Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-13
BRITISH OPPOSE WELLS FIGHT
They Say it Would Be Suicide for Him
to Go Against Johnson.
BIG BLACK FIGHTER IS CRAFTY
He Made Promoters show Color of
Up for Bout to BE Pulled
Off I'm September.
y. 8 ANDERSON

NEW YORK, Aug IA fight that may
end a promising career, according 70 many
London fight critics. is that between Jack
johnson and Bombardier Wells, the Eng
fish champion, and the holder OF Lord
Lonsdales heavyweight belt
In all quarters in England except those
directly interested in the financial pos
sibllities this match has met with resent
ment. Wells is by far the best boxer and
the most promising fighter that England
has produced for many years, and those
on the other side who have watched his
quickly growing reputation and his
achievements, have fondly believed that In
him they had found future worlds cham
pion, one possessed of qualities to take
back to England the long lost honor.
1t Is regarded as tantamount to profess
sional suicide for him to meet johnson at
this stage OF his Development and the
uninterested section of the London press
has no heeitancy in slamming the COM
pact. Wells has only been out Of the
British army for matter Of eighteen
months or so, and all his fighting has
been done during the last year. He has
come on a lot, is a clever boxer for a big
man, has a good punch in either hand
and is as game as they make them. But
fright every time he enters the ring.
There is no doubt that johnson will be
able to hypnotize him when they face
each other and Wells is expected to make
sorry showing. The match was offered
to Hugh Mcintosh more than five weeks
ago, but that astute gentleman, foreseeing
the coming antagonism OF the English
public, passed 1t up.
shock TO All England.
This match has been the greatest shock
English pride has received in many years.
They are proud of Wells and all their
hopes have been centered IN him; that he
should have listened to the guile Of the
golden guineas and fallen into the arms of
the waiting Johnson is in the eyes Of his
countrymen. the greatest blunder he could
have possibly made. But artful Arthur
smiles sweetly and thinks of the $4,000
that he is going TO get for his share.
The fight between Johnson and Wells
will take place in the last week of Sep
TENDER at the stadium where the last
olympic games were held. one of the
features Of the match is that both Wells
and johnson will each give public train
ing exhibition as introduced In London
by Mcintosh. and from this a respectable
revenue Is anticipated. although neither OF
the fighters will have any share in IT.
Johnson took no chances with the pro-
moters. He kidded them into the belief
that in meeting Wells he was going against
more formidable antagonist than either
Burns or Jeffries and unless the money
was safely lodged he would not fight.
Wells and johnson met to sign the articles
and the separate agreements each has with
the svndicate Wells signed almost at
once. but not LII Artha. He wanted TO
see the color OF the money first, and the
syndicate's representative had to do some
hustling TO post $4,000 that day. He even
tually got Il and lodged it with the purse
holder. the Sportsman. and Johnson signed
that evening.