The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-20
Six Round Bout Demonstrates Fact That Negro Is Not
 Much Fighter .O'BRIEN IS TOO QUICK
 . FOR BEEFY OPPONENT
No Decision Is Given Under the Law In Philadelphia But o'Brien Ap- pears to Have Had the Best
 of the Fight.

to win over Jack O'Brien, the Philadel- phia light heavyweight, tonight in six round bout The fight was even and the consensus of opinion was that 1t should have been a draw, had a decision been permissible O'Brien's marvelously fast footwork and his superior blocking saved him from damage in several close mixes and three times he was forced to his knees by the negro's great strength and weight.
 It was a fast fight, OBrien doing most of the leading. Johnson was slow on his feet and appeared not to be in good condition. Repeatedly the champion rushed his smaller antagonist but sell dom landed effectively. A right hand counter in the fifth round cut O Brien' $ right eye and this was the sum total of the damage done in the six rounds. 0Brien was in and out like a flash in nearly every round stabbing Johnson on the face, but the blows lacked force and had no effect other than to make the big black man grin and wave his hand at the crowd.
 The spectators shouted wildly every time O Brien landed and hooted Johnson for his apparent rough work in the clinches.
 Referee Michigan said after the fight that O'Brien did remarkably well under the circumstances. He weighed 1922 pounds while Johnson's acknowledged weight was 2O5.
 Johnson looked tired and anxious in the fourth round and OBrien appeared | confident throughout the bout. He fought a game fight, said MeGuigan.
 | Johnson had nothing to say after the i bout except that he thought he had the better of 1t. OBren was enthusiastic , over his showing with Johnson.
 Preliminary Bouts.
 Just to fill in the time before the ring 1 show began, three bouts between am | bilious youngsters were brought on. Tht 1 earnestness of the young boxers amused | the crowd, which had packed the pa- | vilion more than an hour before the time set for the big fellows to come on. Ii was a most orderly crowd. Many men oi eminence in Philadelphia and New York financial political and professional life | had seats at the ringside
 l Three tiresome six-round preliminaries ! son, the first to appear, shouldered hts i way through the crowded aisles anu | climbed into the ring His reception was l cordial but not enthusiastic O Brien came | in a minute later and sprang nimbiy upon | the platform. The crowd cheered hin frantieally. He grasped Johnson's hanc perfunctorily and took his corner John son quickly came over, looked oyel O'Brien's bandaged hands and Nppearet satisfied.
 A telegram was read from Billy De laney, challenging Johnson on behalf O. 1 Al Kaufman for a fight at San Francisco
 Johnson's seconds were Tank Kennsy George Cole and Frank Nadoll, whil' O'Brien's were Abe Attell, Joe Riley Jack Havilon and Jack Hagan
 l A. J. Drexel Riddle, O'Brien's socetl friend who seconded him in his recen fight with Ketchel, did not appear il the role of adviser tonight, but cam into the ring in his street clothes ant cordially grasped O'Brien's hands
 O"Bren's Weight
 q weigh 162 pounds said O'Brien a he sat in his corner while the gloves wer being drawn on.
 Johnson looked 40 pounds heavier
 Stanley Ketchel came forward to b introduced He shook OBrien's hand ant NSS~S - greeted Johnson. The big black felloy sized l<etchel up carefully, smiling broad ly as he acknowledged the greeting.
 O'Brien looked to be in splendid snap as he took off his bath robe. Johnson sl appeared rather bulky about the wais line, but hls splendid muscles stood ou on his arms and shoulders. 1t was l0.j when the gong sounded.
 Fight By Rounds.
 Round L Johnson rushed o'Brien to th ropes. O'Brien came back with left t the face and in the clinch Johnson rushed OBrien off his feet O'Brien put Ter to the face lightly, but Johnson oni! grinned and forced o Brien to the ropes showing him to his knees Iney ieihle' and fiddled carefully, O Brien trying t draw Johnson on. Johnson put left ol O'Briers face without damage an' | O'Brien landed left to face in return | O Brien was in and out like flash ant Johnson set himself for counter, bu if was smothered. OBrien's quickness foot stood him in good stead agains | Johnson The round was even.
 Round 2 O'Br.en led for the face, bu was blocked and Johnson lifted him oi | his feet in the clinch that followed. Tn crowd hooted Johnson but he only smile and rushed OBrien to the ropes Mar I vicious ducking saved O'Brien from dam age and they spared cautiously. U Brle' caught Johnson with a stiff left on tn face three times and the crowd cheerec Johnson rushed him to the ropes, landin left on the body lightly. Both appeare winded and Johnson waited for OBrie to lead. Johnson went after OBrien lik whirlwind, but quick foot work too the Philadelphia man out of harms way O'Rrien did the cleaner work.
 Round B. Johnson missed left and too light stab in the face. O'Brien wa in and out like a flash, landing left o the face, but took stilf left stomach at close range. Johnson force O'Brien shambling after him rather slow lv and awkwardly, and missed two left and a right for the head, Jonnson SC himself for O'Brien's led but was slo' in co,Intering and took left stab on tn nose Johnson went after him viclousl and left had O'Brien's mouth bleed
 ing. Johnson appeared somewhat winde when thes round, which was about ever ended with OBrien's work shown cleaner.
 Round 4 O'Brien put left to face an took left on the body and they spare