Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-24

championship elimination series that
Manager McCarey has begun will be
staged tonight at Maud Junction, when
AL Kaufman, native son and holder of
the Pacific coast heavyweight cham
pionship, and Battling Johnson, the big
Russian with the kicking wallop,
meet in a ten-round argument to settle
the dispute as to which is to get into
the next similar scrap.
II is stating plain truth to say
that both fighters are perfectly trained
and are fit and ready to go at their
best clip. Kaufman, especially, is
we'll trained, the boy wonder appearing
to be as near perfection in this re-
gard as any fighter possibly could be
made after long siege of systematic
training under the direction of man
so capable as Billy Delaney. Johnson
also is On fine fettle. as always is true
of him, and is ready to face the issue
without fear of the result.
The big show will be started at
about $3.50 o'clock, following imme-
diately at the conclusion of the two
preliminary events of six rounds each.
The first preliminary, Joe Rogers VS..
Bobby Burns, will be called at S:15
o'clock and Official Handicapped Han
cock will see that there will be no
tiresome waits between acts. Charlie
Eyton, club referee, will handle the
main event and Tommy Walsh will
referee the preliminary bouts
Cannot Make Favorite
It seldom occurs anywhere that the
principals in fight are so evenly
matched that the betting sports are un-
able to make a choice, but this result
obtains in the Kaufmann-J Johnson
match, the fans being so evenly d.
vided in opinion regarding the possi-
bilities of the scrap and so much at
sea regarding the form of the native
son that even money has ruled as the
prevailing odds in nearly all bets regis
tered with the principal local betting
commissioners.
Kaufman has proved his class in
battles with topnotch fighters since he
left the amateur ranks to fight profess
sionally and his punch has been the
marvel of all who have seen 1t applied
to his opponents Jack O'Brien, the
clever Philadelphia heavyweight, is the
only scrapper who ever whipped Kauf-
mann and that surprise came when Al
was vet In his teens and was inexperl-
enced in the game.
Since then AL has whipped many
good men, including Fred Bradley, the
New England heavyweight champion,
and Sam Berger. He has taken long
rest since his fight with Berger ana
Jack CTwin) Sullivan and gets pacK
in the game with all his oldtime. con"
fidence and after having developed
into real big young man. he mas al
sorts of confidence in himself and oe-
lieves he is destined to wear the crown
of the heavyweight division.
johnson Is improved
Johnson practically was unknown TO
pue.ilistic history until he came 10 Los
Angeles several months ago. since
that time he has made sensatiolaI
record, has improved so much tha1 ms
oldtime friends would not recognize IN
him the same fighter who was playing
preliminary roles in San Francisco anu
he does not believe there IS man
living who can whip him. he mas tne
most terrific wallop ever SHOWN III d
local ring. his blows singing IKE the
lash of a whip, and usually carrying
victory behind them. 49,
Until recently, although having 'he
same terrific punch he now owns Owls ~ ne
was So awkward and clumsy with his
hands and feet that the effect OF MS
nunch always was nullified and MS OPP
moments. although of inferior class
could whip him because OF MS hanul-
can. Dewitt c. Van Court took Iancy
to him and taught him how 70 nanole
himself. what his hands and rect were
worth in battle and made MIN an al
together changed fighter. ....
Now he is a fast, accurate Hie.is
walloper who must be respected IN the
ring with any fighter. He holds ms
hands like real fighter and goes aIter
his opponent as a champion. ne pe-
lieves he will be too fast Tor the cieVer
native son. is willing to match wallops
with him and has shown an ABILITY 10
take punishment that gives him rank
with any of them. If he gets over one
of his wallops to AIS jaw the boy won.
der will have a difficult task ahead Oh
him to STAY awake. Few lighters are
40 insensibie to body and head blows
as Johnson, but he has one weakness
an egRshell jaw. If he can protect tnat
spot tonight he has chance TO win:
If not he is defeated in advance Oh
fighting. e,,,
The battle will be terrific one from
start to finish, and 1t should not ~
more than there or four rounds. Both
are such terrific WALLPAPERS that human
meat and bone will not stand Tor the
nunrhings that will be in store Tor them
and one of them must take the count
unless all signs are at fault. Johnson
nronoses to rush Kaufman from the
first gong and will seek to rattle"
him 7rhe big Russian believes In fight
Inc at close quarters and AL must be
On the move all the time If he expects
to keen away from those rights and
lefts that carry destruction and defeat
in their wake. However, al will not
run away. He believe he can outslug
the Russian giant and VIII face the
issue with confidence In his ability to
put him to sleep in hurry.