Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-07-14
JOHNSON ON
 THE T0BOCCAN corbett Says Big Smoke is Wise in Deciding to Re tire After Labor Day.
Al POOR EXHIBITION
Palzer is Most Promising of Haa,ies. But Gentleman Jim Advises
 New Trainer.
(By James J. Corbett)
Former Heavyweight Champion

the World.
 New York, July 13-(Special to the Pine Bluff Graphic)-Altheugh Jack Jchnscn and Ad Wolgast cetained their titles in the holiday ba.. les with Jim Flynn and Joe Rivers, neither champion added to his reputation.
 The Las Vegas affair proved tha. Johnson is far from being the marvel he was dubbed by press and public following that wonderful feat Of beating a wreck of the once great SJeffr.es.
 The writer has contended right along, as readers of this column can testify. that Johnson is greatly overrated pugilist, and I believe his performance in the holiday battle with Flynn furnishes plenty of evi- dence On that poin.
 Johnson has never defeated first class man. Tommy Burns, great little boxer, was too severely handi- capped in weight and strength to hope to beat the big negro. Jeff1ias was only a shadow of the man who wen the heavyweight championship and who successfully defended it un- til lack of worthy challengers brought about his retirement from the sing. And the record book shows why Johnson side-steps return meet. ngs with Jeannette and Langford, really high-class heavy-weights.
 While not an eyewitness Of the Johnson-Flyna contest and though telegraphie and mail reports of the battle vary accordingly to the view points CT possible prejudices of the writer, a careful perusal of the sev- eral detailed stories of the Eight round foy round convince me that Johnson has shot his bolt and is slid ing down the tcboggan at high speed. Against Flynn he failed to deliver the goods, expected and was award d the decision cnly after the police had stopped the battle 3n aeeoart of t having degenewated into hugging and putting match in which the rules were disregarded by both men. An agreement made beforehand by the contestants calling fer a decision in favor of the man who led on Dcints up to the time. of any possible inter- ruption. of the battle, was all that saved the much touted Johnson his highly -prized title of heavy-weight champion of the world. And this in competition with man probably forty pounds lighter.
 Taking a line from the encounter of the Feulth, Johnson is a wise bird in deciding to retire from the ring after Labcr Day. His reign at the head of the heavyweight division Of pugilism is rapidly drawing near an end and I reckon no one is more "hep' to the fact than the acc dental champion himself.
 1t look like a cinch that Johnson would refuse to do battie Ntn either Sam Langford or Joe Jeanette before the date set for his withdrawal from the game. I understand he plans to take on one or two of the white hopes if arrangements can be made. Al Palzer is mentioned as the one to be favored in this respect. Of course the retirement thing may be only a bluff to avoid the other negroes for the time being and enable him to pick up bit of soft money with little ef- fort.
 IT he has no intention of ever again meeting either I4angford or Jeanette the champion had better quit the game for good and all. He can no longer get away m,th that abulp about nobody to fight him. , The public fell for that talk for a while, but now that Flynn has made It plain that Johnson is not of the
 unbeatable" kind, he will have to fight oftener CT duck into seclusion.
 It may be Jacks agents have tip ped him off 10 the fact that within the ranks of the young white heavies are to be found one or two who give promtse of developing into fighters of quality, and has pulled the Ere, tlrementp t'hink with the hope o1
 pulling the nosices into meeting hin
 before they are fully matured. John scn IS no boob. whatever else he ma.
 soe accused of.