JOHNSTON AND BURNS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2399, 14 January 1909, Page 5

JOHNSTON AND BURNS.

WILL MEET AGAIN

Interest in the Burns-Johnson prize light continues keen in Australia. and files to hand by last night’s mail contain voluminous comment of various kinds. Burns continued to express the opinion—based ou all bis hardest lights in the past—that lie had good hopes of winning when the police interfered. As to the punishment he had received, he states that in his encounter with Squires the. latter had punished him more than Johnson bid done when the police stepped in. Last Friday week Burns and Squires gave an exhibition at the iStadium, and both received flattering .demonstrations from'a huge audience. Burns, in acknowledging this, said: “1 thank you very kindly for this flattering reception, and it Is certainly a pleasure to receive it. as 1 know it is sincere. As a rule, some people have no time for a loser, but I have found out that it is different with the Australian public, and 1 appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. As has been stated, this wiil be my last appearance in the Australian ring. I may fell you that if Johnson refuses to give me another chance, then tills- will be my last appearance in any ring in the world. I do not desire to take any credit from Johnson over his victory, as Johnson is a good boxer, and the decision was foil*. I’ll admit Johnson had the hotter of me on points up to the 14th round; but I will always say that if tho contest had not been- stopped 1 had a good chance of winning. It is the ambition of my life to regain the championship 'for the white people, but if Johnson refuses to .give me a return match, then I will say farewell to the ring for ever, and settle •down and. go into business in this country, and try to be an Australian commercial champion. ' Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you.” “Amateur,” writing in'the Sydney “Referee,” says:—“l am in a position to state that everything is in ordel* for another match between Tommy Barns and Jack Johnson, and, if nothing occurs to affect arrangements already made, the contest will take place in London next August. Mr H. D. MTntosh, who left by the Melbourne express last night to catch, at Adelaide, the R.M.S. India lor England, had a chat with Jack Johnson’s manager. Sam Fitzpatrick, on Saturday afternoon, and it as understood a definite agreement was arrived at. Possibly the London Stadium, where the' •recent , Olympian Games were decided, or that other huge structure in the metropolis of thiTworld —Olympia—will he rented in this connection. Tommy Burns i-s imore than -willing to make the trip so that he may satisfy himself as to whether Johnson is really the better man or not, and then he will come back to Sydney and settle down here. We will probably bear something Inrtliov. on the subject of the return match soon after Mr MTntosh reaches London and gets his arrangements under way.” , -., : . -. One of the stories current m bvdiiev after the recent contest- was that Johnson had gone privately to Jim Manlv Hospital, and had las ribs examined under the Rontgen Rays, two ribs being found to be broken % John-

son. denied that he had been injured, but admitted that he -had gone to tlie hospital to undergo aii examination, this being liis usual custom before unci after a contest.