THE FISTIC ART. JOHNSON AND KAUFMAN' MATCHED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 59, 7 September 1909, Page 7

THE FISTIC ART. JOHNSON AND KAUFMAN ' MATCHED.

By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. (Received September 7, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, 6th' September. The New York correspondent of the Sportsman states that Johnson and Kaufman, tho pugilists, will fight ten rounds in San Francisco on the 9th inst. Tho above message is interesting, in view of reports that have come through from San Francisco regarding tho trouble experienced in bringing the men together. Previously, from Kaufman's attitude on the matter, and his great (apparently) scorn for the big black's fighting powers, it looked as though wild horses could not keep the blacksmith from assaulting Johnson on sight. Th(*i suddenly he cooled off: "I may not fight him in -September, and, perhaps, not even in six months." As justification, he pleaded/ tnat as Johnson was in need of money — wanted it badly, in fact — he (Kaufman) wanted to keep the champion (waiting a while longer. It is stated by the 'Frisco 'Chronicle that if a match were brought off between these two heavies it would draw a 30,000 dollar house, with Kaufman receiving 9000 dollars as his share. When a big fight promoter mentioned twenty rounds as the distance of the proposed battle, the blacksmith declared for something longer, being proud, of himself over the long periods. He so disgusted his friends and the promoter, that the latter decided to try and match Stanley Ketchell with the black. But Kaufman has retracted somewhat, and now agrees to meet Johnson in a ten-round spell. It is safe to assert that in that sprint, if Johnson is in anything approaching hia form, Kaufman will not lead in many rounds, for the challenger is set down in his own land as one of the slowest and clumsiest of the big men.