The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-04-19
J0HNSONRESPECTS
KETCHE[
CHAMPION CONFIDENT
HE CAN TRIM MIDDLEWEIGHT
But WILL TAKE NO CHANCE
OF HEAVY PUNCH.

New York, April 17.-Jack John
son processes to have the utmost res
pect for Stanley Ketchel, with whom
he has been matched for a bout at
Colma. Though the negro has every
advantage over the middleweight
champion, he does not thing he has
an easy task on hand, or if he does,
he is foxy enough to pretend that
Ketchel will give him trouble.
! New York is wild with excitement
over the proposed bout. Jeffries him
self, popular idol that he is, is no
greater hero in the eyes of the fol-
lowers of fisticuffs in Gotham than
| is Ketchel.
| 1t will be years before the town
forgets the CORY struggle in which
the middleweight champion polished
off Jack O'Brien. In New York they
are saying that the Michigan youth
is the best fighter that has appeared
since Jeffries retired from the ring,
in his prime, as undefeated and I'M
disputed king of fistic gladiators.
johnson Deeply Impressed.
No one was more impressed with
Ketchel's showing than Johnson. He
did not see the combat, but he is
keen enough judge of that sort of
athletics to know that the man who
can hammer the crafty and nimble
lO'Brien into pitiful helplessness in
ten rounds is worthy foe. Even
previous to that enlightening affair
the big black had held a wholesome
respect for the yoth who trounced
rugged Bill Papke and other noted
scrappers.
Egotist Johnson may be, but he
knows a deuce from an ace in the
game of fight, and while there was
a possibility of being matched with
Ketchel last week, the languid negro
said that Ketchel was "a good and
game fighter"
Gust because I say I can whip
him is no reason for one thinking
that I hold him cheaply," said the
hcampion previous to his conference
with Willis Britt. Ketcheps man
ager. ION the contrary, I regard
him as a dangerous proposition. He
is strong. He is young and has I'M
bounded confidence. He can hit hard
enough to hurt anyone and hurt
them badly, and I would be just as
careful to keep out of the way of
one of his blows as I would one de-
livered by Jeffries.
On Watch for Chance Blows.
81 would be very foolish to pre-
sumo that a fellow who can take
hard wallop and give one in return
would not be dangerous. 1 have
seen too many battles decided by one
solitary blow, and don't let anyone
talk you into thinking that Jack
Johnson has any intention of being
caught in the ring unprepared for
a real fight. Then again / want to
announce to the public that l Will
make no match while I am cham
pion with anyone whom I do not re-
gard as a worthy foe. | think this
boy Ketchel is tough proposition,
but I believe I can whip him.
Although Johnson will be the logi-
lcal favorite in such bout, Ketchel
will have a host of followers In addi-
ton to the thousands Of persons in
terested in boxing who would back
him in the hope that he would
wrest the championship from the col
ored man.
Johnson will enter the ring weigh
ling from 20 to 40 pounds more than
Ketchel. He will have a generous
advantage in height and have about
four inches in reach to his favor.
Which of the two can hit the
harder blow is problematical with
the benefit of the doubt going to the
black man.
Ketchel Best After JEFF.
But as even he admits that he has
no hankering for any kind OF wall
Ilop from Mr.. Ketchel, the champions
Judgment of the white boy should not
be cast aside Therefore the con-
clusion is that Stanley Ketchel has
better than an outside chance in a
fistic argument with Jack Johnson
and the athletic members OF the
white race are building up hopes
lxla4 h laaa at tho uaru least an