The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-10-28
COLORED MAN IS
A REAL FIGHTER
His Powerful Blows at the Close
of Ketchel Contest Showed
His Ability.
(By Robert Edgren }

ADS TtODtll TIubieua'
In spite of his many bunders Of
the ring Jack Johnson. heavyweight
champion, seems likely TO fight his
way into popularity. Since the be.
ginning of time the world has taken
kindly 10 real fighting men and has
turned a blind side TO their faults.
For years Jack Johnson was a fax
er, He hippodromed until 1t became
a habit Yet after winning the title
from Tommy Burns he changed and
began showing his real ability. With
one exception his fights have been
worthy OF champion. The exception
was in the Philadelphia affair with
O'Brien. Johnson appeared in the
ring fat and red-eyed from a season
of midnight riot Whether he was
physically unable to fight or he simp-
ly pulled" | don't know, but he made
a sorry showing.
Since that time he has done gen.
uine fighting. He battered tough
Tommy Ross and beat up AL Kaufman
In the most scientific manner He
fought and beat Ketchel scientifically.
All through the Ketchel fight he
showed his mastery except for SIN
gle moment in the twelfth round.
when the slugging COWBOY managed
to send home one blow that dropped
the husky negro and left him badly
dazcd. In the few seconds after he
rose to his feet Johnson proved him
self genuine fighter He didn't
stall, Meeting Ketchel's first plung-
ing attack with brace of blows into
which he threw all of his enormous
strength Johnson turned a possible
defeat into sudden and decisive vic
tory, The right handler that knocked
Ketchel out did more damage than all
of the other blows Johnson landed
during the fight.
San Francisco accounts tell that
Johnson, still dazed from the effects
OF the knocl1down he had suffered
himself. turned and followed Ketchel
as he was dragged TO his corner He
had thrown such force into his
Knockout blow that he feared the re.
suit. Afterward he said that he WAS
greatly relieved when he saw Ketchel
recover and sit up In his chair
There is nothing vicious about
Johnson. He's a good-nature6 big
coon That golden smile" OF his
during fight isn't all put on for eG.
feet
Ketchel and Johnson were friendly
long before they fought They once
trained in the same camp During
the matchmaking they bantered each
other, but neither ever had any
knocking TO do. either then or while
training for the fight | imagine that
Johnson rather liked Ketchel He
fought him for the money there was
in il. He didn't care to beat the
smaller man up unnecessarily. He
didn't let all OF his great strength 90
into his blows until Ketchel had floor
ed him. and he suddenly realized that
he was up against a tough proposition
and that he really had to do some
thing suddenly or risk losing his title.
Then. In a flash. he lei loose all that
was In him. The result is already
ring history.
The interesting question now is: |
How will johnson fight against jeff |
ries? VIII he begin in the style that |
ne finished with on Saturday after
noon? VIII he put every ounce Of his
strength into every blow? Or Will |
lie see I'm Jeffries a man even bigger
and stronger than himself and fight
The circumstances will |
pc entirely different when JefTries |
and Johnson fight Their hatred is /
mutual, Johnson knocked out Jeffs |
brother, Jack. Jeff hates him for
hat. He badgered Jeffries when the
white champion was In peaceful re-
irement and practically forced him
o come before the public again, JEFF
rics intended to stick to the quiet
ife. He has no taste for notorietv.
The glare of the footllghts has no at
raction for him. He dlslikes being
about by hero Worshipers.
He'd like nothing better than to be
eft alone to go on hunting and fish
ng trips like any ordinary mortal.
lntrammeled with a reputation John
on has spoiled this Utopian dream Of
'eff's and has dragged him out of his
lole. jeff had come. heels first, like
| badger worried by the hounds. And.
Ike the badger. he's fighting mad. He
wants TO whip johnson now. and then
etire again to heaven OF bear hunts
md fishing trips TO Catalina.