Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-07

8MNA Quaker city can
80. boast quite a num-
Der, take It from me. The absorbing
topic OF conversation has been the pros
poets for a heavyweight championship
battle before another year has passed
over our heads.
The consensus Of opinion is that john
Son has no appetite for fight with Nc
vey. Jeanette. Langford or anybody
else who figures to hate chance. and
that he will delay matters as long as he
possibly can.
And by the same token. for pure un-
adulterated gall Jacks oft-repeated de-
mands for $4,000. win. lose or draw. put
the negro In a class by himself.
The fact that Johnson is the champion
does not grant him the privilege of die
tating eXorbitant and unreasonable terms
TO those less fortunate beings who would
do battle for the title. Whether or not his
demands are granted by Mcintosh or any
other promoter has no bearing on the
question.
A champion who insists upon such out
rageous and one-sided conditions does
not want to fight. and that's all there is
TO It, Johnson chased Tommy Burns to
Australia and agreed to the latter's terms
because he felt ne had IT on" the Cana
dian; he is not so sure of Jeanette, NC
vey ct al And besides the chance at
q guarantee of the big end of the purse.
especially when there appeared to be
little risk in losing out in the attempt.
Johnson is mighty lucky in that the pub
Tic has stood for him so long. The fans
would hardly have tolerated in a white
man what they have overlooked in the
negro. And this because they would 9TH
eryise be accused of race prejudice. But
the people who make the game profitable
are fast growing Disguised with the STALL
ing methods of this fellow. This is patent
70 those who keep in touch with the sport.
II would be an entirely different matter
ii there was no one qualified to meet the
champion. But McVey. Langford and
.teannette three OF his own color, have
the public approval and have long been
Logging for opportunities to fight for the
title These men have conceded all rea-
sonable points. and a few more. to the
champion. but that worthy has stalled
Tor the guaranteed 10000 twin. lose or
si"aw), 5000 training expenses and the
Zig end Of the picture privileges.
When Jefiries gave Johnson the chance
- become undsputed champion the purse
vas split ca per cent 10 the winner and 10
20 the loser The original agreement
called for Is and -, bdt. according to
Lest authorities. Johnson begged for an
equal division and Jeffries finally con-
s.ntcd to let il go at 90 and ~ Obvious
~ johnson had little confidence
Johnson has frequently been accused of
having yellow in his makeup. and
while I hesitate TO accuse any man of
lack OF courage, there Is much evidence
20 support the charges. The change in
the original Jeffries-Johnson articles of
agreement goes far TO suhstantiate them.
John l.. Sullivan. for many years the
idol of every lover OF boxing. did not
.hog" everything in sight when he fought.
The Suilivan-Corbett contest at New Or
leans was for a purse of S2,Gn and a
t-n-thousand-dollar side bet. winner take
all. And IL was not stage money, either.
The MITCHELL Corbett fight involved the
bay mi In IF ha a
$4,000. Peter Jackson. the greatest col
orcd heavyweight ever known. boxed me
FOR a Neutrality-suspicious. prize.
The F'itzSlmmons- Corbett Carson City
combat was conducted on percentage
basis. There was no guarantee. and the
campionship was at stake. J m JeHrles
was not staller, he was always ready
and willing to fight. After winning the
championship he met all challenSers as
fast as they came along.
jeff gave Fitzsimmons chance 10 win
the title back. extended the same cour-
tesy to me. and had two contests apiece
with Sharkey and Ruhlin, and always on
percentage bass.
How do the records of these men COM
Rare with Johnson's? None was ever &C.
cused Of "dogging" it. and they were all
Sportsmen enough 10 take even chances
for the coin.
The present holder Of the championship
would much rather not fight at all. or II
Re must. TO confine his operations to the
white hope" contingent In limited bouts
men who are noTices at the game
have II on good authority that he has
eeen angling for matches OF this sort ever
,ince that easy money affair in Eng
and was called of.
Johnson would agree to box q ten-round
out with Flynn, Palzer. Kennedy or Nor.
lis far less than s:0,OnC. believe me- Why:
F'ecause he figures il a comp aratively
Easy job TO outpoint any one Of these men
E;ut il. In a year or 40 Paizer. for exam
lie. has developed into . worthy chal
ha "a CO In N n
Jack il quoted as saying that there Is
no money for him in fighting another ne
-ro Hugh Mclntosh's many offers put
the lie to that statement. 1t looks as II
The champion will etgn 10 box Jim F1ynr
in order to get out of meeting either NC
Vey or Jeanette. Flynn looks easiel
ZANE than the colored men. who are near
or Johnson's size and weight. IL would
oe IN unequal match.
The champion's word. apparently. /!
worthless. He repUdiated the agreement
made while abroad 10 light in sydney thi.
winter, in which he was guaranteed So
80. doubt II he Is on the level now.
At his best johnson can be put in tn,
Iecords as lucky champion. Fortunatel,
sor him he arrived when the quality OF
',eavywefghts was fast deteriorating. 4
f.-w years earlier he would have been co
temporary with such stars as Fitzsim
mons. Mccoy. Rubin. sharkey, Mahe
chances would have been to clean III
tat bunch l leave to the judgment ant
opinion Of my readers.
When he fought Jeffries he drew tn,
rapitsi prize Of professional pugilism. An,
ordinary heavyweight could have defeated
he Jenrtes that appeared in the ring tina
fateful Fourth of July. The nervous col
iapse left the once invincibe champion
rractically helpless. Those who witnessed
The fight realize that fact.
Outside Of his ability as a boxer ans
;ae falls short Of the ideal, Johnson car
-ruthfully be said to bag the prize al
hampton staller. He has turned dowr
"iany handsome offers to do battle Al
zoe Jeannettes manager puts it, The con
,itions' challenger out Of MATCH
My advice TO Johnson is to get busy an,
Gyht. Americans are growing weary O
him and his notwithstanding exploits
after eighteen months OF it, Sporting mel
IN this country do not love q champion
the more because he Is a negro and tn
fact that he has been tolerated far be
yond the limit Of patience should no
create the idea in his noodle that he cal
get away with II forever. The publi
wants TO see him IN his capacity Of fight
er, or not at all. And that desire