The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-12-20

worlds heavyweight championship
battle between Tommy Burns and
Jack Johnson now only seven
days in the future, the fight fans
of New York are beginning TO sit up,
and take notice of the affair. Although
the bout will be staged in far-away
Australia-a locality about as indefi-
mite as the moon to the average
Broadway sport-the distance has only
served to add enchantment to the bat
lie. Already several wagers on the
result have been made, with the big
moke as favorite.
Johnson has been telling things
about himself to the reporters for the
Australian newspapers-yes, 30, they
have newspapers in Australia, and
good ones, too--ani in everything he
says there is an assurance OF GER
tain victory that amounts almost 10
contempt for his doughty antagonist,
If you want to call Burns that. Among
other things, Jack announced that he
could whip Marvin Hart any time
easier than any man he ever met. and
commended that the decision against
himself when ne met Hart was most
unfair: and he was willing TO submit
that question TO any American sport
ing writer That decision was dis
|. grace to the ring.
johnson said he had been prepared
TO fight Burns under any conditions,
and had chased Burns out of London.
Paris and America, and hoped that
he would not chase him out OF Aus
tralia. He did not think he would,
but that 1t would be a good fight and
show who was the better man.
- t3<.4 Dsf,<
said he would settle IN Australia after
his fight with Johnson.
The latter's manager remarked:
Tommy is great leg-puller. He said
something similar In Ireland, England
and France, and now proposed Aus
tralia, the greatest country on earth. :
Johnson also expressed hope that
he .rwouid meet Bill Squires-whom
ne considered a good man and true
kspUrt.-E y ~ssss S,rs,suS~srsf :
II Among the metropoiitans sporting
iyaafherifies there is a wide difference
of opinion in regard to the coming
battle OF the heavyweights- Bob Ed
grpn thinks the match is on The
square and that Burns will put it over
the moke. He explains Burns's al
F1eged lodging" of the negro in this
wise:
Tommy Burns has proved himself
great business man as we'll as a
great fighter Jack Johnson and his
staff of managers have been badger
ing Burns for fight for over a year.
Burns went to England to whip Cum
ner Moir, and Johnson followed. IL
Burns had fought Johnson a year ago
he would have made. possibly, six or
eight thousand dollars out of the go.
AS it is he has taken IN $4,000 al
Tho,
$50 900 in cash that makes up his end
of the purse in the coming fight, and
numerous items of transportation and
expense money Foxy Tommy in
tended all along 10 fight Johnson
when it became worth while. He de
layed simply to boom JOEnson,S repu-
tation and make him a drawing card
Burns was offered far greater
sum for fights in Australia, and went
there. He found Australia ready to
nav enormous purses for champion
ship fights After whipping the two
best men in that country Burns found
himself in a position to demand his
price. which he had set at 100000
He accepted the offer OF that slim by
Mr. Mcintosh, an immensely wealthy
Australian fight promoter. Mr.. Nc
Intcsh bargained with Johnson and
got him for a comparatively small
purse. Johnson was hurried out TO
the battlefield.
Willing to Fake.
johnson IS noted for his willing
ness to fake. But he won't have a
chance to frame with Burns. The
champion always fights to win on his
merits, and with a knockout If pos
sible He thinks he can whip John
son, and he'll go in to do it from the
first gong.
"Johnson's weight and size and
great cleyerness may possibly win for
him There's a bare chance OF that
But Burns is fully as clever and fast,
and as hard a hitter. although much
shorter and lighter. Moreover. Burns
is game and Johnson is yellow. Il
Johnson does Tie down it will be
througn desire to quit and avoid
punishment Such an ending would
hardly surprise anyone who knows
the two fighters. A comparison of
records shows Burns to be decidedly
the class r.
Tom Dorgan claims to be wise to
few things about the mill that
and deposes thusly:
"Johnson's name has been connect
| ed with a crooked fight, the same as
Fitzsimmons's the same as Gans's
and the same as Jack O'Brien's; but
Tommy Burns, an. How can they be
| sc crueIe
.Tt is true. however. that Tommy's
| former manager. Mr.. Bi..y Gee. OF
! Chicago. has letters from the angelic
one asking the manager 10 frame up
a few fights for him He wanted the
other fellow to put UP $1,000 in the
| hands Of an outsider as . guarantee
that the affair would he won by
/ Burns
| 1T is true that he faxed with Jack