Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-19

clearly and honestly demonstrating his
right to the American title; then defeating
Bill Squires for the heavyweight cham
pionship of Australia, beating Gunner
Moir and taking the English title. ana
whipping Jim Roche. the champion OF Ire
land. BY defeating Burns, Johnson de-
cisively showed his right to the title OF
worlds champion.
Never has any other boxer shown more
persistence in following up champion
than johnson showed in his chase OF
Burns. The trail led all over the United
States. across the ocean to England and
then to far-off Australia, where the big
black cornered and beat the wtite man
for the worlds honors-
johnson Beaten Only Once.
Johnson was really beaten only once.
being knocked out when a raw novice
early in his career by the veteran Joe
Choynski johnson lost on a foul to Joe
Jeanette, but later decisively showed his
superiority over the Hoboken negro In a
ffteen-round bout in Baltimore Marvin
Hart got decision over Johnson In a
twenry-round bout in San Francisco, but
the decision was so rank that the door
almost reached the snies, Johnson max
ing a chopping block of the kentuckian
and getting practically no return punish
ment. .. =,
TODAY do not class with Jeffries, Sharkey,
Fitzsimmons and Corbett- Johnson. how
ever, cannot be blamed for that, for he
has met the greatest fighters obtainable
Johnson's two-round knockout or Bob
Fitzsimmons gained him little credit. but
Fitzsimmons was only few years older
than when he fought Jeffries. Among the
good men Johnson has beaten are George
Gardner. Denver Ed Martin SANDY Fer-
Ruson. Joe Jeanette. Sam McVey. Sam
Iangford, Tommy Burns. Stanley ketcheli
and Al Kaufman.
In the records Johnson cannot be credit
ed with a victory over Kaufman, as they
entered into an agreement that, provided
both men were on their feet at the ex-
piration. of the tenth round. no decision
would be given. Kaufman. however. was a
toy in Johnson's hands and most OF the
experts were OF the opinion that had
johnson chosen to cut loose he easily
could have disposed of Kaufman with a
knockout
Jack No Coward.
Johnson. on account OF his refusal &c
cut loose. many times has been accused
OF possessing a yellow streak. However.
he is not deserving of this criticism. for he
has yet to show a tinge of cowardice
PugilisYn at the best has many crooks
an6 turns. 1t is more of a business than a
sport, and Johnson at times owed his
ring existence TO agreeing to allow a
man to stay the limit and making other
binding contracts. While Johnson fire.
aueptly BY force of circumstances was
restrained from showing his best. many
other times by his sheer good nature he
refused to punish unnecessarily an OPP
popent. being content to go along and
win on points.
Johnson may be likened TO a big. over
grown, good-natured boy. Any one who
ever came in contact with Johnson will
testify to his ever-present good nature
Why should I beat him up? He's good
fellow" is the way Johnson explained
one of his suspicious-looking battles
More than one of Johnson's opponent:
have escaped a terrible pummeling simply
because of Johnsons aversion to punish
ing a man whom he had beaten on points
Johnson's fighting record gives no rea
idea of his ability. Many believe hi.
statement that he never cut loose anC
fought his hardest. Again. as in the cas'
OF Peter Jackson, white pugilists I'm many
Whether 1t was because they feared hi.
ability or whether they really objected
TO boxing with negro may be surmised
Johnson was the first man of his color
10 get the chance to fight for the heavy
weight championship since Queensberry
rules were framed He is more fortu
nate in that respect than Peter Jackson
the other negro heavy weight. who chal
ienged Sullivan and was refused a battl,
spite the fact that all critics agreed
that Jackson deserved meeting with tn,
Boston boy. johnson heads the list o
famous negro fighters. beginning will
Molineaux. WHO went alone and pennies
from Virginia to England to meet tn,
greatest fighting man the world knew a
the time. Tom Crib. for the heavyweight
championship OF England. That was il