WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2394, 8 January 1909, Page 2

WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP.

THE BURNS-JOHNSON FiGHT. A ONE-SIDED BATTLE. The- Australian papers to hand yesterday contain full particulars of the fight "on Boxing Day between Tommy Burns- and Jack Johnson 1 for tlie championship of the world. From the •‘Sydney Morning Herald”'we make tlie following interesting extract: — THE CONTEST. SECRET CODE OF SIGNALS. The tactics of Burns were directed by his seconds by means of a code of secret signals, similar to those used by American football teams. When Johnson would rush him, a cry would come from the corner, “Thirty-three, thirty-three, kid.” A moment later, some other move by Johnson would lead to the call, “Fifteen,” and after a few steps more, the advisers of the champion would advise deliriously, “Thirteen, thirteen.’' According to the explanations given subsequently, these signals were intended to remind Burns to cover vulnerable points, to step iu and mix it., or to be wary. It was sail to see such an excellent organisation go to waste, hut all the strategy in the world was powerless against the irresistible battery of the giant negro.

Tlie weights were given, Johnson, 13st 71b, Burns 12st (Rib, but Burns explains* his actual weight was list 121 b, whereas he had'hoped to enier the ring at liis usual fighting weight of 12st 01b to 12st 81b.

In the Squires fight Burns jjronhl anticipate attack by striking Squires softly on the biceps of the hitting arm. thus taking all the fire-out.of the blow. On Saturday Burns found that Johnson was a master of this ruse as well, and, having the longer reach, was able to checkmate every attack. JOHNSON’S ‘‘MODERATION. ’’

Johnson was greatly tlie superior ul Burns; in fact, it seemed possible that he could have beaten him in half the time had ho so chosen. Instead of doing so he protracted the combat, apparently that he might enjoy tlio more the discomfiture of his opponent. His superiority as a boxer was undeniable, and his height and strength served him in good sead. All the little tricky movements by which Burns succeeded in landing short stabbing body blows on Squires- was circumvented on this occasion by sheer force of muscle. 'When Burns’ arm locked his own in a clinch, so that he could not deliver a blow, John, son simply shifted it to where he wanted it, and then struck. Summed up, the position was that, in outfighting, Burns could not reach Johnson, while every time they got into holds, he received one or more solid punches before they broke free, and was himself powerless to display his ability in the line of boxing in which he had hitherto been regarded as pre-eminent. Most of the fighting was done in clinches. As a display by Johnson, it was magnificent, but not war according to the Marquis of Queensberry. The game is divested of the greater part of the grace and movement which characterised it in this country a year or two back, and under the new' conditions the battle- is largelv to the strong. This is not to sav that Burns would have done any better had the rules been interpreted according to the old reading. In fact, the chances are that under such circumstances the fightwould have been over much sooner. From the fifth round onwards. Burns fought with a sprained ankle, but this seemed to affect him but little, for even in the closing rounds his footwork was excellent. and his poise perfect even when tlie part of his frame was mauifestlv weak. BURNS OUTCLASSED.

From beginning to end, Burns diet not get what is known as a look-m. As he prevailed over 'Squires by a system of in-fighting new to Australia. so did Johnson beat him in the same tactics. Those who saw Burns for the first time on Saturday must have left the Stadium convinced that he knew not even the rudiments ok pugilism at close quarters, while after the contest with Squires everybody looked upon him as the last word in the ait.

For twelve rounds the fight continued. with Johnson ascendant, and still ascending. His immense reach enabled him to touch Burns in vulnerable points where a smaller man would have been powerless. For instance, when in holds he was able to deal severe blows on Burns’ head with his right hand shot from beneath Burns’ left elbow, while if he was more to one side he would swing heavy slaps with his right hand over Burns’ hack.. Burns got in a few short hits on the negro’s body, but they lacked force, and, in the words of nearly everybody present, the whole contest was just what mighthave been expected had the contestants been a man and a school-boy. Johnson simply toyed with Burns, and the latter was beaten at every point of the game. Up to- the twelfth rounds Burns, despite his terrible punishment, was remarkable fresh, and his foot work was delightful. But towards the end of the round Johnson roughed him into a corner, and delivered three swinging blows in succession. One caught Burns on the ribs, and the others on the face, and how he felt- their effect was shown when he came to his corner at the round’s end. The fight really ended in the thirteenth round. Johnson opened it by scoring solid face and body blows, followed by half a dozen of his favorite slaps over the lower part.of the back,

