Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-17
JOHNSON CONQUERS KETC.


moved his arms and rolled his head. He
gave no other sign Of life and his seconds
picked him up from the floor, barely con-
sclous.
Johnson was still dazed. He cIung to
the ropes and looked about him in a be-
wildered way. The crowd broke Into muir
murings and seemed unable to realize that
the fight was over.
Ketchel won many friends by his show
ing today. From the time he entered the
ring until he was carried out he was game
to the core. Outweighed, overreached and
in every way the physical inferior Of his
gigantic opponent, he fought q cool, we'll
planned, gritty fight. His face was puffed
and he was bleeding at the nose and mouth
before three rounds had passed, but he
kept following the negro about the ring
undaunted.
Johnson appeared to be holding himself
back all the time. Three times only did IL
look as though ne went in to knock his
man out; once when Retchel landed a
clean left hook on the law that broke the
skin and raised a lump; once when a SINH
lar blow caught him from the other side
and the last time when he ended the fight.
Throughout the fight Johnson's golden
smile flashed out at intervals over
Ketchei's shoulder in the midst Of their
wrestling bouts. This happened whenever
he picked the smaller man off the ground
and set him down again in another place.
He did II frequently and apparently with
out effort.
white Man Fights WnriIy.
Ketchel fought warily from the start. He
kept at long range. avoiding many blows
by clever ducking. but johnson jabbod his
left into the white mans face time after
time. When they clinched the black mans
head lowered inches above Ketchsl's hair
and II looked as though a STRIPPING We're
wrestling with a man.
Twice ketchel was thrown 20 the floor by
the rush of Johnson's attack. Neither time
did a blow land. At other times Ketchel
avoided the charges by skipping nimbly
to right or left or backing swiftly away.
They spared for openings for long periods
and there was little real fighting through
the earlier rounds. For reasons known only
to himself, Johnson preferred to keep away.
and when he had felt the force OF Ketchel's
wicked left hook he seemed more than ever
ready to 80 slow about his work.
In his dressing room after the fight
Johnson said;
II is a good puncher and a strong
man. ] must say that he has given me a
sorer chin than / ever had before. and
he rubbed his swollen jaws reflectively.
HE can take some heavy blows" con
tinued the negro. "see there" and he
showed one Of his gloves. sodden with
Ketchel's blood. There were several cuts
on the leather. That's where / uppercut
him in the mouth said Johnson.
Ketchel said after he recovered. that a
chance blow had finished him.
II am in better condition than Johnson
now" he said. Look at him. He Is
dazed. But for that one blow. / would
have beaten him"
The fight attracted the greatest crowd
in years. over 1000 people we're ranked
around tho walls and overlooked the seats.
Fully 5000 we're turned away. Promoter
coffroth stated after the tight that $4,000
had been taken in.
Fight by Rounds.
Round 1.-The men did not shake hands
Johnson lowered above his adversary BY
several inches. The champion scored al
most Immediately with a hard left to the
stomach. Make him lead, yelled the spec
tatOrs 70 Kotchel. Ketchel apparently was
determined 10 make the black lead and
SPARED for almost half 4 minute johnson
twice with l~iFhtning-like rapidity. Ketche
forced the black against the ropes but ths
latter wriggled Away without resolving .
ss8ser o m me es nn san w Wan am M utterly ann
round. both men fighting with extremi
caution. Ketchel looked nervous through
out. while Johnson wore his golden smile
Referee Welsh pried them apart On hi
8 break Johnson shot = straight left 70 ~
inose and soon thereafter repeated IT, A