BOXING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2385, 29 December 1908, Page 5

BOXING.

WORLD S CHAMPIONSHIP.

NEWSPAPER OPINIOivo

BURNS SATISFIED WITH DECISION, _I3UT “MIGHT HAVE WON. 1 ’

HIS RETIREMENT CONFIRMED

United Press Association. Copyright

SYDNEY. Deo. 28

The Herald says:—“The issue was not in doubt from the first clash ol blows. Within five seconds from the commencement Johnson clipped Burns a nasty' upper cut bn the chin, knocking him down. A few moments later he sent the champion to the boards again. From this out Burns was hopelessly outclassed. Long before the police -entered tlio ring Burns was plainly a beaten man. Throughout, however, he displayed courage and capacity for taking punishment, which did much to soften the blows Johnson delivered, not only to -liis adversary, but to the spectators, nearly every man of whom were obviously in sympathy' with the white -man. - Johnson throughout fought fairly, but unfortunately his fine boxing was disfigured by a display of bombast- happily seldom seen in any sporting arena.” The Telegraph declares that the contest was one-sided throughout. Burns was outmatched in every round and was severely punished, while Johnson was quite unharmed.

Johnson declares that he could have won much earlier, but- laid himself out to make the drubbing as severe as possible, as be wanted to get even for the disparaging remarks made regarding himself. . Burns stated .that he was thoroughly satisfied with the decision. Up to the time tlie police stopped the contest lie thought he had a chance, but lie fully realised that jap to that stage he was fairly beaten.

To another interviewer Burns stated that lie had very little doubt in his mind that die might have won if the police had,not stopped the fight. He felt that Johnson was tiring., and hope had risen within him. Burns reiterated his intention of retiring from the ring and .settling in Australia.

The Herald,'in a leader, says:-—The contest was a nakedly brutal struggle, which an edified public paid the syndicate—£2s,ooo see. To say that these spectacles are" sport in any decent meaning of the term is flatly untrue. The effect is to glorify a British practice in quarters where the British instinct is already an anti-social farce. It may not bo amiss to ask the Gov-, eminent, which so far lias been delightfully acquiescent, whether in the interest of the general community, we have*not had about enough of these exhibitions. Sydney is worthily ambitious of distinction, but docs not exactly aspire to become the cynosure of all the world of toughdom...

OPINIONS IN LONDON

United Press Association, Copyright

LONDON, Dec. -27. The Referee welcomes the result ol the Bunis-JoJm.soii: fight. The Observer characterises the light as a degrading spectacle.

Air. Bettlsou. manager-of. the National Sporting Chib, said the result was not a surprise to boxing circles in England and America. /

A rumor was published in London that Burns had died as the result of injuries received.

WELLING TON NE WSP A PER CONDEMNATION.

' [Special to “Times.”]

WELLINGTON, Dec. 28

Both the “New Zealand Times” and the “Post” condemn the brutality of the recent prize light in (Sydney, and there seems to he a very general concensus of opinion that such exhibitions' must ’do much more harm than good.