Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-06-28

grab, until by ana by the top notchers
saw that oonor or later they'd have
to take me on. AS soon MS had
shown what | could do. the fight pub
lic-most of the fans. anyWaN-tool
sides with me. and that helped a
whole lot"
johnson asserts that he has never
been apprehcnsiVe OF possible defcht
In any contest he has engaged in.
None OF them. he declares, had amy
terrors for him,
His four most important battles
have been fought Within the last year
nnd a half, dating from hts defeat OF
Tommy Burns in Australia. December
20, 1905 Having wrested the cham
pionship from Burns, he determined
to meet and defend his title against
all corners. His fights with Philadel-
phia Jack O'Brien, Al Kaufman and
stanley Eetchel followed In rapid sue
cession.
on his fights two or three years be-
fore, thai had brought him promi-
hence and helped him along greatly in
his career. his contests with sam
L%angford, the Boston negro, Joe
Jeanette. sam McNey, Denver ED
Martin. Jim Flynn and others. John
son lays no particular stress except
" lf5siih AilflAl Us 81 HlsIlN luiAhN VI
his ladder of success.
I'm looking for a fight" asserted
Johnson. in which | really can let
myself II and show the public Just
what can do. That's one reason
why I'm 50 anxious TO 60 M against
Jeffries."
Johnson's declaration silstains the
Judgment OF numerous sporting writ
ers who have maintained for years
that the big negro seldom, IL ever, OK
tended himself. and was capable OF
striking harder blows than he has ever
delivered in the ring. 1t appears TO
have been a general belief that John
son was holding back This was
particularly noticeable IN his recen
fight With Stanley Ketchel. In that
bout Johnson toycd with his man all
the way. He seemed To him tn"
fight a joke until n slip and a timely
punch brought him to his knees and
aroused his anger. Just what hap
pened next has never been clearly
known. II was too fast to watch, and
in an in%stant's time ketchel WAS on
his back n being counted out. He
did not seem to realize what had
struck him ana johnson himself
seemed astonished at the result OF his
sudden exhibition of strength and
speed.
Johnson was born In Galveston, in
1879, his birthday being March 81.
ana If ring experience goes for any
thing, he has It. In 1901. his first year
MS a fighter. he fought six fights, win
ming all but one, which vas a draw.
The next year he went into the ring
sixteen times, and from then on was
almost constantly engaged until to
date he has 10 his credit over sixty
kpffl.gL NAhtlo. many ar hfG" a"nrtnnAnIS
have not peer of the style to test his
mettlc. his frequent bouts have served
at least to keep him always in train
ing, and this Is one of the strong ar
gumcnts Of his p%artisans.
Tcmperamentally johnson is an in
teresting study. His CHIEF characters
tic is his unfailing good nature, a
curiously constant sort of ever tenn
per hat nothing seems 10 rnffle. HIS
golden smile" is seldom out Of evil
dence, and not even the coarse and
insulting iibes hat frequently greet
him from fight spectators seem to
have the power to disturb him. Even
ducking a storm of blows ana
showing wonderful skill In eVadinE
the onslaughts OF his opponent, John
son never loses his poisc nor his
power OF observation. His eyes take
in ana appraise everything that trans
plres at the ringside. He seems to
hear every comment made by tho on
lockers, and even in the midst of q
clinch. when every muscle is tense,
will recognize a witty sally from the
audience with a flash Of his ready
smile, and, like as not, an equally
Witty rejoinder thrown ut the audi
cnce Owe the reeking shoulder against
which he is pressing.
why don't you fight, you black
yelled an enthusiast at the