UNKNOWN

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 763, 28 December 1908, Page 2

UNKNOWN

SOME PIU2SS OPINIONS. HOW THE NEGitO TOOK HIS REVENGE. BUItNS HAS, HAT) ENOUGH. "THE WOJiLD Otf TOUGHDOM." iflX Ji^iiciilii. itx.i.t.aAJPU — UOfYBIOHT.j Li-KK i-KildO AHSUIMAXION.J (.Received December H6, y.15 a.m.) .London, December 27. The .Referee welcomes the result of the Burns-Johnson tight (details ol which will be found on page 4). The Observer characterises it as a degrading spectacle. jstlr Bettison, manager of the National Importing Club, said that the result was not a surprise in boxing circles in England and America. ? A rumour was published in London that Burns hud died as a result or the injuries he received. ' Sydney, December 28. The Herald ' says that the issue was not in uoubt rrom the hrst clash or blows. Within iive seconds of the. commencement, Johnson chipped JO urns a nasty upper-cut on the chin, liuocKing him down, and a few moments later he sent the champion to cue boards again. irom this out .burns was hopelessly outclassed and long before tne police ent%-ed the ring the Canadian was plainly! a beat, en man. Throughout, however, he displayed courage and a capacity for taking punishment which did much to sol ten the blows Johnson delivered not only to his adversary, but to the spectators, nearly every one of whom was obviously m sympathy with the white man. Johnson throughout fought fairly, but unfortunately his neat boxing was disfigured by a display of bomoast, happily seldom seen in any sporting arena.. The Telegraph declares that the contest was one-sided throughout, and that Burns was outmatched in every round and severely punished, while Johnson was quite unharmed. Johnson declares he could have won much earlier, but laid himself out to make the drubbing as severe as .possible, as he wanted to get even* with Burns for disparaging remarks made regarding himself. Burns was thoroughly satisfied with the decision. Up to the time when the police stopped the contest he thought he had a chance, but he fully realised that up to that stage he was fairly beaten. To another interviewer. Burns stated there was very little doubt in his mind that he might have won if the police had not stopped the light, as he felt that Johnson was tiring, and hope had risen high within him. Burns has reiterated his intention of retiring from the ring, an 4of settling in Australia. (Received December 38, 10.25 a.m.) Sydney, December 28. The Herald, in an editorial article, says that the contest was a' markedly brutal struggle, which the edified public paid a syndicate £26,000 to see. To say that these spectaeJes are sport in any decent meaning of the term is flatly untrue.' The effect is to glorify a British practise in quarters where British instinct is already an anti-social force. "It may not be amiss to ask the Govorfcment — which, so far, had beeh' delightfully acquiescent — whether, in the interests of the general community, we have not had about enough of these exhibitions. Sydney is worthily ambitious of distinction, but does not exactly aspire to become the cynosure of all the world of toughdom."