Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-26

posed for a moving picture machine
and had received final instructions
from Referee Mcintosh and retired tc
their corners.
Jack johnson is the first negro who
ever won the worlds heavyweight pu-
giiistic championship. In fact he Is the
only negro who ever was permitted to
battle for the honor. He was born in
Galveston, Tex, in 1878, and began his
ring career in 1901 He is feet Ia
inches in height and weighed at the
ringside close to 1870 pounds.
Burns was born in Hanover, Ontario
in 1881, and started fighting when he
inches in height and weighs when
trained for battle about 175 pounds.
Burns always was a rough and ready
fighter, who delighted to sail in and
mix things with his adversary. Fa-
vored 18th great length of arms, his
reach measuring 74h inches, Burns has
prov ed himself a bad man at close
range. Despite the fact that Johnson
overtopped him in height by 61A inches,
Burns had the better of the argument
in reach by ~ inches.
A purse of $4,000 was hung up for
the battle, which was scheduled to go
twenty rounds. OF this amount Burns
demanded and received $50, 900, this sum
to be paid him Notwithstanding the
be satisfied with $4,000 and return tick
cts to London for himself and his man
ager, Sam Fitzpatrick. According to
reports, both johnson and Burns bet
heavily on the result at the prevailing
odds, which slightly favored Burns at
the ringside. The fighters were trained
to the hour and fought before what
probably was the largest crowd that
ever Witnessed a pugilistic contest.
Burns did his training at Darling
Point while Johnson got in condition
at Manley, a seaside suburb. Besides
a retinue of skillful trainers. who gave
the men daily practice at the game of
hit, stop and get away, both Burns
and Johnson followed American train
ing methods by doing hard road work
Each man picked up lot of loose
change by giving training exhibitions
twice a week at the stadium.
Since James J. Jeffries retired and
Tommy Burns claimed the champion
ship, Johnson has been trying to get
the Canadian to meet him and has
trailed him throughout the United
States and even to England in quest
of match. 1t was not until Mcintosh.
the promoter of this fight and who also
acted as referee, offered a purse of
$50, 900 for a battle at Rushcutters
Bay, a suburb of Sydney, that Burns
consented to meet Johnson. Then he
stipulated how the money should be
split up, the size of the ring and all
the conditions surrounding the fight.
Johnson Immediately accepted and
sailed from London for Australia to
begin training.
Johnson during his ring career has
fought sixty-four battles and twenty
two of mis- opponents have gone down
to defeat by the knockout route. Prom
inent among those who have been put
to sleep by the big black are Jack JEFF
fries, a brother of the former heavy
weight champion, who was knocked
out by Johnson at Los Angeles in 1902
in five rounds, and Bob Fitzsimmons,
who in Philadelphia in 1907 was un-
able to withstand Johnson's shifty
work more than two rounds. He has
lost only three fights. one a twenty
round decision to Marvin Hart, an
other twenty-round decision to Hank
Griffin and the other on a foul to Joe
Jeanette.
Not since the days of James ]. Cor
bett has the prize ring seen so perfect
a boxer as Johnson. Long and 1.-the,
he is as graceful as a dancing master
and as true as an arrow in placing his
blows. Especially deft is he with his
left, and few boxers, unless they have
great SKILL are able to keep the big
black man from beating their faces to
tatters. In courage, Burns was a bull
dog always; Johnson, 1t was said by
some, had a yellow streak"