The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-28
JOHNSON IS FIT
Big Black i'm Splendid Shape
for Coming Battle.
Tom Flanagan Says He Has
Not Gone Back.

East Las Vegas, N M, June 2S.-
Jim Flynn won't be facing any shell
OF a man, devoid of a resistive interior
formation, one week from this after
noon. He will not oppose a man like
Jack johnson faced in Reno two years
ago next Fourth of July
we have Tom F'1anagan'S word fol-
the statement and Toms word goes
for whole lot, at least out in Old
Town, where Jack Johnson is training.
In other words Jack Johnson today is
all man and not merely a man upon
the surface and something else under
meath.
Several of the leading critics of the
country have been casting doubt upon
the colored mans condition, contin-
ually referring to the possibility of
the champion following in the foot
steps of Jim Jeffries after his lay off
before the Johnson battle.
The other day saw Flanagan scan
ming story to this effect and 1 asked
him what he thought about it. The
merry mick" tore off one of his big
smiles and looked thoughtful for a
moment or two and then said:
THE whole thing about the situa-
ton is that these critics are figuring
that Jack johnson is just like all of
the others in the past who have gone
into decay through idleness. 1t is not
so. And to begin with, champions
of the past or rather I should say
old champions who have tried to
come back have in the main been men
of indolent habits. Most of them
and anybody who knows anything
knows what that means. Others have
gone into business equally combining
and of similarly wasting character
and as result the idleness has never
done them anything but harm in a
sense.
How has it been with johnson?
How has he spent his idle time during
last years? Well just review those two
years a little bit. He has done enough
stage work to keep himself in reas-
onably good physical condition and
Tor a long period in England and
France he trained steadily for the pro-
posed battle with Bombardier Wells.
And when he wasn't training he was
out in either his racing or his touring
car, getting his lungs full of the finest
Of fresh air.
Jack never spent much of his time
at any combining amusement. He isn't
a drinking man in the sense of sitting
Or standing around for hours. He
drinks beer and wine, but never to
excess.
II can tell from his present work
out that Johnson is in the finest of
condition for his battle. The way he
has gone at his training indicates that
he realizes he is up against a tough
man and that he intends to be prepar-
I'd for any and everything that is
liable to happen.
His work today should have been
1 revelation to those who know him
best I've never seen him show so
much aggressiveness and force as he
lid against his sparring mates. The
whole fighting instinct seems to be
aroused in him right now and think
he will display great skill and aston
shing speed in this contest which he
1ever did before. I doubt Flynn has
o wait for him very much. And
loubt also whether Flynn's great
strength and his rough tactics will do
much to batter down the wonderful |
defensive tactics that the colored star |
always has shown. I've tried my best !
o figure Flynn as having better than |
IN IS round chance with Jack but
-annot do sO.'
The Johnson party has won the ar |
over the size of the ring. 1t |
will measure exactly nineteen feet ten |
inches inside the ropes.