Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-20
0 BR|EN AND JOHNSON
FIGHT TO A DRAW
Philadelphia, Although Much Lighter
Than His Ousky Antagonist,
Quick on Feet.
MATCH WAS FOR ONLY SIX ROUNDS
Negroes Great Strength Matched by
O'Brien's Marvellous Quickness on
His Feet-White Was Three Times
Forced tc His Knees.

'
| PHILADELPHIA, PA, May IL =
Jack Johnson. the big colored heavy
weight champion. failed t. win over
Jack OBricn. the Philadelphia light 4.
heavy weight tonight in six round
bout The fight was even and the
consensus # opinion was that II.
should have been a draw. hal de- ,
cision keen 9ermis ibe.
/ OBrisr's marNellou IS fast foot
work and his superior blocking saved
d him from damage in several close
mixes and three times he wls forced
10 his knees by tn negro's great
strength II was fast fight, O'ilr"l
doing the most landing.
johnson WAS slow on his feet avn
appeared not 10 be III good condition.
/! hepeatedly the champion rushed his
smaller antagonist. hui seldom land
ca effectively. A right hand counter
! in the fifth round cut O'Brien's right
eye and this was the sum total or
the damage done. O'Brien was in ami :
out like a fash In nearly every round.
stabbing Johnson on the face. but
the blows lacked force and had no
effect other than 10 make the big
black man grin and wave his hand
at the crowd.
Johrscn Was Hooted.
The spectators shouted wildly ey-
cry time OBrien landed and hOo;ed
! johnson for his apparent rough wo"G
/ in the clinches.
Referee Michigan said afterwards
that O'Brien did remarkably well. He
weighed 162 l-2 pounds while jean
sons acknowledged weight was 2c5.
johnson locked tired but O'Brien
appeared confident throughout the
bout. He certainly fought gene
ngh.." said Michigan.
Johnson had nothing to say except
that he though he had the better OF
IT,
O'Brien was enthusiastic over his
showing.
O'Brien looked TO be in splendid
shape as he took OF his bath robe.
Johnson appeared rather bulky about
the waistline but his splendid muscles
d
was 1926 when the gong sounded
Round l. Johnson rushed O'Br:en
Fight by Rounds.
Sto. the ropes. O'Brien came back
with a left to the face and In the
clinch Johnson rushed O'Brien or his
feet. O'Brien put left to the face
lightly but johnson only grinEed and
forced O1Brien TO the ropes, showing
him TO his knees. They feinied and
fddled carefully. O'Brien trying to
down johnson. johnson put left on
O'Brien's face without damage and
OBrien landed left on face in return.
iO'Brien was in aud out like a fash
and johnson set himself for a cOun-
ter but il was smOthered. O'Brien's
quickuess Of foot stood him in good
stead AGAINST Johnson.
Round ?. O'Brien led for the face
but was blocked and Johnson lifted
him OF the floor in the clinch that
followed. The crowd shOcted John
son hut he only smiled and rushed
O-Brioa TO the ropes. Marvellous duck
Ing saved O'Brien from damage aud
they s-arred cautiously. O'BTsen
csugh1 johnson With a stiff left on
. the face and the crowd chcered. John
son rushed him o. he ropes. landing
left on TIRE body lightly. Both APP
peared Winded and johnson waited
Tor OHrien . lead. JOhnson went az
] ter O'Bricn like whilrwind but quick
foot work took the Philadelphia man
out of harms Eay. OBrien dij the
cleaner.
R1und . johnson miss j left and
took = light stab in ine face. OBrien
was in and ont like q fash. landing
LEFT on the face but took stiG ieft
20 the stomach az close range John
son forccI O'H-ica shamblinz aficr'
him rather icwly and awkrardly and
missed tVo LET'S and a right for TIE
head Johnson SCI himself for
O-BFen's Had but vas slow in COM
icring and tooS icft stab on the
nose. johnson vent after him vici-
ou.iy and a left had OTsricu's mouth
bleeding. johnson appeared somc-
soueuha windcd when thc round
which was abcut even. ended, with