Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-19
Johnson RESPECTS
LANGFORD'S PUNCH
Little Artha Not Afraid of Tar
Baby, But Wants
Easier Game.
BY BILL BLUNT.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

BY BILL BLUNT.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.
NEW YORK, December 4, 1909.
Few fighters ever were SO persistent in
endeavoring to force another boxer to
give them a battle as Sam Langford has
been with Jack Johnson Ever since the
Boston Tar Baby was beaten by Johnson
in fifteen rounds over in Chelsea three
years ago he has put forth every possible
effort. He has challenged him times with
out number. offered to make any reason
able sacrifice and has even gone so far as
TO agree to wager a large sum that he
could whip Tommy Burns conqueror. Not
only has Langford himself believed he
could beat Johnson, but the formers man.
ager, Joe Woodman, has been Of the same
belief. This was strengthened when John
son funked out of that match in England
| with Langford. He didn't give any espe-
| cial reason. but just naturally refused to
! night. Not long since, when Woodman was
| in New York, he said: Sam is ready to
| fight Johnson at any time, on any reason
able terms. To show we are not looking
| for large losers end, we'll bet 5000 on
| the SIDE Johnson stopped cold-blooded In
the London match after everything had
been arranged and he had given the club
| his word Of honor that he would go
through with the match. That convinced
| me he has a wholesome respect for Sam.
| and would prefer to take on something
| easier. Wen keep after him. and will
| surely get him In the ring sooner or later.
| Both Sam and ] are as confident as we
can be that johnson is in for trimming
If he ever agrees to box Langford
=
! Confidence is good thing to possess in
the fighting game. and Woodman ana
Langford may have plenty Of it, but con-
| fdence doesn't always win battles. II the
time ever comes when johnson and Lang
| ford really shake hands for battle It Will
be found that Johnson will be an odds-on
| fav0rite in the betting. The wise money
Of the closer students will make 1T so.
Langford is a dangerous man. all will ad-
NIT, and always must be figured on pc
cause he is such terrific hitter with
either hand that he can win with single
punch any time he hands it properly
Also, there Is no question but that john
son has wholesome respect for Lang
ford but there are several other reasons
that would lead one to believe that John-
son can defeat Langford in long bout
Because Johnson has considerable respect
for Langford's fighting ability. it doesn't
follow that he necessarily is afraid OF
him. Johnson is cagey MATHEMATICIAN
and always figures things out before
hand. He knows Langford Is tough
proposition and is dangerous from the
| FIRST bell. He knows that when lighting
Langford he would have to be on the
lockout ali the time, and that at the first
exhibition of carelessness on his part Sam
might send over the sleep wallop. There
are many who would prove easier than
Langford, and that is the story. Some
time ago in New England. when Sport
Sullivan was managing Langford, the
former went to Johnson and told him q
certain club would give purse Tor him
to meet a good man. Who do they want
ford" replied Sullivan. well. Til tell
YOU" said Johnson. Sam is strong,
rough fellow and I'd prefer to have the
club get some one else" That comes from
Sullivan direct The bout never was ar
ranged.
| Johnson Is forty pounds heavier than
Langford, is faster, cleverer and can pos
sibly hit as hard. Johnson has Lang
ford's weak points faded to whisper
a punch johnson would keep him NOV
| ing all the time and wouldn't permit
him to steady himself for either Of his
| dangerous punches. short right cross
for the jaw and a left swing for the same
spot He would keep feinting and bus
| ting, and it wouldn't be long before Sam
was bewildered. Langford Is proverbi-
| ally easy for a straight left or a left
hook to the face. And that Is the exact
/ spot where johnson would keep sticking
/ his southpaw. because he has q useful
one and knows how to snap It In. he
| would have Langford on his heels quite
part OF the time. And last and most con-
| ytncinE of all, Langford doesn't improve as
| O bout progresses. He must do it quickly.
| for the longer the fight lasts the poorer
his chances for victory grow. That would
| be duck soup for johnson. He'd parley
along and tire Langford out, for 1T must
| be remembered that the Bostonian is no
longer youngster. He will be thirty
next February. Today 1t looks as though
Johnson would beat Langford, always fig
uring, however. that Langford is a ter
rife puncher and is liable to send one
| over any time without warning.
IL * y
It seems almost beyond belief that Bob
Fitzsimmons is still in the fighting game
after thirty straight years of service, but
| such Is the case. The old rock-cod Is in
| Australia, where he will meet Bill Lang
December q. The last contest in which
| he took part was about year ago, when
he knocked out Jim Paul in one round.
Everybody Is roofing for Fitz in his bat
| tie with Lang, because If he can win
that one he Is sure OF several more In
Australia. 1t is no secret that Fits
made big money both on the stage and in
the ring but it got away from him. He
| was great money maker. but mtser-
able financier. and didn't know what to
do with the coin once he got It,. Seems
pretty tough to go through all those
years fighting the best men who ever
| lived, and at the finish wind up pretty
nearly where you started. If the good
| wishes of the sports in this country count
! for anything In his bout with Lang, Fitz
will do to him what he did to Jim Paul,
| and in just as short a time.
n Il X X
Rudolph Unholz is In Australia and is
| cutting q wide swath He has had a
number Of visiting cards printed which
read: Rudolph Unholz lightweight cham
! pion of the world; conqueror of Battling
Nelson, February 4. 1898. Los Angeles,
| Cal, u S. A." At that he has done
considerable meritorious fighting in the
| land of the kangaroo. While the Aus
| tralian fighters Of today can scarcely be
| said to be above par. Rude has defeated
| their light and welterweight champions
and is now matched to meet their premier
] middleweight. The papers over there
are boosting him for true and he is
| fne drawing card. Even with all his
success, Unholz Is getting homesick and
saws he will return to the states this
winter. If, however, Battling Nelson
decides to journey to Australia. he says
he will remain over to meet him, as such
bout would draw an enormous crowd
in sydney.
Il X
That cyclone Johnny Thompson is con-
fdent he can defeat Packy Mcfarland in
| a long bout ie evidenced by the formers
| recent challenge to the Chicagoan. He
| agrees to box Mcfarland twenty rounds.
| winner take all and guarantee that one
| of the San Francisco clubs will offer q
suitable purse for the contest. The Cy-