The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-27
JOHNSON'S FIGHTING
UNWORTHY OF TITLE
Pictures Show Negro Lacked Both Nerve and Intelli
gence in Bout With Burns. Still, Jeffnes
Must Be Trained.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

/ constantly in mind when viewing pic
lures or nEht-you can seldom tell
now hard blow was hit. Even at
the ringside spectators are frequently
puzzled over this problem. but in pic
lures il cannot be answered at all as
rule. Therefore the practical value
or the punches landed by either Burns
or Johnson was hard to determine, but
the impression was that Burns did lit
tie or no damage, while Johnson must
have hurt whenever he landed flush.
Burns Has Nerve.
The writer has no use whatever for
Burns and hopes the ring will soon be
rid of him, but must give the Canadian
credit for a splendid exhibition of game
ness and persistency. He carried the
milling TO Johnson fnoessantly, even af-
ter he saw that he was hopelessly DOOM
ed 70 be beaten. II may be argued that
his only chance was TO step inside the
lethargic Johnson and head off those
smashes which johnson always had in
reserve. but 1t required nerve and brute
courage OF the best sort to do that.
for he never knew when Johnson was
going to meet him half way and cave
IN the whole front OF his body or face
Burns did tremendous amount of in
IlShtlngs which does not seem TO have
produced the slightest i'll effects on the
negro. johnson just stalled around,
AAoAN4A4S DGEliS III MS arms. and made
no attempt TO retaliate except when
Burns became particularly annoying
when he would reach over and thump
away at the white mans kidneys until
clinch.
The two questions naturally asked of
those who see the pictures, which will
De SHOWN every afternoon for the re-
lnalnder OF the week viii be: could
Johnson have beaten Burns in fewer
ROUNDS than he did and what chance
would johnson have against Jeffrles?
Two Important Questions.
It has been claimed that Johnson de-
hberately RETAINED from winning from
Burns earlier because he wanted to keep
him in the ring and cut him up as a
revenge for numerous insults 10 him.
That 1 do not believe. Johnson undoubt-
eddy was enough the better man to whip
his man to a standstill in ten rounds,
but did not do so because he lacked the
brains and the nerve to do so. II would
have tickIed his vanity much more to
have sQuelched Burns in a hurry than
10 let him remain fourteen rounds, and
the punishment gag does not so, for
Burns was by no means all in when the
police stopped the affair.
JohnsOn's chances with Jeffries depend
entirely on Jeffries himself. With JEFF
fries in shape, Johnson, barring an ac-
ciQental plOWs IS sure winner. But
unless Je1ries IS hard as nails and
can stand more hammering than is
usual with pugilists of his build who
have been out Of the game as long as
/ he has, Johnson is going to cause him
a world Of trouble. The negro has q
poor Knockout record, but he can hit,
nevertheless. Fighting man Of Jefries
size and prowess, he would have TO
change his tactics and do more leading
and cOuntering than with light-heavies
or exaggerated middieWeights, like
! o Brien and Burns. That would force
him 10 bring into play all of his slug
ging force, and what would happen then
no one can say. II looks like Jefries
in walk-but Jeffries viii have TO be
in shape.