heavy
Weights, Johnson already has many
supporters and will not be without
a big bunch OF money behind him when
ne enters the arena
Burns is quartered at Darling Point
md has placed himself entirely in the
hands of his skilful trainer OKeefe
with ODonnell, the Australian middle
weight champion as sparrng partner
Johnson is at Manley, seaside sub
1rb. Jach Mullins is his trainer, and
Bill" Lang whom Burns trimmed so
headily in Melbourne last September,
has been doing his best for the past
few weeks to give Johnson points on
Bunrs' style Of fighting. Several other
pugilists have been assisting Lang IN
his task, and Johnson has been put
ting in the hardest kind Of work with
The gloves and on the road, prelln-
mary to what he considers the most
important battle Of his life
Both of the men have been giving
training exhibitions twice week at
he stadium and thousands of persons,
the fighters at their work. In this way
the men have been enabled to gather
in a lot of money, portion of which
they intend to place on their chances.
The public betting favors Burns at to
t and already a large amount has been
out in the hands of stockholders at
these figures. 1t is expected that 20,-
100 people will see the fight, 10000
tickets having already been sold. AS
vet a referee has not been selected,
}ut it is believed that good man VIII
be found within a day or two. Con-
racts for the picture rights are being
made in all parts of the world.
When the final count of the referee
1t Rush Cutters Bay, sydney, Aus
tralia, next Saturday morning pro-
'laims Tommy Burns or Jack Johnson
he worlds champion heavyweight the
ugilistS the adherents of the fighting
game of North America, Europe and
australia will have finally settled for
hem the much moOted question OF
which is the superior man. Since
James j. Jeffries retired and Burns
announced that he would defend the
title against all -comers-Barrng color
d men--Johnson has camped on mis-
trail denying Burns right to draw
he color line, with the result that no
little amount of public opinion mas
sided with the big black.
Despite the clamor, however, Burns
persistently refused to accede to john
sons demands for a fight and went his
way picking up easy money purses
against second and third rate fighters.
Nobody, however, doubted Burns ablli- |
ty to give johnson a good fight.
"Bill" Squires, the Australian, came |
across seas with the championship bee |
and sought q fight from Jeffries. The |
Californian, however, was out Of the |
game and Burns took him on in San |
Francisco. The fight lasted less than
one round-In fact it was won in a
punch by Burns. Burns claimed that
this battle clinched his right to the
title of heavyweight champion, but
Johnson still protested. Burns then
went to London where in a contest ad-
vertsed as being for the worlds cham
he Knocked out Gunner"
Moir in 10 rounds and afterwards
whipped "Jem' Roche in Ireland and
several other heavyweights of similar
class.
Johnson followed Burns to London
and challenged him there. Burns de-
clared he would give him a fight if a
purse should be hung up of sufficient
size to assure him $4,000, win, lose or
lraw; but this was not forthcoming,
md Burns sailed for Australia. where
le again trimmed Bill Squires after
| harder fight than the Australian had
given him in California and eight days
ater in Melbourne he also defeated
'Bilp' Lang, considered the best fighter
n Australia, after Squires.
Then the fight promoters at Sydney
lung up purse of $35, 900 and Burns
,abled Johnson his ultimatum This
vas that of the $4,000 Burns was to
eceive 100000 despite the issue of the
'att1e, JohnSon'S end to be $4,000 john
on accepted and Immediately left for ,
Australia.
The fight will be to a finish in q "a
oot ring in the open air. Besides the
'urse of 100000, Burns will obtain
noving picture film valued at $1750 and
for himself and man
ger back to London, making in all
80, 1000 that he will receive for meet S
ng Johnson. Johnson also gets his t
ravelling expenses from London to 6
australia and return.
Tommy Burns, or Noah Brusso as
is name really is, was born June II,
8S1, at Hanover, Ont He is five feet
even inches in height and stockily /
uln. Burns began fighting in 1900 I
nd in his numerous battles has lost :
ut three, one to Mike Schreck in 10 /
ounds, one to Jack Sullivan in 20I
ounds and one to Philadelphia Jack \
'Brien in six rounds His best fights I