The Washington herald., 1909-05-18
Big BOUT TOMORROW
0'Brien Tackles the Cham
pion in Six-rOund Go.
WIDE INTEREST ATTRACTED
Biggest Event on Sport Calendar
Since the JObnsOn-Burns MiII in
Australia Last Deeember-BOth Men
Are Reported iR Fine Condition.
O'Brien Claiming a Victory.
Sn.ri,1 ~ tn. w,stin-.o, Hs7ss

Special 70 The Washington Herald
New York. May 17.-Arrangements have
been made TO run four special trains from
this city over the Pennsylvania Railroad
tn Philadelphia Wednesday night when
johnson will box six rounds with O'Brien
at the National Athletic club. No heavy
weight contest since the JOhnsOn-Burns
mill in Australia. last December, has
caused so much interest in the sporting
world II VIII be Johnson's first appear
ance in the ring since he won the worlds
title from Burns In fourteen rounds, and
therefore ring followers are anxious 10
see the big black man IN action. The
fact that johnson lodged Langford and
kaufman. then made a match with
Ketchen. 10 be decided next october.
after which he received word from JEFF
fEies that the latter would fight him next
year, has made him the most talked
about pugilist before the public to-day.
Yet there IS much doubt as TO his right
20 be called a first-class heavyweight
pugilist and O'Brien. regarded as the
most scientific white boxer in the world,
Is among the doubling ones Six rounds
do not provide much OF a test, but as
O'Brien is a whirlwind and Johnson is
believed TO possess remarkable science
this bout bids fair 20 be a clinker II il
IS on the level
Best in Close Quarters.
Johnson's best work is done at close
quarters, and O'Brien is well aware OF
the fact Il Is the prevailing opinion
therefore. that O'Brien viii put I'D the
same kind OF a fight that Corbett did in
his twenty-thr-e rounds with Jeffries at
COney Island. when in the early rounds
he made the big boilermaker look Ike a
cigar sign. Johnson is booked 10 sail for
England in about ten days. and Is par
dculsriy anxious to trim O'Brien. for e
defeat at the latter's hands would go a
long way toward convincing the British
sporting public that Johnson lodged the
fight with Langford in London. May "a,
because OF cowardice. Local fight fans
were inclined 10 make O'Brien a slight
favorite while discussing the match to-
day, and it IS a cinch that Philadelphia
fans viii show desire 10 place their
coin both ways. There VII be no decision
by the referee, so that the result VIII be
left 10 experts at the ringside
O'Brfea in Condition.
Persons who have seen O'Brien within
the last three days say that he IS in re
markabIe physical condition. They in
sist that he has trained harder for this
bout than for any previous affair in the
ring. and that hs honestly believes he viii
take JOhnson's measure decisively.
O'Brien is not a sIugger, but ne can
punch with plenty of power. so much so
that he had the rugged KetcheH reeling
around the ring at the end Of the sixth
round For that reason and because OF
his phenomenal speed IN attack O'Br!en
IS telling his associates that he may sue
ceed IN getting home q waIlOp on a vital
spot II Is conceded on all sides that
Johnson is much slower IN attack and
defense than O'Brien. and that If ne is
not IL the finest possible condition he may
have his hands full Il Is pretty certain
that the big black win be satisfied 20
stand fat-fOoted and pick or as many
Of O'Brien's jabs and swings with his
long reach as possible, but It Is not be
lieved by good judges that johnson viii
outpoint O'Briea when boxing az long
range