The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-19
NO HEAVYWEIGHT
WORTHY OF NAME
So Says Tommy Burns, of the
English Fighters-They Lack
Experience.
ny RICHARD DAHLGREN.

LONDON. April 1s.-"1t is not true"
said Tommy Burns, champion heavy
weight prizefighter of the world, that
am about to purchase the late Duke
OF Devonshire's mansion on Piccadtlly.
This much will say, that il the easy
things continue to roll in as fast as
they have done since I struck these
hospItable shores 1 will soon have
money enough to buy any. Of the fancy
palaces that may be on the market.
"As 1t is. have enough money now
to make me Independent for life. and
what is more. 1 propose to hold on to
it. When I get through with the fight.
ing game I 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
he's good fellow won't get 1t away
from me. I've seen too many in my
game down and out and passed up
by the people they made money Tor
and spent it on to be taken in by tht
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 pocket
book"
It was,in this fashion that Mr.. Burns,
who first discovered that easy things
grew in abundance in the English fstic
arena. philosophical in talk I had
with him recently.
There is no use of my denying that
I have been up against lot Of easy
marks here in England" said Burns.
IT haven't been obliged to extend my
self once in any of my contests. From
what I have seen. England hasn't a
heavyweight fighter. that Is worthy Of
the name Those I have been up
against don't seem to possess any
knowledge Of ring science. The Eng
| lish heavywetghts go into ring and
btff-biff-bang until ono or the other
goes down and out. Science doesn't
count with them. English lighters play
entirely for the head. The value OF
lighting for the body is not recognized
a good body fighter can lick about
any Of the men in England The Eng
| fish fighters have the Willingness. but
they haven't had the experience. They
don't fight often enough. In America
a man to be a prizefighter realizes
that in order to get to the top he
must fight, fight fight The worst
dub can teach you something.
"1n the lightweight class in Eng
land have seen some promising boys.
particularly Driscoll, who would make
1t lively for the best OF our boys, on
4 the other side.
I'm ring arrangements America is
way to the good. I don't like the Eng
lish style of having the referee out OF
the ring. With the referee sitting in
a comfortable chair by the ringside, it
is impossible for him to see half thu
things that are going on. In my fight
with Moir at the National Sporting
i Club, at one time Morris back was
turned to the referee and he delivered
several blows that We're foul not in
tentionnlly. mind you. but foul Just
4 the same. The referee didn't see them
and I didn't make any kick, hut II I
4 hadn't worn n protector might have
been injured for life. AS It was. my
legs just below the hips We're black
\ and blue from the blows / had re-
cetved there,
The referee in my opinion, should
always he In the ring, as the present
English system gives too much oppo..
A tunity for dirty work,
One change have brought about
Y at the National Sporting Club is tc
y have the time-keeper count out tn.
u seconds when man goes to the floor
The night fought Moir went to the
J time-keeper and sald:lI want you t
a count the seconds when either Molr d
|. myself 60 to the floor. Prevlousl,
/, Manager Bettinson had agreed to this
!, The time- keeper. zareba, immediat,l,
|, got nasty ana said: We never hay,
) done. SO and we will make no chang,
III now
!, ''Thens i got nasty myself, and said
~ don't care What you have been DO