The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-09-20

stronger than the IaQ from Mlcnlgan.
In addition, Johnson is talented,
tricky boxer.
The best that can be said for ketchel
is that he is whirlwind finisher on
occasions. 1t used to be the idea that
all he needed was to land just one
punch to bring a fight to an abrupt
conclusion His reputation as a one
smash artist received something of a
back when he met Papke last.
After the fight in question he made
the inevitable excuse that he was not
at his best, owing to much railroading
and hurried training. Assuming that
he will be back to his old form when
he faces Johnson, it looks still as
though his prospects of success are not
| overnight.
| Even when figuring on Johnson's
advantages of bulk and reach and re-
calling his craftiness and Furnishing
urpercut, Ketchelites always get back
to the middleWeight champions spec
tacular methods of ending a bout when
apparently fighting up hill
,ketcheI Carries Punch.
IF ever he lands" you will hear
them say when they have talked them
selves out over the unequal aspect of
things. 1t is the chance that Ketchel
may land that seemingly lessons the
odds Ketchel is going against, and
gives a glimmer of unc srtainty to the
affair that is to take place next month.
Men who ought to know say that
Johnson has more respect for Ketchel
than he had for Flynn. O'Brien or
Kaufman He listens attentively when
anyone attempts to describe Ketchels
fighting methods and he is not above
He knows, or thinks he knows, all
about the Ketchel shift, but he feels
! that the Johnson uppercut is a COM
plete foil for the parabOlic punch which
has stood ketchel insuch good stead.
ketchel, by the way, says it is all
wrong to describe his favoritc punch
sue with the Michigander on this point.
After seeing Ketchel in action in near
| ly all his fights, / should say that al
most every punch he speeds is operated
from shift basis. lie weaves to-
ward his man. feintifi. with his should
ers, as it were, and changes feet so, as
to lend solidity to curving assault
with either left or right as an opening
occurs. But a shift by any other name
would hurt as much, so what's the diff
| ference?
Jim Jeffries is expected back short
| " and scattering bids for the Jeff
Johnson battle are coming IN to the
newspapers SO ia. however, not
single bidder has placed a dollr in
| jeopardy anywhere. AS matter Of
I fact, the men who intend to go after
| the fight when it is properly placed
on the market are laying low and try
( ing to get line on one anOther's in
| tentions.
Possibly when eff arrives and says
| something definite, as to when he will
| be prepared to fight official information
for the guidance Of intending bidders
will be given out and some real money
! will be heard from.
Savannah, G orgia. is in the field.
| in Il newspaper way. as Il prospective
battle ground, but in view of Johnson's
declaration that he VIII not box any
where in the southern states there is
small prospect Of Savannah securing !
the event.
When all places, adjacent and re- |
mote have been heard from it is more
than likely that Jeff and Johnson will !
settle their differences on the Pacific !
coast. that is. unless Mcintosh the Aus
tralian promoter. induces the men to !
have it out enther in England or at !
the Antipodes
And in the meantime there are a
lingering few who believe that the
meeting between the two world famous
heavies is far. far away There is a
story going around in fact. that a To-
cal sporting man offered to bet some
one who is very close to Jeffries, $4,000
that the montest would not take place
within a year. and that the wager was
refused.
Powell Coming to the Front.
Lew Powell. the local lightweight, Is
4 much discussed pugilst at present
Powell. who was always a ploddng
fellow has forged to the front steadily
until now it is felt he has thoroughly
qualified for a chance at the cham
pionship of his class.
1t is an old contention that clever
boxers seldom develop a knockout
blJt DnU-aII bac pro,a1