Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-13


TO the floor. He took slow count of
nine but was down at least sixteen
seconds by the watches held at the
ringside by prominent sporting men
When johnson got up he was groggy
and hung on until the bell rang.
After that he fought Langford at
long range and got a decision on
scientific points, but it is a notewor-
thy fact that Johnson never was will
ing to get into the ring with Lang
ford again. Before that year ended
Johnson met Jeanette three times.
twice for six rounds and once for
ten, each bout being a good draw.
Johnson went TO Australia in 1907
and on February 10 he knocked out
Peter Felix at Sydney in a round.
He also squelched Bill Lang at Mel
bourne in nine rounds and then came
back to this country with a reputa-
ton. He took on the ancient Fitz-
simmons over la Philadelphia in July
and beat the Cornishman down and
out in two rounds. Fit was a back
number al that time and couldn't
whip a lightweight. Sam Fitzpatrick.
who had managed Peter Jackson and
Kid Lavigne, was Johnson's mentor
the coast. where he knocked out Fire
man Jim Flynn in eleven rounds at
Colma. Tommy Burns had beaten
Hart for the heavyweight champion
ship meanwhile, and Fitzpatrick was
on his trail with repeated challenges
on behalf of Johnson; but Burns,
evidently wise TO the fact that John
son was dangerous man. ignored
him and went to England. where
ne beat such dubs as Gunner. Moir.
Jack Palmer and lem Roche.
Johnson didn't have a dollar at
that time. but Fitzpatrick borrowed
money from several friends i'm this
city and took the negro to London.
where he again challenged Burns
The French-Canadian however. turn
ed deaf ear and hurried to France
where he stopped poor old Bill
Squires in eight rounds. Burns pro
Ceeded 20 Australia with all possible
speed and again beat SQuires down
and out i'm thirteen rounds. Then
he stopped Bill Lang i'm six and was
a hero in the estimation Of his man.
agor. Hugh Mcintosh. and the Aus
tralian sporting public.
I'm England Johnson beat Al Nc
Namara in four rounds at Plymouth
and knocked out Ben Taylor In eight.
Fitzpatrick by this time was deter
mined 10 follow Burns TO Australia.
but he was Hat broke He got as
sistance. however. from several
members of the National Sporting
Club of London, Johnson signing an
agreement TO come back there in
May, 1909. TO fight Sam Langford
regardless of the result OF the ex-
pected battle with Burns.
When Johnson and Fitzpatrick ar
rived in Sydney they were informed
that If they wanted a fight with
Burns they would have tOaccept the
latter's terms. They agreed readily.
for they were confident of success.
so articles were signed for a twenty
round fight for a $4,000 purse, of
which Burns's share was $4,000.
win. lose or draw They came to-
gether in Rushcutter's Bay Stadium
on December 25. 1908, before 10000
spectators. Johnson was 6 "a inch.
es taller and much heavier than
Burns. yet the latter ruled favorite
In the betting
As the fight progressed il was ap-
parent that Burns was a mere toy
In the hands OF the big negro who
knocked him down ia the second
round Johnson took his own time
after that and tantaliZed Burns with
cutting jabs i'm the face and many
sarcastic remarks. Burns had de
clared before the mill that Johnson
possessed yellow streak SO that
every time Johnson landed a telling
wallop he reminded Tommy OF his
unkind remarks. I'm the fourteenth
round when Burns was on the verge
of a knockout and Referee Mcintosh
was about ready TO save the little
white man himself the sydney police
jumped into the ring and stopped
the fight. Burns was all battered up.
His eyes were closed and he was cut
to ribbons. but he was anxious 20
continue the one sided mill when
the interferences occurred.
With $4,000 in his inside pocket
Johnson proceeded to throw Fitz-
patrick down and then sailed for the
Pacific coast. When he arrived in
this country he lost no time in re pu-
dating his agreement to fight Lang
ford in London. He expressed a will
ingness to fight Jeffries. however.
but tie toilvTmaker WASH 2 ready TO
talk business. Johnson went into
with much eagerness and
signed a contract calling for $500
a week In May he met Philadelphia
Jack O'Brien in Quakersville, the
bout lasting six rounds. Johnson re-
ceived nearly $4,000 for his end of
the entertainment. He was hog fat,
short of wind and put up slovenly
O'Brien receiving the
popular verdict on scientific points.
When the bout ended W. A. Brady
issued a challenge at the ringside
in behalf of Kaufman. whose den
had been ridiculed by Jeffries. but
Johnson displayed his gold teeth in |
a broad grin and told Brady to wait. |
month later Johnson took on
Tony Ross. strong heavyweight. |
for six rounds in Pittsburg and stall |
ed all the way, much TO the dissatis- |
faction of the spectators. He got So
600 for this alleged exhibition of his |
pTowess and INDUCED in another
golden smile. Ketchel. Kaufman and |
Langford were all hu~ling challenges
at the black champion then, and as
the public was clamoring for action |