The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17
Negro Knocks Out the Game
Fighter In Twelfth Round
JOHNSON KNOCKED DOWN
In the Opening of the Final Round
ketche Floors Johnson, Who
Jumps Up With a Rush and
Quickly Ends Fight.
BY w. w. NAUGHToN.


San Francisco. October 16.-(Speclal. >
The Ketchel-Johnson fight ended as every
one of judgment in these matters sup
posed it would end. Ketchel, who is q
wonder when equally matched. had about
as much chance with the giant negro as
rabbit would have with a greyhound
Johnson toyed with his man for II rounds
and then put ketchel to sleep with vol
ley of punches, so fierce that the skin of
Johnson's gloves was torn through con-
tact with the middleweight champion 8
teeth.
When Ketchel fell he went down heav-
lily and spread-eagled on the floor on his
back, his arms thrown out to the fullest
extent lie was as lifeless as a log and
a look of concern spread over johnson 8
face. He eyed Ketehel closely while the
count was in progress, and when it was
all over and they gathered up the bat
tered Mchigander and bore him to his
corner, Johnson tiptoed after them and
heaved a big sigh of relief when he saw
that his victim was already coming back
from Sunderland.
sensational houno.
Che closing round was a sensational
one. and at the same time a peculiar one.
Here is the way it went:
johnson for several rounds stood statue
like at the beginning, and then suddenly
snapped at Ketchel's face with lefts. In
this particular round ketchell went at
Johnson the moment the gong rang. john
III. t,{z 1eaff IL,
and some one in Ketchels corner yelled:
Now. then, stanley!'
Ketchel started giant swing with the
right and his glove curved around john
sons neck. johnson fell clumsily to the
floor close to where the writer sa t, and [
noticed a grin on his face as he went
down. He did not remain down an instant
but jumped up quickly and turned to meet
KetcheFs rush Ketchel fairly impaled
himself on Johnson's fist and fell like
log. At the first opportunity after the
contest was over l asked Johnson why
he went down grinning from what was at
best glancing blow.
"Oh, he hurt me sure enough said the
negro, He caught me on the bone behind
the ear"
harder he would have fallen more grace
/ fully.
Down Like Shot.
When Ketchel went down he dropped
like a soldier whose heart had been
cleft by a sword thrust. Johnson fell
like a clown and it is little wonder
that the busybodies around the ring were
saying that the knockdown was bogus.
Anyhow, it is registered In the pic
lures for what it is worth and will
possibly add 10 their value as a show
asset
A point In Johnsons favor is that
Referee WEIGH thought the knockdown
an honest one.
johnson was inclined to fool around
too much and think Ketchel sneaked
one over on him." said the man who
has judged some of the most import
ant battles in the pugilstic history OF
California.
In boxing Ketche1 was thoroughly out
classed and before two rounds had gone
by 1t was evident that his one hopo
rested in being able to land just one
swing.
In the clinch fighting again Ketchel
discovered that Johnson knows more
In one round than the average fighter
learns in a career. Ketchel as rule
is away above the average at clinch
HgntlnB out To-Day no Was pOWCii SaS.
Johnson's Strength.
There were other things about those
clinches They gave an idea of Johnson's
immense strength as we'll Several times
he lifted Ketchel playfully off his feet
and slung him around. Once when
Ketchel's legs became entangled when
the men were graphing Johnson picked
up Ketchel with one arm and placed
him souarelv on his feet.
Johnson has always assured his friends
that Jeffries strength has no terrors for
him. After watching the champion close
ly in his recent fight 1t seems to me
even big Jeffries will not be liable to
take any liberties with Johnson when
they lock arms and begin to pull and
haul.
Ketchel said after he recovered that
a chance blow had finished him. 81 am
in better condition than Johnson now"
he said. Look at him; he was dazed,
but for that one blow would have beat
en- him"
The fight attracted the greatest crowd
in years. Over 10000 people were ranged
about the walls and overlooked the seats.
Promoter Coffroth stated after the fight
that $4,000 had been taken in.