New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-30
Big Black Fighter Finds
Barcelona to His
Liking.
BOUT WITH CRAVEN
TO KEEP HAND IN
Boxing Coming In Slowly, but
Bull Fight DevOtees Find
1t Too Brutal.

Nying with the signboards of Senores
Aston, Gallito and Belmonte, nation
al favorites Of Spain in the bull ring,
is a new one proclaiming Jack Johnson
"Campeon del Mundo" in the boxing
ring. II gets as much space as do the
others, because Richard Klegln IS a
good advertiser but it is not as popu-
lar. Boxing is a cruel and low-caste
sport and the sporting writers resent
the new intrusion which will lead
the youth Of the land astray."
In Barcelona, where. in April. John
son gave the first real prize fight ever
presented in Spain, he was hailed as
Champion in a questionable line OF
endeavor. The writer's OF sport no.
tees were sure that when Barcelona
has once satisfied its curiosity as TO
this thing called prize-tighting, it will
never wish to see another"
Johnson feels differently about IT,.
When he is so inclined-every morn
ing, 20 be exact-he struts up the
broad Rambla, or Promenade, where
the hundreds of flower girls smile
over their counters. Then he takes
a brisk walk-training for his fight
with the English fighter, Senior Craven.
In the afternoon he visits the music
halls. In the evening he nhabits the
music halls. He is not training as a
fighter at a serious job does, but he
keeps in exhibition condition.
Not Proud of Jack.
The citizens accept him because he
is famous. and stare in wonder at his
stature, but they are not proud Of
him as they are of their real sports
men, the bull-fghters. A bull-fghter
is gentle; Johnson is brutal because
ne fights a man. But Johnson sees
more blood in one afternoons gentle
sport" than he has seen in years OF
boxing. Six bulls on regular days,
eight on holidays. and each bull re-
sponslble for an average of two dead
horses before he is regarded as suf-
ficiently dangerous for the clever-foot-
ed matador to bother with him.
In spite of the indifference, boxing
is coming slowly there. A club has
been formed for its promotion. and ex-
hibitions are held at intervals. They
would not pass in the poorest boxing
club IN New York, and Johnson and
his friends rail at the harmful effect
OF "ham-and-egg' boxers, but there is
nothing better 20 be had
When the American method Of az
ternoon exhibitions of the men at
their training was proposed, the Span
ish managers were Mortified. Every
peseta frame spent in that way
would rob them of so much when the
big fight came! And Johnson had TO
inform them that eighteen years Of
boxing had taught him how to run the
game. and that if it could not be done
"a he wished, it should not be done at
all. He demanded at an exhibition
one night that an announcement be
made from the stage that he would
appear there the next afternoon
mission 90 cents. IL was finally done.
but as It was finished the announcer
made face at the black mans back.
Luckily the fighter did not see it. or
there would have been dead an
nouncer. and the fears Of the sport
ing writers might have been justified
boxing is deadly sport.
Johnson Favors Germans.
johnson will talk about the Germans.
about the war in general. about his
coming visit to South America for the
Argentine Centennial IN July, but there
are two things he will not discuss-the
United States and Willard He is not
a Germanophile. but he admires them
because he thinks them like him.
you know I've fought so long that
y comes easy. | never lose nv wind
and | never get tired. And them Ger
mans IS just like me-hghtln' comes
natural"
The eX-chsmpion's idea is that since
the war has killed France and England
for his business, Spain is the proper
place 20 make money. So. he goes his
strutting way, advertised as the pres
cnt champion. giving exhibitions in
music halls and giving lessons. Madrid
he says. has been kind He was busy
for three months with engagements.
and he talks endlessly Of the future of
his favorile sport in the capitol city.
Blu. he prefers 20 talk of the entice-
ments Of one great hotel there. which
has everything from theatres 10 caba-
reta, with always plenty to drink. The
strenuous life Of severe training has
lost its charm.
His World Grows Smaller.
The world is growing smaller for
Johnson. II one OF his favorite reminis-
conces is 70 be believed England was
lucrative in spite OF the war for a
time. but:
II was asked to leave England. you
know. but ! cleaned up ,lot first II
was some stunt. too he chucklcs, and
then he tells why he cannot return
'l haI daai with "A nbv.trian and