The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-10-15
TODAYS SPORTING NEWS
Twill Be No Case of Giant and Pigmy
When Johnson and Ketch Meet Tomorrow
By THE RINGsDER.

With both men trained to the hour
and ready for a fast, hard battle
Stanley Ketchel, middle weight
champion of the world, and Jack
johnson. heavyweight champion of
the world, are resting today after
long and arduous training spell
for the contest that means much
to each.
When they step into the ring to-
morrow afternoon in Cofforth's
big open air arena, they will be
as fit as 1t is possible for two men
to be. Johnson has worked like a
Torjan for this fight, while Ketch-
ell has never shown so much earn
estness In training.
No Hitch In Match.
A rumor current last night to
the effect that there had been
hitch in the contest proved today
to have been unfounded, and was
all due to chance remark made
by Promoter Coffroth, who wor-
ried over the million and one de-
tails incidental to the event an
nounced to newspaper men last
night that there was a possibility
of there not being any fight.
The trouble, which was of alb
solutely no consequence, was all
due 10 a tang1e over the holding
of the $4,000 side bet between
johnson and Ketchel.
The betting still remains 10 to
4 that the negro wins the fight
and even money that Ketchel will
be on his feet at the end OF the
Fifteenth round.
Strange as it may seem, both
Ketchel and johnson have paid un-
usual attention, for men fighting
In the unlimited weight class, to
their poundage. When the match
was made it was scoffed at be-
cause of the supposed great dis
parity in their size. Ketchel at
that time weighing 1853. while
johnson was regarded as being as
big a man as Jeffries. Ketchel evil
IDENTIFY knowing what he was talk
ing about. declared that when he
faced Johnson he would be full
Pledged heavyweight and he has
kept his word. Despite the hard
work he has done, he has added in
stead of dropped tissue. Today he
weighs not less than It's pounds.
When Johnson fought Kaufman
he weighed 213, which many be-
1ieved before he stripped, would
be as low as he could get, but the
negro showed an ample waist line
and heavy arms and legs. Know
ing that in fight with Ketchel he
would have to have his speed key
ed up to highest pitch, johnson
has paid particular attention to his
weight and as a result. will scale
in the neighborhood of 1876 pounds
when he squares off. The dispar-
ity in weight, therefore, will not
be so great as many imagined 1t
would be.
As everyone knows, Johnson is
the bigger man all round, but a
comparison of their measurements
furnishes many surprises. John
sons chest is an inch and quar-
ter bigger than Ketcheps; he leads
by the same margin in the biceps,
while the forearm of the negro is
a mere quarterback larger than
that of the Assassin. johnson
dosen't "tower over his small OPP
ponent as many writers have put
1t, by any means. johnson stands
6 Ia inches, while the tape gives
Ketchel feet 10 1-2 inches. diff
ference of 1 "a inches. 1t is in
the reach, however. that lies the
greatest surprise. Johnson's arms
have frequently been likened to
those of a gorilla because of their
length. but his reach exceeds
Ketchel's by a scanty two inches.
Naturally, Johnson's legs are
much the larger, but that is rather
point in Ketchel's favor. The
Assassin's underpinning is ideally
built. KetchePs legs are the legs
of the athlete, with the spring and
strength of a Toledo blade.
Where Johnson is slow of foot,
Ketchei is tiger-like In his move
ments, his fine footwork making
1t possible for him to hit, coming
and going, from any angle and to
make lightning-like shifts. John
son fights f1at-footed and mus.
be set" to deliver an effective
punch.
Stanley plans to go for John
sons stomach and If he can reach
it he is going to hurt the negro. 1t
is his only hope of winning and If
he can get past Johnson's right
uppereut, he will stand a chance.
The impression has gone forth
that Kelchel will be on the aggres-
sive throughout. but this he de-
mics.
am going to fight hard
throughout. of course, but l am
not going to lay myself open to
this fellow by carrying the fight to
him. He will have to come to me.
| am not going to make the mis-
take that Tommy Burns made
And take Il from me. Ii johnson
stalls and waits for me to do ali
the leading. don't be surprised. te
see him Kissed out of the ring"
EXTRA STEAMER SERVICE
SATURDAY