Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-18
JACK JOHNSON IS NO
LONGER A MYSTERY
KetcheII Bout Proved Him to
Be a Hard PunCher and
Strategic.

critics in the east, has the following to
say on the Johnson ketchell bout:
When Stanley Ketcher was matched to
fight Jack johnson the writer ventured
to predict that the middleweight cham
pion would do the sports of this country
great service. Up to the contest of Sat-
urday johnson had shown little more
than being careful defensive fighter,
with vicious right hand jolt and a left
which he used for little more than block
ing an opponents leads and PUSHES
There was some question in the minds of
the sporting public whether johnson was
gritty and whether he possessed some
latent ability not yet developed. AL
though outclassed and beaten, Ketcheil
made Johnson show his hand In other
words the big negro had to cut loose to
win The midd,eweight champion not
only stung him. but caught the negro off
his balance and sent him to the floor.
This was too much humiliation for John
son to swallow, and in a foxy manner
he struggled to his feet. and as Ketcheil
was ploWlng in TO finish the Job the
negro sprang at him like tiger and in
three jolts dropped the plucky young
middleweight senseless. The final blow,
short right-hand uppercut, was de-
livered with such force that Ketchels
teeth were driven clear through the l.ath-
er and hair covering Johnson's knuckles.
''Ketchell developed another latent attri
butte that johnson possesses. Heretofore
it was considered that the negros left
hand was of little use excepting to block
an opponent. In Saturdays contest he
used it for leading and countering, and
it was chiefly by these stiff punches that
Ketchell was sent, bruised and bleeding.
to his corner at the end of several
Is dangerous man with both hands: Is
tricky. and possesses more of the crafti-
ness of the ring than he has been given
credit for
One account Of the fight wired east
says: Next to the defeat Of Ketchell the
knockdown Of the heavyweight champion
was the spectacular feature of the per-
Torrance. ketchell swung his right hard
as the two men were advancing. To
those who were in a position to follow
closely what was happening. the punch
seemed to glance around the back of
Johnson's head. Apparently 1t had little
force. and there was genuine surprise
when Johnson dropped, spun around on
his knees with a smile on his face and
took advantage of the count.
Johnson declared he was hit behind the
ear as he was coming in and that the
impact OF the TWO DOOleS was what IIldQ0
him fall. He says also that the blow
dazed him for moment. but it is signifi-
cant that once on his feet he was not 50
dazed but that he rushed Ketchell more
viciously than at any previous stage OF
the match. He had SO much force be-
hind the right that the glove shows where
ketchelrs teeth pierced through the
leather.
That the negro could have finished the
fight earlier than he did was apparent to
hat
ly saving Ketchell, even to the extent of
holding him up in the earlier rounds.
when the white man was almost falling.
was proved to any tyro at the boxing
game.
Before the fight started it was whis-
pered about that Johnson would fight for
the moving pictures for twelve rounds. and
that he would then cut loose. George
Little is credited with having told several
friends that johnson would win In the
twelfth round, and in the tenth, when
there were remarks that ketchell might
last the limit, Little offered to bet any
amount that Johnson would knock
Ketchell out before fifteen rounds.
Willus Britt declares that ketchell lost
the fight through his own carelessness;
that he was in fair way to capture the
heavyweight championship had he been
cautious once Johnson had dropped to the
floor. But in no round of the fight is
this statement borne out. ketchell was
as easy for Johnson as kaufman was.
That the middleweight champion showed
bulldog courage and gameness against
the odds he had to face is admitted. But
at all times Johnson handled his man
much as he would a child, swinging
Ketchell clear off his feet in some Of the
clinches. and outboxing HON SO that
KetchelI's Wanted shift missed by foot
on the many times he tried to connect
AS early as the second round Johnson
showed the big crowd a fash of his
strength when he uppercut ketchell with
a right and sent him to the mat dor a
count Of six. Again in the sixth round
the burly black sent Ketchell spinning
across the ring from the force of a short
arm punch. and finally dropped him with
a left This time, however, Ketchell
waited for no count, but finished the
round with his face covered. with blood
and his legs lettering.
Now that We have been given a glimpse
of Johnson's real ability. prudence would
dictate to Jeffries to go slow in arranging
a match with the big negro. Unless the
-boilermaker can get himself IN shape
to stand a grueling contest Of twenty or
thirty rounds, he had better remain retired
as the undefeated champion of the world