The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-08-12
JACK JOHNS0N'S
FIRST Big FIGHT
How the Colored Man Tricked the
Oakland Club Into Giving
Him a Chance.
lRN Eddie Smiihl


Oakland. Aug. l0.-it NAV be inter
esting 10 the fans TO know that Jack
Johnson. now heavyweight champion
Of the world, had his first California
fight in Oakland, and the story of the
trick he played on his opponent Will
make plain the hard road he has had
10 travel 10 get to the top Of the lad
der During the early Part of 1902.
a long, loose-jointed, easy-going negro,
called al the Reliance club and asked
that he be given 4 match with any Of
the fighters on the coast who would
take him on. This colOred man is the
present day champion and he had al
ready made . great impression on the
fans here with his clever work in the
gymnasium
Johnson at that time had only had
few fights. but had shown great cley-
crnezS in those that he ad engaged
in and q certain reputation "a to his
ability had also preceded him 10 the
coast Johnson az Jnat time was as
flat broke as ever a fighter could be.
and 1t was not case OF how much he
would demand for a fight II was 4
case OF how much could ne get.
II was agreed that Johnson should
be given a match here, and an oppon.
ent was searched for The middle
weights. for Johnson was able to mako
a lightweight In those DAYS, and the
light heayywcights would have nOth.
Ing 10 do with the colored man, and
Joe Kennedy was selected as the op-
ponent. Joe was at that time acting
as sparrlng partner TO Jeftries. but
the champion had sonc to Los Ange-
les for resi- An effort WAS made 10
get the big Californian. but he refused
the match ana when Johnson wa3 I'M
ally informed that Kennedy would not
go on the colored man showed the
greatest Disappointment
Fools Kennedy and Club.
After having gone over the list of
olieiDles Johnson finally informed the
matchmaker OF the Reliance club that
he would try TO get Kennedy to fight
by going up to him and insulting him
In front Of his friends and declaring
that he was afraid 10 fight To the
surprise CT the matchmaker, Kennedy
sent word the next day that he was
ready To take Johnson on and that he
would be over that afternoon TO sign
"i iNlN''S. Auf W HIS WORD, hP0nCQg
was over and the signing of articles
was easy. there being no $4,000 purse
to divide.
The da, of the contest arrived and
both men entered the ring. Johnson In
the vcrv pink of condition and Ken.
ncdy fat and unfit, he having trained
just enough to be able TO box Ia
rounGs at fast clip As soon as the
bell rang Johnson was at Kennedy IKE
q Tiger and in less than one minute
Kennedy was counting the pretty 1T
Tie stars from llneeling position ON
the canvas covering on the ring.
II took no great power in the art of
deduction 10 see from the very 6rst
punch that Johnson was footing the
white man and Kennedy was a helm.
'ess wreck throughout the four rounds
hey boxed Joe taking the count In
he fourth
johnson Promised to Lose.
II afterwards developed that in.
stoad Of Johnson going over to Ken
nefS and telling him face 10 face that
ne was afraid 10 fight. that he called
on the white man and in . very gen.
tlemanly manner informed Kennedy
that tnc+ should take the match and
eplit the purse money between them.
Johnson also promised Kennedy that
he would not train for Tho bout 10 any
great extent and that he would allow