The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-06-28

as confidently In his ability to ahcleve
the title rs he did six years later.
when nj last his opportunity 10 battle
for the supreme prize was realized.
"It was not my fights themselves,
but my fight to get those fights that
proved the hardest part OF tho
struggle" Johnson told Tho Assocl
ated Press In recounting his difficult
ties In reaching the pinnacle OF his
ambition. 'It was my color. They
told me to get rep; but how was I
to get 'rey' without meeting fighters
OF class? but | made them fight me.
i pJust kept plugging along, swapping
up what chances to fight ] could grab,
until by.and-by the top-notchers saw
that sooner OF later they'd have to
take me on. AS soon as I had shown
what i could do. the fight public
most of the fans, anyway-tok sides
With me, and that helped a whole lot
Johnson asserts that he has never
been apprehcnsive OF possible defeat
In any contest he has engaged In,
terrors for him
His four most importan tbattlcs
have been fought within the last year
and half, dating from his defeat of
Tommy Burns In Australia. December
2G, 1908. Having wrested the cham
pionship from Burns, he determined
TO meet and defend his title against
all comerS. His fights with Philadel-
phla Jack O'Brien, AL Kaufman and
Stanley Kctchel followed In rapid sue
cesSion
On his fights two or three years be-
fore. that had brought him promi-
nence and helped him along greatly
In his career. his contests with Sam
Langford, the Boston negro. Joe
jeanette. Sam MvVoy. Denver Ed.
Martin. Jim Flynn and others. John
son lays no particular stress except
TO regard them as so many rungs OF
his ladder OF success
I'm looking for a fight" asserted
Johnson. in which | really can let
myself out and show the public just
what can do. That's one reason
why I'm so anxious to go up against
Jeffries."
Johnson's declaration sustains the
Judgment of numerous sporting writ
ers who have maintained for years
that the big negro seldom. II ever. eX
tended himself. and was capable OF
striking harder blows than he has ev-
er delivered In the ring. 1t appears
Ia have been a general belief that
Johnson was holding back This
was particularly noticeable I'm his re-
cent fight with Stanley Ketchel In
that bout Johnson toyed with his man
all the way. He seemed to think the
fight a joke until a slip and a timely
l. ~ A l.
aroused his anger. Just what hap
pened next has never been clearly
known. IL was too fast TO watch:
and In an iustants time Ketchel was
on his back and being counted out
He did not seem TO realize what had
struck him. and Johnson himself
seemed astonished at the result OF
his sudden exhibition OF strength and
speed.
Johnson was born in Galveston. 10
1878 his birthday being March 81.
and II ring experience goes for any
thing, he has Il. In 1901, his first
year as fighter. he fought six fights.
winning all but one. which was a
draw. The next year he went into the
ring sixteen times, and from then on
was almost constantly engaged until
10 date he has TO his credit over sixty
battles. While many OF his opponents
have not been OF the STYLE 10 test his
mettle. his frequent bouts have serv-
cd at least to keep him always In
training. and this is one OF the strong
arguments OF his partlsans
Tempcramentnlly Johnson Is an In
teresting study. His chief character
istic IS his unfailinG good nature. q
curiously constant sort OF even tenn
per that nothing seems TO ruffle His
golden smile" Is seldom out OF cvi.
dence. and not even the coarse aud
insulting jibes that frequently greet
him from fight spectators seem 10
have the power TO disturb him. Even
when duckinG a storm of blows and
showing wonderful skill In evndlng
the onslaughts OF his opponent. John.
son never loses his poise nor his
power OF observation. His eyes take
In and appraise everything that trans
pires al tho ringBidc. He seems TO
hear every comment made BY the on
lockers and even In the midst OF 4
cllnch. 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 rejoiner thrown at the audi
ence over the reeklng shoulder against
which he is pressing
why don't you fight. you black
man. yelled an enthusiast at the
Johnson-Kaufman fight The men
were in clinch at the time. but
without an lnstants hesitation. John
son shouted back why should 7
fight? I've got your ten dollars al
ready
And this cool-headedness under fire
Is another OF the negro's qualities
upon which his hackers count. believ.
ing Is impossible TO rattle him by any
known ring tactics That his good
nature does not indicate a low order
OF intelligence. however. has been
clearly shown by his clever business
methods and his rather viii done
rlngsldc speeches. Men who have
watched him say he simply has no
nerves. using the word in the accepted
sense.
Johnson feels that he has been well
trained for this fight He regards
his present staff that has whipped
him into shape in his wnd-swcpt
camp on the beach as the host hC