when Burns clinched for safety. As they broke lie swung a strong loft on Burns’ e-ar, which sent him staggering., and, seeing his advantage, Johnson dashed in, and before Burns could shape again delivered a left on the abdomen and one of his clever rightcrosses on tlie jaw. Burns shook to the feet like a reed in the wind. His knees trembled, and tlie negro swung another solid left on his neck. There w*as a clinch, a—break away, and as Burns seemed likely to- fall from sheer weakness, the gong sounded and saved him. As he went to liis seat one side of his face was so swollen and distorted that many of the spectators imagined that his jaw was broken. But the injuries were merely superficial. Tlie worst injury that Burns received was liis sprained ankle. But when lie rose from liis chair his face shone with vaseline, with which his seconds literally plastered him. POLICE INTERVENE. In tlie interval Superintendent Mitchell and Dr. Maitland were seen in consultation, and the moment tlie fourteenth round opened, the former moved up to the ringside. Johnson lost no time, and, as lie hit Burns a light blow on tlie head, they clinched. When the referee, Mr. .M’lntosh, broke them, Burns swayed on liis feet like a drunken man. Johnson steped in and measured him, and swung a heavy blow on Ids’ear. Burns dropped on his hands. He was like a condemned prisoner awaiting the headsman, and Johnson was just as pitiless. With all liis foi*ce he threw in blows of great weight. One would have knocked -Burns down, but- before he had time to fall the impact of the other made him recover his balance. A moment later a right swing oil the jaw’ sent down Burns for eight seconds. As tlley came together again, Johnson swniig a lieavy-sounding left on Burns’ mouth, and the champion tottered again. Then a third party took a hand in the affair ; the law stejSped into the ring in the person of the police officer. Burns was led to liis corner. Mr. M’ln tosh awarded the fight to Johnson on points.- A few people cheered. The rest maintained silence, but though their sympathy was with the beaten man there AV-as not one in tlie vast concourse avlio _could deny that Johnson is the finest fighter avlio has been-seen within- the memory of JiA-ing Australians, if not living men. A DEJECTED CROWD. It Avas probably the quietest croAvd that ever left a hea\*y-Aveight fight that pushed sadly out into Ncav South Head-road. Outside, selling postcards, a small boy, Avho symbolised the way of the world, “Here y’are,” he cried, “photos o’ tli’ champions. Tommy Burns a penny. Jack Johnson sixpence.” But the crowd Avas not buying. It AA'as heart-broken, and the only rememory that remained to cheer it was the mental picture of the bra\*e little man suffering untold pain and battling against A\*hat ho must haA*e knoAvn from the first round Avas hopeless odds—the memory of a defeat that AA*as far more creditable than multitudes of victories.

THE WORLD’S 'TALKING CHAMPIONSHIP.

It is a thousand pities that Johnson should not have been content to let his boxing tell its own tale. He is so fine a fighter that advertising is unnecessary, and people avlio attend fights appreciate the fine points of tlie game without having their attention directed to them by their author. Johnston acted in direct opposition to the pugilistic axiom that a fighter should keep silent Avhile in the ring. He kept up a running fire of “Avellchosen” remarks during the whole fourteen rounds'-of the fight—remarks either directly insulting to Burns or intended to express indirect contempt. Johnson Avas obviously _the superior to Burns in physique, stall, ‘Mid tactics, but had he been as superior as he Avas plainly eonA'inced in his own mind he Avas it, AAxrald have taken a battleship and not a man to defeat him.

The only apparent effect of the blows that Burns aimed was a broad grin from a mouthful of gold teeth, and either an invitation to show what lie could do or a nod to an imaginary acquaintance in the crowd. “Come oil, Tommy,” _ smiled Johnson. “I thought you were- a great in-fighter, Tommy. 'Let’s see what you can do. Hub ! 'fight, Tommy? Ain’t I clever, eh?” The last to the crowd; and though everybody present was agreed as to bis cleverness, it was plain that not an admirer present thought Johnson half as clever as lie thought himself. THE FIGHTERS. Though -Johnson is the first colored man to become champion, there have been negro aspirants who gave a good account of themselves, from the days of Molyneux the black. Chief among all these was Peter Jackson, a man of especial interest to Australia from the -fact that he learned all he knew of boxing in Sydney. Many followers of pugilism both here and in America were of opinion that Jackson at his best was the veritable champion of the world; but owing to the holdex - drawing the color line. Jackson was unable to fight for the. honor until he had lost the fire of his youth. Johnson is probably the best fighter of modern times —possibly of all time. Far superior as is he to Burns, he seems -also to he superior to the best of the. world, since it appears impossible to unearth any man with sufficient temerity to take him on, iet alone defeat him. He lias everything in liis favor except his over-confi-dence; and, unlike many of his -race, is conscientious in his training. During his career ho has -been thrice defeated, by Joe Ohoynski in three rounds; but he has never been knocked out. He lost to Choynski

through polico interference, and lie was outpointed by Hart,.and-to Jeanette he lost on a foul. His record, a long one, shows singularly feAV of liis victories to lkn r e been achieved by knocking out opponents, indicating that he is lacking in hitting power; hut the fallacy of such a theory required nothing beyond. Saturday’s performance to reveal it. One thing, however, has to be remembered. As athletes and especially pugilists go, Johnson is past his prime. He is already 30 years of age, and saving Fitzsimmons, no preamous champion has obtained the honor no late in life. Mai eh of the advance lie -made in boxing was due to the hints, and advice he received in his native town of Galveston, Texas, from Dan Crecdon, the brilliant Melbourne middleAveight, avlio has for many years lived in America. Johnson also encountered the most severe battle of his life Avitli a boxer, well-known in this country — rJ oe Choynski who Avas beaten ma’ny years ago in this country by tlie late,Joe Goddard. Ohoyn-_ ski met Johnson. "early in the negro s career, and punished him so severely that the police interfered. Burns will not fight again. He adheres to his previously-expressed intention to retire into private life—prohahlv in Australia. He has amassed about £40,000 by his fights, and now intends to give tlie game best.