The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-21
Negroes Reputation of Con-
tracts Bringing DiScredit
on All Other Fighters.
JAN HAGUE GOOD
ENGLISH HEAVY
Sam Langford's Next Opponent
Well Worth Watching, But
Can't Train Down.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

SnSk SbiiAlotn NolneS OuL- Win another
brazen defiance OF all conventions and
announces he will break his agreement
10 night Stanley ketchel- because JEFF
tries intends 10 re-enter The ring.
A day or two ago the negro pugilist
stated In Philadelphia, according to tie
Record of that city, that he had DELHI
erately broken his contract with the
National Sporting Club of London TO
face sam Iansford there because the
purse was not large enough. now that
he Is champion. and he could make
more money in this country. That
pare pare statement was enough TO discredit
man, and when he follows it with a
complete throw-down of Ketchel il is
t ZINE 10 eall a halt You can hardly
plane the reformers If they get after
MN and try to force the police to keep
nm from lighting in any city named
ior the scrap with Jeff.
Johnson Should Prove Status.
johnson has never demonstrated that
ne was anything but a second class
heavyweight, despite the enormous
amount of guff that has been written
about him His record is mediocre. and
u Is up TO him 10 show the American
pubic that he IS the goods, and Is not
q four ;husher. He did not meet man
abroad who was good enough for a
semi-windup IN the days when the fight
game hourished in this country, except
Burns, and no practical follower of the
sport In this country ever considered
burns otner thaIt the best OF poor lot
of seconSSraters.
The constant harping on the fact that
the championship is now in the hands Of
a negro, and must be won back for the
white race makes US as tired as che
foolish challenges of Jim Corbett. There
is nothing to that except the magma
ton and the frOthing of young men
who have to MI a certain amount Of
black and white, views Johnson's hold
IN tne championship with equanimity.
thoroughly understanding that II is lit
tle more than a paper title, because of
his past performances, and that of the
man from whom he won It. They have
never taken him seriously, and 1t is
element is mostly a sucker on the pug
FRO ion. but not entirely 50, and
The nson person gets their goat.
Make Him Keep Contract.
AS a matter Of fact Jeffries would be
q fool, and his thousands IF followers
would know it, IL he went in the ring
with Johnson unless that dusly con-
tract-breaker first fought ketChel and
proved himself Of sufficient class 10
bring the boilermal1er out Of retirement
Tor a last championship crack. John
son has fought quite number Of md
dleweights, including Young Peter
jackson, and his showing against them
has been weak. II he has a knockout
punae; l- he has kept It up his sleeve when
meal ticket for a year on occasions
when he had to hustle for the price OF
a sandwich.
Let decency have some say in the
squared arena, and force Johnson to 20
against ketchel before meeting Jeffries.
II he does not do that he should be
barred from every ring in the United
states and across the water.
Hague Good Man.
A match which the American fight
fans should watch with especial care
fa Ta
shire, and Sam Langford. which is TO
be pulled of at the National Sporting
Club IN London on Derby Day, which
VIII Ian on May ~ TINS year The
wilson IN the National Sporting Club
last October. Wilson was called the
most scientific heavyweight in the
United Kingdom, and he was unusually
fast as boxer. no mean opponent for
the best men here but he did not have
lot Of confidence in himself and re-
fused to meet Burns or Johnson when
hey were in England Hague had
-0me reputation and they were 70 go
ten rounds In the windup.
The bout was complete surprise ex-
cept 10 a very few who were on the
inside. Hague weighed something be-
tween 19o and 30 pounds. but could hit
like a mules kick and was very fast
on his feet. II was a real fight, with
would ordinarily see In two years Of
attendance at the ringside. They were
at Il hammer and tongs all the way,
and. In the Judgment Of the writer,
Hague clearly outboxed Wilson. which
vastly astonished the dress-suit audi
ence.
In the sixth round. Hague caught
Wilson squarely on the jaw and knock
ed him cold It was several minutes
before Wilson knew exactly what had
happened.
One Serious Weakness.
The weakness which will probably
keep Hague In the background IS an
abdomen out Of proportion TO the rest
bies Young Corbet, who would have
become gross in build even II he had
kept IN training all the time. I should
say that Hague could not possibly train
his strength, for he Is somewhat finely
built for such a big man II is a great
pity that he Is thus handicapped, for
~ Langford gets 20 his wind early
Hague is doomed 20 take the count
but ~ Langford ever steps IN the way
or one OF the straight punches the Eng
lishman has In either hand. he is going
high. '@ 'Yl are ioo'
That Manager Cantlllon has asked
for waivers on Tannehill, Shipke, and
Kelley. Is not unlikely. but that they
win be allowed to slide back 10 the
minors hardly seems probable. Tame
btu has not yet had a chance % demon
Etrate his real condition in fast COM
I0ny this year. lie mas steadily as
serted that his arm was all right. and
he was 10 have pitched one Of the
games against Boston had not his
knee been injured. Shipke has no
superior as a fielding third baseman,
and as "A hitter As little III any below
the standard Of Charley O'Leary. Lee
Tannehill. and other crack nelders who
are VIGOROUSLY weak with the willow.
Kelley IS quite some pitcher despite
his small size, and Is better than men
who are right row considered major
league fixtures for 1903. How any one
Of these men can escape the fifteen
other clubs in the big leagues Is a
mystery, and we have no idea they
will be overlooked.
Manager CantillOn Is right in holding
on 20 Gray and Groom. his young pitch
eTs. Both OF them got exceedingly bad
starts n the American League but both
have more ability than the Washington
fans have seen them display. Pop"
Fleming. who says ne played with Co
Tniskey In 1873. instead OF 1853 thinks
well OF both Of them. and as Pop does
right smart thinking. we are glad he *
with us on the proposition. There Is no
doubt both were nervous and had stage
fright in the games they worked in