The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-10-21
LOSES
TO MR.. JOHNSON
THE CoLORED GENTLEMAN WON
CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE
BY KNOCKOUT
'KETCHEL FOUGHT GAMILY
AND WAS IN BETTER CONDITION
AT FINISH THAN HIS
OPPONENT

San Francisco, Oct. 16.-Jack John
son indicated his right to the heavy
weight title today by knocking out
Stanley Ketchel In the twelfth round.
The end came so suddenly when
Ketchel rolled to the floor and Referee
Welsh counted him out that the ten
thousand persons crowding the arena
were absolutely quiet for a full minute.
Even Johnson, leaning against the
ropes, half dazed by his W fall a mo-
ment before, did not seem to know
what had happened.
The climax was crowded into thirty
four seconds. At the beginning of the
last round there was little to Judge
from in the preceding rounds to pick
the winner. The men In the center of
the ring clinched and wrestled to
Johnson's corner. The negro broke
away, and posing himself, dashed at
Ketchel. who sprang to meet him.
Ketchel drove a right at the blacks
lowered head. Johnson ducked and the
blow lanaed behind his ear. He
stumbled, fell heavily and lay stretch
cd on the floor.
Ketchel backed toward the ropes, a
smile glimmeriDg on his battered and
bloody face. Johnson roseSlow'y al
though dazed. AS he Strengthened to
his knees his eyes encountereL ketch-
els and with the fury of a wild beast
he leaped across the ten feet separat-
ing them. His right first shot the
white mans jaw. His let crashed to
the stomach and his right swan : a gain
with the speed of lightning, catching
Ketchel's head as he leeled back from
the onslaught.
Ketchel dropped In a heap, and john
son, unable to stop his rush, sprawled
across his beaten rivals legs, and tell
full length himself.
The negro sprang up, bat Ketchel
was out. Once only as the seconds
sounded, he freely moved his arms
and rolled his head. His seconds pick
ed him up barely conscious.
Johnson still dazed clung to ropes
and looked about in bewilderment. The
crowds broke into murmurings and
seemed unable to realize hat the fight
was over.
Ketchel throughout was game to the
core. Out-weigned, o~ver-reachei and
In every way the physical infe Tor Of
his gigantic opponent, he fought a cool
and gritty fight. His face was putfed
and he was bleeding at the nose and
mouth before three rounds had passed,
but he followed the negro about the
ring u%ndaunted.
Johnson appeared to be holding him
self. Thrice only did ne appear deter
mined to knock out Ketchell. John
sons golden smile" flashed when
ever he picked the white man off the
ground and set him down in another
place without effort.
Ketchel fought warily and ducked
cleverly, but Johnson jabbed his face
time after time. When they clinch-
ed 1t looked like a STRIPPING wrestling
with a man.
Ketchel said, after he recovered, that
a chance blow had finished him, y
am in better condition than Johnson
now" he said. Look at him, he is
dazed. But for that one blow, I would
have beaten him."
The fight attracted the greatest
crowd In years. Over ten thousand
were admitted and 3.0Ov turned away.
Promoter Coffroth stated that $40. 900
was taken in.
ErCIIT nv pOJrNDC
Round THE men did not shake
hands. Johnson lowered above his adj
versary by several inches. The cham
pion scored almost Immediately with
a hard left to stomach. Make him
lead!" yelled the spectators to Ketcnel.
Ketchel was apparently determined
to make the back lead and spared for
almost q half-minute. Johnson at long
range, shot left to face twice with
lightning rapidity. Ketcfe ell foroed the
black against the ropes. latter wriggled
away without receiving a Low. Bell
rang with men in center OF the ring.
Both have been extremely cautious.
Ketchel looked nervous. Johnson wore
his golden SMILE"
Round 2-They ran to clinch: refe ee
Weisn pTieu tncHl apart. OH the utSuh
Johnson shot straight left 70 nose ard
soon repeated 1t. At every elm h
Ketchel was playing with shot arm
blows for the stomach. In clinch
Ketchel uppercut TO jaw W.T. eft. This
angered the champion, who rus@ei in,
landing left and right OF BODY and
Ketchel slipped to fioo- with consider
able force. He was up al xiv and
rushed In but had great difficulty In
getting under JohnsOn's lrrg each.