The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1911-01-23
JOHNSON EXPECTS
BOUT IN ENGLAND
Champion, in Chicago, Says
He'll Go to California for
Light Training.

Jack Johnson. heavyweight cham
pion, returned to Chicago yesterday |
from Pittsburg, where he closed a
weeks theatrical engagement Saturday
night. The negro champion will leave
for California Thursday to take
two months rest and incidentally be-
gin conditioning himself for fight
which lie says is hanging fire with Al
Kaufman to be decided in London some
time in April.
johnson said that Sam Langford ran
away from the proposed six round bout
which Jack O'Brien of Philadelphia
practically had clinched According to
the champion George kid" Cotton had
quite a lot to say about fighting until
Johnson offered 10 wager $4,000 to So
600 that he could stop the Kid inside
of six rounds.
Jack said the fight game in the east
is on the decline and that the sporting
public is losing interest in the bouts.
He asserted he received offers to meet
some of the present day heavyweights
in New York and Boston. but the pro-
motors refused to offer a suitable purse.
Il am going to California on Thurs
day to take a rest and do little light
training to keep in condition., Johnson
said yesterday. Il am going TO take
my three automobiles and pass most OF
my time driving and climbing tho
mountains. There will be nothing do
ing in the fight line. but 1 expect to
meet Jefries and have quiet talk
about our fight. l bear no malice to-
ward the Californian. and I am sure
! he does not toward me. If Barney
| Oldfield is still there when / arrive
| may race him, but / think he knows
a. little too much about that game for
me.
I'm the east the fight game is deader
/ than I ever saw it. No one down there
| is able to explain the reason, but /
think the attractions have been so poor
that most of the interest has been taxi
en- out of the game. In Philadelphia,
Jack O'Rrien who has one of the finest
| clubs I ever saw. offered me $4,000 to
meet I.angford in a six round bout and
| 1 accepted almost before he got the
| words out of his mouth. The match
practically was clinched except for
| signing the articles, when Langford
| disappeared, and the next we heard OF
| him he was on his way to England.
Negotiations are pending for
match between kaufman and myself
| and IL Mcintosh makes good on the size
Of the purse l will sign articles to de-
! fend nv title. 1t is true that the Aus
! tralian promoter has offered a $4,000
purse, but am going to be sure before
l make any definite moves.
| I'm Pittsburg Cotton talked so much
! fight that l got sore and l offered 10
bet him $4,000 against $4,000 that l
could stop him in six rounds, but he
never came back with reply Cotton
is rugged tough fellow who is sure
to give some of the white fighters a
lot of trouble, but it will be sometime
before he develops into real top
| notcher. 1 Will be back in Chicago
| some time in March and will sail Tor
| England about the first of April
The champion has received an orer
to match his sparring partner. Walter
Monahan, with Carl Morris, the Okla
homa giant, but Johnson turned II down
quickly and said that Morris will have
to beat some of the other hopes be-
fore he will let Monahan fight him.
While in the east Monahan married a
, show girl, and they are now on I. hon
eymoon trip. Monahan will be in Chi
cago in time to go west with the cham
. pion.
Johnson is getting heavy and ap-
parently 1t is beginning to worry him
for he said he weighed about 24o pounds
and he is afraid he may lose some OF
his speed il he gets much heavier. The
. champion will ship all his training
i. paraphernalia to the coast, and said ne
, would make his headquarters at San
Francisco.