The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-07-19
SIE'()II}( 7 s
JOHNSON AGREED
TO FAKE fight

Chicago, July 19.-Ihat Jack John
osn framed II up with the moving
picture interests to allow the big fight
ut Reno to go at least seven rounds
was the statement Issued By George
Little, Johnsons eX-manager Like
wise he related at the same time a
detailed story of franc up between
all concerned in the Johnson.Ket
fight, and told OF rehearsals of the
various blows which we're to be
struck.
johnson was compelled TO agree
that the fight at Reno would last
seven rounds" related Little ''1n
order to be able TO sell his interest
In the Aims He told me himself
that he had made this compact
He talked It over with me and
wanted me to agree to it. but told
him that It was not right to fake such
a hig fight. and I would havo nothing
to do with IT.
TWO Earlier Flights Fixed.
Little then followed up this disclos'
ure by repeating his assertion, which
has heen denied by Johnson during
the day. that the Ketchel-Johnson
fight was frame-up. and declared
further that he had been present at
the fixing" of the JOhnson-keuima
fight. Little said he was in the room
when the Ketchel ARRANGEMENTS were
made. and that he was later present
when the two nghters rehearSed the
Knockout, that they might not make
any slip before the public.
'I put up $4,000 as side bet LOT
Johnson and Britt got little amount
for Ketchel continued Little. ms
was when the articles were slgneu'
When we got TO San Francisco, br'tt
said the laws there would pronln.'
the bet and he wanted to cav II on
The picture end was the mig thlnI
BEFORE the fight Britt, Coftrotn anu anu
Johnson held meeting In CoHrotn
office. I was not invited but | la'el
went In. Johnson then explained 10
mo what was on tap and then tneS
continued their arrangements, lheS
had decided that the fight was not
worth while except as a picture en-,
eagement. Therefore they had agreeu
to let the affair go IL rounds ana enu
with a double knock-down
Rehearsal at Britt's Home.
"That night Coffroth came arouno
in an automobile to our hotel ana tooS
Johnson aud myself TO Britt's nome
so that the round might be rehears,
ed Johnson practiced his fall ana
he had a great deal of trouble IN eS-
tablishing the look Of agony. IL you
will examine the fight pictures close
" YOU Will observe even there that
he forgot and that part OF that eN-
Dression Of pain was smile.
al likewise the Kaufman fight was
fixed from Rrst TO last In the first
place Kaufman never was to know ms
share Of the purse as that would be
fixed right in the gate receipts 1t WAS
to be IL ten-round no decision hght'
and they framed 1t up to have no
knockout. In the room at the time
OF this agreement were Johnson
Kaufman, Coffroth, Kaufman's manag'
CT, and myself.
Couldn't Trust Each other.
"But neither of the fighters would
trust the other. So they agreed that
II either planted a knockout blow the
one who had landed this blow was to
get nothing OF the purse and was to
forfeit his $500 which had been put
up as a side bet by each. Then the
fellow who was knocked out was to
receive everything
I'm this fight | had to prompt John
son In the ring Kaufman landed one
terrific blow by mistake. Johnson Sot
mad and called Kaufman vile name
and ] was afraid that he was going
to lose his head and knock him out
go ! whispered to him. to remembeI
the agreement"
"Lies," Declares johnson.
Prior to his departure for New
York. Johnson branded as lies all the
charges that Little had brought
against him. and wound up by declar
ing that he would start suit against
his former manager for libel as soon
as he returned from New York.
He declared that he had never In
his life faxed fight. and that he did
not at the time owe Little any money
He declared further that he had
first taken Little on as betting com
missioner and that Little had fake
contract with him. one which he had
not signed himself. and which he held
over his head He said that Little
hnd tried TO beat him out of his part
Of the picture money on this contract
This In connection with the fact thai
Little WAS opening the mail and tele
grams Of everybody about the camT
and performing other acts which were
distasteful to the champion had hast
ened the rupture between the two