The Washington herald., 1920-12-26
JOHNSON, FEDERAL
PRISONER, CLAIMS
"COLORED TITLE"
Diamond Studded Belt
Brings Outburst From
Former Champion.
By DAMON RUNYoN.

NEW YORK. Dec. e5.-You may
not be aware Of the fact. but LII
Artha Johnson, out there in his DON
Jon keep in Leavenworth. still
claims a title.
LIT Artha has just heard news OF
this diamond studded belt. emble-
matte of the colored heavyweight
championship, which Is floating
around, and Artha can use diamond
studded things juN now about as
we'll as any one you ever heard of.
Wherefore. fhen Artha gets out
of Leavenworth. some of these big
colored gen'men who think they are
entitled to the belt had better take
to lodging. Letters from Artha in
dicate that he purposes swinging
just as soon as the prison portals
exude his ebony form.
His bouts on Thanksgiving Day in
the prison have made him think that
he can still fight. The news that
| there is some activity in the colored
heavy weight division, and diamond
belts, and things. has further en-
couraged him.
Oddly enough, some OF the colored
| fighters themselves admit that John
son is the legitimate heavyweight
champion of his race IL he desires
| to defend his title. They were hop
ing, however, that he had retired
forever from the ring. so they would
not be pestered further by him.
| He Claims New Title.
They point out that while he was
beaten out of the heavyweight
championship Of the world he was
never defeated, as a title holder, by
a black man. Therefore, they say,
il there is such a thing VAS a col
ored title, johnson is the title
holder.
When Kid Norfolk. of Baltimore,
and Bill Tate, Of Jack Dempsey's
camp. recently fought at Madison
Square Garden. Tex Rickard. the
promoter, hung up one of his belts.
This belt, like the other belts, must
be defended and won three times
by an individual before he becomes
the owner, under Richards rules Of
order.
OF course these rules mean moth
ing whatever, as a man might win
a championship somewhere else,
and then not fight again for a year,
but he would still be champion
However, Richards rules carry a
belt OF value not to be sneezed at,
offering belts nowadays, he must
be considered.
Norfolk beat Tate, who is a tre-
mendously big fellow, but who dis
played little ability. so Norfolk has
one leg on the belt, SO to speak
, No one can offhand proclaim a
man champion. and Norfolk would
not necessarily be the colored
. heavyweight boss, even il he beat
two other men, and received the
belt unless those men happened tc
be considered the best of their race
and class.
Even il Johnson is automatically
legislated out of the running by
not being given any matches, there
! is stiu Harry Wills. To call a mar
champion, would be ridiculous.
Norfolk is a good fighter. but Il
! is doubtful IL Leo Flynn. his man.
ager, has any thought of letting
him box Wills. 1t has been sug.
gested that this would make a goot
match, and draw big at popular
prices, and Rickard broached th'
matter to Flynn after the Lynch
, Herman fight the other night.
Leo "Ducks" Battle.
:, Could you get Wills in here OF
the 2sth with Norfolk" he askee
Flynn.
Il should say not" said Leo
promptly. I'm not making an,
Pullman porters for myself. M
money in Pullman porters."
In the meantime, Tom O'Rourke
: VINO has handled some OF the great
est black fighters that ever lived
including Dixon and Walcott, ha
gone out and dug up a new biz
colored man, and is challenging al
e hands.
This man is Pinkie Lewis, from
+; Memphis, Tenn. and those VINO hav
seen Pink say he can step quite
/. bit. O'Rourke says Pink wishes t.
mirgle with Norfolk and Wills, toe
; If he can get the opportunity, an,
; Rickard has promised to give tn
+; Memphis man a chance at Norfoll
at the Garden. Norfolk and Will
= | are undoubtedly the two best col
| ored fighters In the world today. an
: If Pinkie can beat them both h,
: must be some man.
Meanwhile. out in Leavenworth
Kans. surrounded by stone walls
and all that sort of thing. sits
b. large, and slightly portly colore,
gent, who is doing lot of heav,
thinking.
. MY. my" we can just hear LII
Artha mumbling. My, my! Dia
: mon belts, an ev'thins. Man, wait'l
ah git out o this place.