Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-18

Since the Reno a1R1r. from which
negro emerged champion Of the world
after a fight which should not be digni-
fled by that name, / have taken a re-
newed interest In the geMe because, like
a. great many other ardent admirers OF
boxing, want TO see white man win
back the heavyweight championship of
the world.
Declares Reno Fight Fluke.
I do not relish the idea of negro
champion, particularly when l know his
'honors' were forced upon him through
ono of the greatest aukes in the history
of boxing. Jeffrtes' condition during the
fight is an old story now. Of course.
In Lang ! saw what i considered a
championship possibility-a white man
who, with proper handling, might develop
into a great fighter and qualify as
candidate for highest honOrs In the game.
regard him as natural fighter. His
knowledge of the finer points OF the
science OF boxing is limited, but this cat,
be developed with practice and little
more experience.
AL Kaufman is the topnotcher at pres
emit among the white American heavy
weights, and a longer battle between
these two men ought to determine which
is the one most worthy Of trying to bring
back the championship to the white race.
Al is in competent hands. Billy Delaney,
the greatest trainer in America. having
him in charge, and IL any one can bring
out his best surely Delaney can.
Wants Men in Long Mill.
want to see one or the other win
and win decisively 50 that we can feel
the victor is the man entitled to the
chance at the champion, and 1 believe
that in one Of these men We have cham
pionship timber, and would like to see
another match arranged for longer con-
test in which the superiority OF either
shall be demonstrated beyond question.
Now to get back to the general i'm
preston that neither of these men is
classy enough to give him a look-in
with Johnson: I beg to differ with my
friends who mold popular opinion
newspapers The fact that johnson is
champion is what causes the great ma
jority to look upon him as in a class by
himself
There is wonderful magic about that
word champion that blinds many to
everything but his best qualities. and
after a pugilist has held down the job
for while 1t has sort of grown upon
the public that because a man is cham
pion he is unbeatable.
All Take the Count.
->c ever Was llaOc
know. and / have been through the mill.
We all go down to defeat in our turn.
Fftzsimmons won from me. jeff beat
Fitz, and finally the once great boiler
maker laid down his crown.
I am not seeking to take away any
credit from pugilist who has climbed
from the bottom to the top as has john
son. and / believe Jack Is a good man as
champions go nowadays, but do not look
upon him as a really great fighter His
most important contests were with Tom
my Burns and Jim Jeffries, and while he
won both he did not prove In either en-
gagement that he is the wonder he IL now
supposed to be.
l am not alone in my views either and
and share these opinions with some Of the
best posted men and recognized authori-
ties in the game. In Tommy Burns the
present champion met man who is much
smaller than himself. and in Jeffries he
had the great good luck to get into the
ring with man completely broken down
from nervous collapse.
The Burns fight in Australia was stop
ped by the authorities in the fourteenth
round, and while Tommy had taken
great deal of punishment he was far from
being a beaten man at the time. | have
this on the authority Of one of the best
known Australian boxing experts, a man
who knows the game from A to z, and
an eyewitness of the bout. Burns was
after the fight. while Johnson was forced
TO seek medical attendance. SO it would
seem that Burns is justified in asking for
another chance with the colored cham
pion.
Johnson, to my mind. is purely a de-
fensive fighter. and any good heavyweight
not inclined to force the battle would
have little or no trouble in staying In the
ring with him for six or ten rounds. or
even longer. If a man carries the fight
to Johnson. that is another story. The
champion has good defense, and in close
quarters can administer severe pl1nish
ment to his opponent, but that about lets
him out.
Sees Finish Of Negro.
If the old-time system of CHAMPIONS
travelling about the country and adver-
Using to stop all corners In four rounds;
was still in vogue, think Johnson's
reputation would be badly dented IL not
seriously damaged. Jack shines in close
quarters, and that's how he won the
title. All his best work is done while
his opponent is rushing him or breaking
out of a clinch.
II up against a good man, willing TO
wait for Johnson TO force the fighting.
think the bout would be over before the
real lighting began. Far from being q
great fighter, think him a lucky one.
Lang and Kaufman are good men,
fairly clever. and hard hitters, and have
the advantage Of youth. Both have
the experience. Jack cannot be expected,
in the natural order of things, to i'm
prove-he now Is at his best. On the
other hand Bill and Al are irnproyine