Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-10


unique in local prize fight annals, Jack
johnson was accredited with a News
paper" decision over AL Kaufman at
the end of 10 rounds today at Coffroth's
Arena.
According to agreement, II both men
were on their feet when the 10 rounds
had been fought, no decision was to be
given. Referee Eddie Smith, however,
said that johnson was entitled to the
verdict
Johnson employed tantalizing lefts
and forceful right uppercuts with such
frequency that kaufman was fairly
bewildered. Early in the contest his
face began to show signs of Johnsons
singing punches and in the third
round well-directed blow started the
blood flowing from his face.
johnson appeared to be holding him.
self in reserve and it took constant
chatting by the spectators and an oc-
casional punch from the blacksmith to
start him going. When he did lead he
played with Kaufman as If the latter Il
child.
In the ninth round Kaufman found
Johnson's stomach with vicious right
swing 1t was Kaufman's best blow
and it made the negro more careful.
The contest proved, fight experts say,
that Kaufman should ,shun short round
affairs. He appeared to gain strength
as the battle progressed while Johnson,
who apparently had trained none too
we'll, began to show signs of weaken
ing.
Round one-Johnson opened the fight
with a well placed left hook to the
stomach. The men then mixed it up at
close range. Johnson landed right and
left arm punches to the jaw. johnson
smiled and brought right and Ieft to
the face. Kaufman looked bit Wor-
ried at this stage and spared for fully
half minute. Johnson closed in,
landing short arm rights and lefts To
the head There was little sting in
them, however. Just before the round
ended Kaufman shot a right and left
to the jaw, but the champion only smil-
ed. Kaufman seemed slow in COM
parison with the fast work of johnson.
Round tWo-Johnson WreStled kauf-
man against the ropes and moment
later drove a straight left to the face.
He followed this with a left to the body
and then quickly whipped left to the
blacksmith's jaw. Kaufman appeared
confused They closed in and john
son rocked Kaufman's head with
short arm swing that carried no steam.
Johnson had the better of tame
round. Johnson smiled and cracked
jokes at the spectators.
Round three-They rushed in close,
Johnson driving a wicked left to the
10 ioI ha r1
clout to the stomach. johnson then
uppercut twice with his right to the
mouth and blood spurted from Kauf-
mans mouth. Johnson planted an aw-
full right wallop on AIS bleeding face
and forced the blacksmith to stall.
Johnson tainted Kaufman good natur-
edly and varied this with two fearful
jolts to the jaw. The bell rang and Al
tumbled into his chair with blood flow
ing in a veritable stream from his
mouth and nose. 1t was apparent that
Johnson was clearly Kaufman's master
and could finish him at such time as he
was ready to cut loose.
Round four-Kaufman, after some
sparring drove a hard right to the
stomach. This angered the champion
and he quickly beat the Californian
against the ropes, planting right and
left to the jaw. After some clinching
Kaufman drove his right to the stom-
ach and johnson grinned and winked
at his seconds. Both men eased up
Kaufman seldom landing. The round
ended tamely and it looked as if john
son deliberately slowed down. Up to
this stage Kaufman failed to lead and
had landed but two punches, both to
the stomach.
Round five-"Keep quiet over there"
yelled Johnson at one of the news
paper photographers. The men fought
to close quarters and Johnson. upper
cut twice with his right, lifting Kauf-
mans head high. Johnson was quick
ness and nimbleneSS perSonified. The
champion drove right and left to the
stomach and had Kaufman constantly
on the defensive. Kaufman made two
weak efforts to land. The fighters bat
tied around the ring without any seri-
GUS damage being inflicted.
Round siX-Kaufman was short with
a left lead and the men clinched. John
son suddenly broke loose and sent the
Californian almost into the press stand
with a left hook to the body and
crowd yelled and AL did so. But he
found Johnson waiting for him and the
latter showed that he was master Of
the situation at any style of fighting
that Kaufman could bring to him. The
round closed with Intellectual eX
changes, Johnson having everything
his own way.
Round seven-Kaufman tried with
his left for the jaw, but it was so easily
blocked that the crowd yelled de-
risively. Kaufman fought in close, but
not blow landed, the black man
smothering every attempt. Kaufman
started the crowd on a real cheer by
planting right and left to the stomach
long clinch followed during which
Johnson held back and cut loose al
Tentatively. The gong ended a feature
less round. 1t was apparent to all that
johnson was holding himself in re-
serve and only opened up when the
fancy took him.
Round eight-Johnson opened with a
left to the jaw and as the men closed