The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-06-14

| they have not had the privilege of wit
Messing
II the affair was strictly on the
| level and there's nothing in either the
| ringside reports or the aftermath to
! suggest that the men and their mana
[ gers foisted a Roman chariot race"
! on the Philadelphians, it would mean
/ that Ketchel, who was always whirl-
wind boxer, has developed into a per-
| feet tornado.
ketcheI Getting Better.
He seems to have bewildered O'Brien
| with the vehemence Of his attack He
| did not allow the dapper Philadelphia
| to get sets, but just piled him into
| corners, and along the hempen railing
i until poor Jack became as fiuttered as
! though he were trying to dodge a era
zy automobile in narrow roadway.
1t certainly gives the lie to the ru
| NOR that life along the great white
way was beginning to dull the edge
! of KetchePs fighting temper According
| to that showing, he is In great fettle
right now, and it surely means that he
will be as fit as the traditional fiddle
when he steps into the ring with
| Papke a few weeks hence.
There is a rumor abroad already that
Jack Johnson is inclined to withdraw
| from his October match with Ketchel,
but beyond the fact that Johnson is
wanting to arrange a bout with Al
Kaufman in the meantime, there is
nothing to give color to the report.
| Johnson's Money Is Up.
One thing is certain. The writer is
| in possession of $4,000 of Johnson's
money, which is on deposit as a guar
antee that Johnson will live up to the
articles he signed with Ketchel, and
as the present worlds champion is not
| over encountered with coin of the
realm he is not likely to allow that
$1,000 to go by default.
| Johnson said once that if he were
| offered a match with Jeff he would
! think nothing of FORGETTING to Ketchel.
J He expected of course that since some
of the guarantees offered Jeff were so
substantial. there would be such cor
responding liberality on the promoters
towards Johnson that the loss of $4,000
would be mere flea bite.
But there is no jeff match in sight
and. in consequence, the Ketchel for
| felt is a serious proposition, and some
! thing that Johnson will surely protect
Speaking of Johnson, the writer had
an experience the other day which
| brought to mind the old saying anent
sermons in stones" 1t was in an up
| town barber shop where colored shoe
! black, who seemed to divide his time
between polishing footwear and de-
/ Tending Jack Johnson's prestige
! against the merry quips of his patrons.
gave me a little lecture on up-to date
ringmanship while brushing my coat.
Johnson's style Described.
81 believe Johnsons style of fighting
| is a. distinct innovation in pugilism,'
said the shoe brightener.
what / refer to is his practice or
Withholding his attack until the other
man leads. They tried to make Kyle
| Whitney fight that way against Twin
Sullivan, but it was his first attempt
and he became excited and went back
to first principles.
johnson does not get ruffled,
though. He will stand there all day
/ If necessary until his opponent leads
He will feint and taunt his man into
] leading. I heard that once at Los An
geles, 1 think, Denver Ed Martin was
| Johnson's opponent, Jack said to one
of his seconds: I'll pay you dollar
for every time / hit at this man ana
miss him. When it was over Johnson
owed nothing.
d He forced Martin to lead, and he
countered every time. Johnsons style
of fighting possesses a dual advantage.
: By drawing the other fellows fire De.
!. fore striking out he brings his man
within range and can score with more