Evening journal., 1909-01-01
BASKETBALL
BOWLING
BASEBALL
THREE CHAMPIONS
In ROPED ARENA
Johnson, KetCheI and Nelson
Hold Titles in Their Re-
speCtive Classes

Jack Johnson's decisive victory over
Tommy Burns in their fight for the
heavyweight championship Of the world
furnishes a fitting climax TO year
marked by more sensational upheavals
than the pugilistic game has ever known
In any previous twelve months
In no less than three classes. the
heavyweight. middleweight and light
weight divisions, new champions are
baslxing ia the light OF ring glory. In
the featherweight class, where Abe At
tell reigned supreme year ago one
man. owen Moran, has proved himself
Abo's equal and there are many who
think Jom Drlscoll as good as the great
Mttie California fighter Tho welter-
weight and bantam divisions and the 1866
pound class over which johnny Coulon
presides. are the only ones which have
failed TO provide upscts during the year.
but Coulon was whipped by Yankee
Swartz, the great little Philadelphian.
There was but one real heavyweight
championship affair. that in which john
son and Burns engaged. There were
other bouts In which the championship
was al stake, but not Ia danger. Tommy
Burns was conceded tho title whom tho
year hogan. and proceeded to defend 10
against such men as Jack Palmer, Jem
Roche Bin sQuircs Jcwey Smith and
Bill Lang an good mon in their own
countries. but outclasscd by the French
Canadian. who learned how to fight In
American rings
These fights simply served 30 give
Burns the championships OF England.
France ireland South Africa and Aus.
trana. and made his claim TO the title
OF worlds champion all the more sc-
cure
Finally Burns decided to risk honors
he had won and give Jack johnson a
chance. but not until the big colored
man had chased him AN over the United
states from the United states to Eng
land. and from England 20 Australia.
Burns took the chance because he got
$4,000. but he really thought he could
whip johnson The manner in which
Johnson battered him TO defeat is too
fresh in the minds % the fans TO need
repetition.
Tho middlewcight class has furnished
form revcrsals with such remarkable
rapidity as TO stili leave the public I'm a
dazcd aud bcwildered condition De-
combcr 30. OF 1907. Hugo Kelley was con
ceded TO be the hest middleweight by the
critics That night he fought Billy
PaplSe draw IN Milwaukee. In March
Paple won decision from the Italian
June Ketchcl declsivey hested Papke
in ten rounds at Milwaukee and was
hailed as the king OF middleweights
After this battle the critics declared
Kctchcl invincihlc In the i5S-pond di.
vision. and considered him a promising
candidate for Tommy Burns heavy
weight honors. when Ketchel signed Il
nght Panke at Los Angeles, Labor Day
90 was figured that the best the Kcwane,
man could do was to put up a game
losing hatete. papke astonished the
ring world by giving Ketchel a fearfu
beating and knocking him out in clever
rounds
Less than three months later. OF
Thanksgiving Day. lletchol duplicated
Papkes Los Angeles performance in .
battle at San Francisco. Ketchcl Il
again champion. and Is again talkins
about lighting the hcavyweights But tn,
public has rid itself OF lie invincibl'
Idea. II Ketchel and Papke fight agar
the fans win be ready for most anythins
In the way Of a result
Joe Cans. the wonderful Baltimore
fighter, headed the lightweight class. and
his title appeared safe when the veal
was ushered en- Battling Nelson. his
bitter rival was thought "has-been
The Dane began the year badly. and wa,
battered around IN short bouts by suci
men as Rudolph Unholz, Jimmy Brit
and Abe Attell
when he was matched to fight Gan,
again on July it was thought he would
be cut 10 ribbons by the great coloreC
boxer, Nelson shattered predictions
knocked out Cans In seventeen rounds
and won the championship Just TO show
his victory was not a fuke he fought
Cans again September .. and stopped
him in tVenty-one rounds. Since ther
the Dane has rested on his honors.
In the featherweight class Abe At
tell was head master Of the situation.
During the year owen Moran has twic,
/ held him 10 a draw. and another Briton
Jem Driscoll. has performed so well thai
he IS considered Abe's equal. or perhaps
Z his superior. Attell still is champion
but his honors are ciouded.
There YVES no recognized welter
weight champion when the year began
and 1908 has failed TO provide one Jim
my Walsh was granted the best claim {,
, baniamwolght honOrs. and none hal
wrested the laurels from MIN. Johnn,
coulon was the champion Of the lo5
Npound division last New Years Day. anS
h2s retained his honors during the year.