Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-11
.JOHNSON-BARRY
GO MAY PROCEED
i'm CONSIDERS FIGHTING JACK
SEPTEMBER %
OFFICIALS OF CLUB WILL Dis
cUss MATTER
Big White Heavyweight Is stung by
Comment on His Action, and If
Condition Improves VIII
Reconsider
BY A. E. DUNNING


Though the Jack Johnson-Jim Barry
battle was called off Thursday night.
and it was thought that all negotia-
tions looking toward a meeting be-
tween the negro heavyweight and the
former Chicagoan were at an end, the
developments Of yesterday indicate
that the matching of the two big fell
lows for the September 28 date is ex-
tremely probable. After a thorough
and exhaustive examination by ply
sician, Barry was advised that few
days rest would bring his neck back
into good condition and that he could
acquire perfect condition by the date
now planned for the match. The mat
ter probably will be decided in two
DAYS at the outside, for Manager Nc
Carey of the Pacific Athletic club will
permit of no dilly-dallying on the part
of the men and will either call off the
match entirely or insist on definite
signature of a new set of articles at
once. McCarey will arrive today from
San Francisco, whittier he went to
witness the Kaufman-Johnson joke af-
fair. 1t is possible that Jack Johnson
will be brought back by the local pro-
moter, but it is more likely that the
big black will remain in the north
until he knows definitely just what
arrangements will be made regarding
the ten-round contest with Barry.
Barry Explains Action
Jim was highly wrought up over the
criticism called out by his action in
cancelling his match with Johnson on
the same day in which his former con-
queror, AL Kaufman, made such
sorry showing with the big dinge.
Barry insisted that the white feather
played no part in the transaction, and
that he merely wanted the battle post
poned until October in order to be in
the best of trim to fight for the worlds
heavyweight championship.
do YOU think for a minute / would
call off this bout if 1t wasn't that be-
lieve 1 have a chance with Johnson!
wrathfully exploded Jim as he read the
adverse comment kregarding his action
in calling off the bout. TT would be
easy for me to go into the ring, stay
with Johnson a couple of rounds, take
a fair beating and cop out that $1,000
guaranteed me by the club for meeting
Johnson. But I am in earnest in my
belief that l can defeat johnson, and
1 don't want to go into the ring with
him unless I am ready to fight at my
best. 1 want to be square with the
public and the club and myself, and
that is why I want to have the bout
postponed"
VIII Hold Conference
Barry has knocked off all work and
will rest up for couple of days, hoping
lnereby to recover from the trouble
with his neck. Today a conference will
be held by the club officials and Barry,
and the matter may be decided speed
ily. though ii is probable that Barry will
not finally settle upon acceptance of
the September 2S date or loss of the
match until after he has ample time
70 find out just how much annoyance
his neck will give him.
There is a general air Of disappoint-
ment regarding the cancellation of the
match, and Barry's friends have urged
him to reconsider, for if he stands by
his first action there always will be a.
lingering suspicion in the minds of
the majority of fight followers that he
deliberately drew out of the bout after
he heard how Kaufman Jared with
the Galveston giant.
With the date of September 20, the
original time for the Barry-J Johnson
go, vacant, Matchmaker Hancock of
the Pacific Athletic club is proceeding
to fill it in with an all-star card, which
lacks championship caliber but will
give the fans a rafting program. Cur
ley O'Connell and frankie Sullivan in
a return match, Sam Coulter with Kid
Dalton or Gene Sullivan, and Jimmy
Austin and Kid Cleveland are the pro-
posed headliners. The fans know each
of these men well enough to be assured
of several sizzling encounters A
couple of other good bouts will be
provided.