The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-02-11
AUSTRALIAN PAPERS
TELL OF BIG FIGHT


Following is the first full Australian
account OF the Johnson-Burns heavy
weight championship fight at Sydney,
n. S. w. December &c. 1908. 1t is
taken from the West Australian,
leading newspaper:
In fourteen onesided rounds. in all
Of which he had prevailed, Jack john
son, the colored champion, defeated
Tommy Burns, the holder OF The
worlds boxing championship. yester'
day morning. In the presence OF lG,-
600 persons, the house running into
$4,000 pounds, at the stadium, Rush
Cutter Bay. Except TO those who
have seen the remarkable capacity OF
Burns In taking. punishment in his
fight with Squires, the issue was not
In doubt from the first clash OF
blows.
Within five seconds of the conf
mencement. Johnson slipped Burns
nasty cut on the chin, knocking him
down and keeping him on the floor Tor
six seconds. a few moments later he
sent the champion to the boards again,
and from this out Burns was hope
lessly outclassed.
Every round terminated in favor OF
the negro, and long before the police
entered the ring In the fourteenth
round and compelled u cessation OF
hostilities. Burns was plainly beaten
man. Throughout. however, he dis
played the courage and capacity for
taking punishment, which did much
TO soften the blows which Johnson
landed on his adversary. Nearly ev-
cry one of the spectators was obvi-
ously in sympathy with the white
man.
Johnson throughout fought fair
and manly battle, although IL was
contested by both men In accordance
with the American practice OF hitting
freely in clinches, but unfortunately
his fine boxing was disfigured by a
display OF bombast that is happily sell
dom seen in any sporting arena. John
son was greatly the superior oil Burns;
in fact. 1t seemed possible hat be
could have beaten him In half tho
time had he SO chosen. Instead OF
doing so, he protracted the combat.
apparently that he might enjoy the
discontinue Of his opponent and pro-
tract as far as possible the pain he
inflicted on him. He kept up run
ming FIRE Of remarks, either directly
insulting to Burns or intended to ex
press indirect contempt. Throughout
the contest 1t was manifest that John-
son was fighting something beside
the short, fame Belgian Canadian. who
took the blows showered on him and
came for more until his face resembled
something that was scarcely human.
1t was an chronological study as well
as a boxing contest, and the white
mans burden was too great for Burns
to carry From the beginning to the
end Burns did not get what is known
as look-in Asohe prevailed over
Squires by system Of in.fighting, new
to Australia, SO did Johnson beat hin,
by the same tactics. and as far as out
fighting was concerned, Burns could
no reach the negro The hits he
aimed fell short, and the only effect
was to cause a broad grin from a
mouthful of gold teeth and either an
invitation to show what he could do
or a nod to an imaginary acquaint
ance In the crowd
Come ON. Tommy" smiled John
son Thought you were a great in
fighter"
Tommy, let's see what you can
do"
Huh, Who's going to get off the
sidewalk Of Broadway, now, Tommy
"Aint / clever. eh?" The last to the
crowd, and though everybody present
was agreed as TO his cleverness. II
was plain that not an admirer present
thought johnson half as clever as ne
thought himself.