Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-24
FLYNN GRITTY
IN 1907 FIGHT
WITH JOHNSON
By w. w. Naughton.

HAN r yet to read Statement"
from Jack johnson in which
some reference is not made to
the terrible mauling that awaits
jim Flynn at Las Vegas on July 4,
Now one might think that hav-
ing so much the better of the pros
pect from the ordinary methods of
doping out pugilistic results, Jack
could afford to be both chivalrous
and magnanimous and refrain from
the threatening language that ema-
mates from his training camp every
few days. From the fact that ne
continues to shake his horny fist
at the fireman, Jack Is laying him
self open to the suspicion that he is
not as consummately confident
about the July scrap as he pre-
tends to be.
One thing is certain, however.
If Jack is bent upon intimidating
Flynn. his efforts will fall fiat, for
Flynn is a fellow whose courage is
undaunted. Pity it is that his
other fighting qualifications are
not on par with his grit. If they
were, he would permit some of us
to think more kindly of his
chances.
For veal or woe. Jim will surely
battle like a tiger when he goes
against the champion. And even if
he succeeds no better than he did
when he faced the big coIored man
in San Francisco in November.
1907, he will command the respect
of the spectators For a tribute
of praise is never withheld from
the ring man who puts up a brave
struggle in the face of the over
towering odds.
Flynn Ran Into Blows.
Just now the sports Of the Pa
cif1c coast are refreshing their
memories in connection with that
last eleven-round bout between
Johnson and Flynn. They recall
that Flynn tried to fight close from
the first smash of the gong and
that even when tossed back by the
force of Johnson's uppercuts he re-
turned to the charge again and
again. He fought right into John
sons hands, in fact. All the big
negro had to do was to set himself
to meet Flynn's rush, and the UNI
fortunate fireman kept nurling
himself on the spears.
Friends of Flynn outside the
ropes-fool friends they surely were
kept urging the fireman to leap
at Johnson, and Flynn did so un-
finchingly. And for fear Flynn
might forget that he was being
urged to jump at the lannon's
mouth, Johnson. with sneering
sarcasm, kept saying:
Come on, Flynn; they're tell
ing you to-"
Flynn took a fearful whaling
that day and took it like Spar
tan He vas bruised and bat
tered, but full of fighting spirit
clear to the finish.
Toward the end of the tenth
round-the last but one-he glared
good humoredly at Johnson out of
his unchanged eye and with a
shake of the head remarked
you're a clever guy
Fought Hard to End.
In the very next round while still
hurting himself at Johnson, Flynn
bumped into the uppercut which
brought him face downward to the
floor He was game to the last
ditch.
1t is to wonder if that affair car
ried any lesson for Flynn. viii he
go at the stalwart negro in the
same fashion and run the risk of
impaling himself upon the same old
hooks and uppercuts or will be
dance around and insist upon John
son making the pace.
And in this connection it can
truthfully be said that Johnson's
biggest successes particular
~ when opposed to shorter men
than himself-haVe been achieved
by taunting the other man into
doing the rushing. Johnson's long