The sun., 1909-02-07
SON,CHAMpIONPUGILIST
sOuE FACTS ABOUT THE BIG
,OLORED BOXERS CAREER.
Experts say That q Majority Of His
Battles Have Been With second
Raters He's Fond OF Fiasby Clothes,
HE Diamonds and Black cigars,

Raters Hes Fond OF Fiashy Clothes
HE Diamonds and Black cigars
II is a surprising fact that Jack John
son the new heavyweight champion,
ia known personally by comparatively
few persons in tho boxing game. He
has spent greater part OF his time box
inc in the South. East and West, and has
asa rule kept away from the largo cities
He has never made an extended tour
NJ America ~ did Peter jackson. George
Dixon, Joe Walcott and other noted col
orad puguiss; but he has an interesting z
history and Is a character.
Johnson IS "a black as your hat When
be is in coed humor his big round face
lights ~ with pleasant smile. His
teeth arc perfect. and he knows how TO
show them TO advantage When he goes
ont on parade Johnson is q rea. swcllA-
genuine treat for the colored fraternity,
He usually wears large white plug hat
plaid clothes. a noisy vest. a shirt Of many
Coo.s green or gray spats, pointed
patent leather shoes and q big diamond
headlight He also lugs around young
tree for cane and fairly covers his
knottv knuckles with jewelled rings. Up
to the fight with Tommy Burns John
son did not have much money TO spea'i
Of but whp. he did have he spent for
frerv He always smoked black cigars
ard drank the wealthy water whenever
he he'd the price; but he never dissipnted
to such an extent that he impaired his
wonderful physical condition. He il a
six footer, as hard rs nails end weighs
ahoIt 2O0 pounds, stripped 10 the bun.
His arms are unusually long, like those
Of gorilla, and his back and chest mus
Gle, aye like bunches Of steel wire.
johnson was born in Galveston. Tex,
and will he 30 years old on March 81. He
has been in the prizering for eight years.
but it was not until he met Joe Choynski.
the California heavyweight. in the fall
Of 1901 that he showed any real worth
asarugilst. After that he showed steady
Improvement and in 1903 he was matched
with Denver Ed Martin, one Of the finest
built negroes that ever cTawlsd through
the ropes. They met in twenty round
bout at Los Angeles and after a gruelling
mill Johnson won on points.
This victory was so well earned and
lchnson's performance was 40 impress
sye that he was at once pitted against
sam McNey. the big negro now all the
rage in Paris. McVey wasa tough prop
ositlon. a hard hitter and fairly olever.
bat as in the battle with Martin johnson
displayed unusual skill and received the
releree's verdict at the end Of twenty
rounds Then the California promoters
tried to dig up some other man for Johu-,
son TO beat. bat as that was impossible
Texas Jeck. as the rev champion is called
on the Coast. came across the continent
aud tackled Sandy Ferguson. rough
and tumble miyel ale heavyweight,
IN a ten round bout in Bostor. At that
time Ferguson was declared to he
coming man. possible successor to
Jefries AZ champion. but Johnson made
him look like a erecn amateur and got
the decision
Johi son went TO Philadelphia after
hat and proceeded 10 knock out Joe
Butler. a negro. in three rounds. Sandy
tcrgI IN wanted another shy at Texas
Jack, SO they met in six round affair
in the Quaker City. johnson having
much the better Of it AM Ferguson
hands were broken before he entered the
ring. A trip back 10 California; followed
aui Johnson stacked up against McVey
IN another twenty round bout at Les
Angel,s, the latter receiving the same
treatment as in the first encounter. Then
Johnson wound up his 1903 campaign
by getting a verdict over Ferguson in a
'weuty round bout at Colma, Cal,
lne hig negro did not have many
matches in 1904. and his opponents were
all cplo~ed men. He defeated Black
BIZ local slugger in six round bout
a. Philadelphia and i'm third mill with
McIey IN Frisco he put the latter to sleep
in the twsnteth round with a heavy rigl I
hand clip on the point Of the jaw. After
rrat Ne beat Frank Chilcs in a six round
tsttle in Chicago and then knocked Den
yer ID Martin out in three rounds.
On March ?s. 1905. johnson met Mcrvin
Har, in a twenty round mill in Frisco.
l. was hard fight end Jehnson's friends
al the -inRsidc declared that he had won
bv wide margin on points. vt the referee
decided that Hart was the winner amid
4 tremendous outcry. JonrsJu SAID tnal
hlels lad fixed the referee. and was 50
ilscus,ed with the methods on the Coast
TIA, he came East Immediately and re-
sgmed his ring work in Phila delpha.
II" began by stopping Jim JEFF o-ds in
four ROUNDS. Black Pll in four and Walter
johnson in three. Sic boxed Joe Jean !
ne'te six rounds 90 draw and did the !
same with JaI Munroe, who had pre-
vousv stayed tour rounds with JeTries
al Butte, Mon. After that he knocked |
om Morris Harris in three rounds and
fought Black Bill "a six round draw. Ii !
WIS IN July Of that year that johnson |
tackled Ferguson again AT Chelsea. Mass |
Ferguson had il in for the negro ana |
tuel rough nous tactics 10 such an eX-
tent that Rig Jack won on a foul III tue |
ssycntl round. johnson soon after that
a ar ran up against Joe Grim, the lroa
Man, in philadelphia Grim had never
h+n Knocked out AMI managed 10 stick
siG POUNDS the limit, in spite of the fact
tid he received a terrific beating.
Jeanette then faced johnson for the
second time in six round bout in the .
Quaker city. This was a rough and
tumble battle in which Jeanette was
declared the winner on foul in the sec
Gnn round. After beating Young Peter
Jackson On points in twelve round bout
N Baltimore johnson returned to Phil
acc'Nuld. where he boxed Jeanette
acdln. sN rounds, To what looked like
a good draw That was Johnson's last
,a''i" m 1915. Jcanne.te was Big Jacks
n''' opponent in 1900. as they boxed six
la nd IN. ,.N. .,.tN An