The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-05-20
colored Champion Appeared Slow Dur
Ing Fight and Was Clearly
Tired In the Fourth
Round.
o'BR1EN WAS SPEEDY
In and Out Like Flash and Landed
on the Big Fellow Many Times
But His Blows Lacked
Force.


PHILADELPHIA, May Jack
Johnson. the colored heavyweight
champion, failed to win over Jack
O'Brien. Of Philadelphia, the light
heavyweight last night. in six-round
bout. The fight was even, and the con-
sensus OF opinion was that 1t should
have been draw, had decision
been permissible. O'Brien's marvel
ously fast footwork and his superior
blocking saved him from damage on
several close mixes, and three times
he was forced to his knees by the.
great strength and weight OF Johnson
in clinches.
It was a fast fight, O.Brien doing
the greater part Of the leading. John
son was slow on his feet, and appear
ed not to be in the best condition. Re
peatedly the champion rushed his
smaller antagonist, but seldom landed
effectively. A right hand counter in
the fifth round cut O,Brien's right
eye, and this was the sum total Of the
damage done in the six rounds.
O'Brten was in and out like a flash
in nearly every round, stabbing John
son on the face. but the blows lack
ed force, and had no effect other than
to make the black man grin and wave
his hand at the crowd. The specta-
tors shouted wildly every time O'Brien
landed, and hooted Johnson for his APP
parent rough work in clinches.
Referee commends o'Brien.
Referee Michigan said after the
fight, that O'Brien did remarkably well
under the circumstances. He weighed
1929 pounds, while johnson acknowl-
edged his weight was 2o5 and it was
probably more johnson looked tired
and anxious in the fourth round, and
O'Brien appeared confident through
out the bout. He certainly fought a
game fight said Michigan.
Johnson had nothing to say after the
bout. except that the thought he mad
the better of it. O'Brien was enthus-
iastic over his showing. He said he
had accepted a proposal to meet AL.
Kaufman, in San Francisco in the
near future.
Johnson entered the ring at 1920
and was followed almost Immediately
by O'Brien. Both men were given a
generous welcome by their partisans.
The usual preliminaries completed, the
two great heavyweights shook hands.
The gong rang for the first round at
1926.
Fight by Rounds.
First Round Johnson rushed
O'Brien to the ropes. O'Brien came
back with left to face and in the
clinch Johnson rushed O'Brien off his
feet. O'Brien put a left to face lightly
but Johnson only grinned and forced
O'Brien to his knees. They Tented
and fdled carefully. O'Brien trying to
draw Johnson on johnson put left on
O'Brien's face without damage and
O'Brien landed left to face in return
! OBrien was in and out like a flash
and set himself for counter, but il
was smothered. O'Brien's quickness
OF foot stood him in good stead against
Johnson.
Second Round-O O Brien led for face
but was blocked and Johnson lifted
him off his feet in the clinch that fol
lowed. The crowd booted Johnson
but he only smiled and rushed O'Brier
to the ropes. Marvellous ducking say
ed O'Brien from damage and they
spared cautiously. O'Brien caughr
| Johnson with stiff left on face three
times and the crowd cheered frantical
| ly. johnson rushed him to the ropes
4 landing a left on body lightly. Boil
appeared winded and Johnson waited
for O'Brien to lead Johnson went at
ter him like a whirlwind, but quicl
foot work took the philadelphia mai
out Of harms way. O'Brien did thu
cleaner work in this round.
O'Brien Swift Of Foot.
Third Round Johnson missed a lef
and took 2 light slap in the face II
return. O'Brien was in and out like
i flash landing left on face, but took
stiff left to the stomach at clos
range. johnson forced O'Brien, sham
bling after him rather slowly, an
awkwardly missed two lefts and