Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-02-09
HOW AUSTRALIA
SAW BURNS JOHNSON FIGHT.
Big Negro Prolonged Battle to Taunt
Canadian - Burns Never Had a
Look-In.

Following is a full Australian ac-
count Of the Johnson-Burns heavy
weight championship fight at Sydney
N. S. W., Dec. rs, 1908. It is taken
from the West Australian. a leading
Sydney newspaper:
In fourteen one-sided rounds, in all
of which he had prevailed, Jack John
son, the eolored champion, defeated
Tommy Burns, holder of the worlds
boxing championship, yesterday morn
ing in the presence of 1900 persons,
the house running into $4,000 pounds,
at the stadium, Rush Cutter Bay. Ex-
cept to those who have seen the re-
markable capacity of Burns in taking
punishment In his fight with Squires,
the issue was not in doubt from the
first clash of blows.
Within FIVE seconds Of the COM
mencement Johnson slipped Burns a
nasty uppercut on the chin, knocking
hiP down and keeping him on the floor
fon six seconds. A few moments later
he sent the champion TO the boards
again, and from this out Burns was
hopelessly outclassed.
Every round terminated in favor of
the negro, and long before the police
entered the ring in the 14th round and
compelled a cessation of hostilities,
Burns was plainly beaten man.
Throughout. however, he displayed the
courage and capacity for taking pun
ishment which did much to soften the
blows which Johnson landed on his
adversary. Nearly every one of the
spectators was obviously in sympathy
with the white man.
johnson throughout fought a fair
and manly battle, although it was cen
tested by both men in accordance with
the American practice of hitting free
ly in clinches, but unfortunately his
fine boxing was disfgured by a dis
play of bombast that is happily seldom
seen in any sporting arena. johnson
was greatly the superior of Burns: in
fact, it seemed possible that he could
have beaten him in half the time had
he so chosen. Instead of doing so, he
protracted the combat, apparently that
ne might enjoy the discontinue OF
his opponent and protract as far as
possible the pain inflicted on him. He
Kept up a running fire of remarks. |
either directly insulting to Burns or
Intended to express indirect contempt
Throughout the contest q was mani |
est that Johnson was fighting some
hing beside the short, game Belgian |
Canadian, w4ro took the blows shower |
I'd on him and came for more until his |
ace resembled something that was |
scarcely human. It was an ethnolog- |
cal study as well as a boxing contest. |
md the white mans burden was too |
'reat for Burns to carry. From the
to the end Burns did not |
ret what is known as a look-in As he |
PREVAILED over rSquires by a system |
f inf1ghting, new in Australia, so did
Crimson beat him by the same tactics.
nd as far as outfighting was concern /
d, Burns could not reach the negro. 4
he hits he air2ed fell short, and the
My effect was to cause a broad grin I
rom mouthful of gold teeth and eth
r an invitation to show what he could 1
o or nod to an imaginary acquaint-
nee in the crowd.
Come on, Tommy" smiled Johnson.
you were a great infighter."
Tommy. let's see what you can
o."
Huh! Who's going TO get off the
dewalk of Broadway, now, Tommv?"
"Ain't I clever eh?" The last to the :
rowd. and though everybody present ;
as agreed as co his cleverness, 1t was ]
lain that not an admirer present ;
lought Johnson half as clever as he
lought himself