WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP.

NZ Truth, Issue 184, 26 December 1908, Page 5

WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP.

THE BIG FIGHT IN SYDNEY.

A Big Black Coon and a Crafty Canadian.

JACK JOHNSON v. TOMMY BURNS.

The Chances of the Contestants,

HAS THE NIGGER A YELLOW STREAK ? -

Sydney the Cynosure of tlie Eyes of the Sporting World.

For a purse of , £9000, inclusive oi a side wager, and the biggest inducement ever to two champions to clash m the hempen arena, Jack Johnson, the so-called colored boxing champion of the world, this day (Saturday, December a 6) is to meet Tommy Burns, so far the daddy of 'em all, at the Stadium, Rush-

cutters Bay, Sy»rfiey, where the Wig purse and the coveted title of champion pugilist of the world is to be won-^-or lost. That the body of sports who have formed themselves into a syndicate for the promotion of the science of the noble art of self-defence have, struck a bonanza none will deny, because they can't, ana what

is more, m promoting championship contests, a boom m boxing has been created that so far is, despite what can be said of the old days, without a precedent. Sydney, anyhow, is now boxing barmy, and THE MADNESS IS CATCHING, and this Saturday m the Harbor City will be something long to be remembered In the minds of the present generation.

The boom, practically started when negotiations were successfully completed with Tommy Burns to fight Bill Sq|uires m Sydney. That fight is now ancient history. Boshter Bill was demolished m thirteen rounds ; Bill Lam* went under a week" or so later to 'VTahmy" m some•tihiug; like five or six spasms, though

Bottle-oh Bill can lay it to , his credit that with a straight left he floored Burns m the second round and forced him tto take a 9-seconds spell on his knees. After that Bill Lang was "pie" for "Tahmy," who played with the Melbourne pug. and outed him at the right moment. : It was then that talk arose of the Sydney Syn-

dicate offering the substantial purse now to be fought for for a meeting of Jack Johnson, the coon from Texas, and "Tahmy" Burns, the CanucK. Jack Johnson HAS QUITE A STOCK OF SCALPS on his belt, but so rigidly has the colorline been drawn m America that the nigger, who has not done anything really' wonderful m the pug world, has not

had the opportunity of* crossing a right with any of the top-notchers m the heavyweight; division, at least of America. The nearest approach to a top-notcher haw been Marvin Hart," with whom he drew after 20 rounds, and the Yankees, although probably prejudiced, declare that Hart won. Again, Burns beat Hart decisively. He left' no room for doubt, notwithstanding, too, that "Tahmy" was practically friendless, being the outsider at 5 to 1. Bturns whipped Philadelphia Jack O'Brien m America, and since then he has beaten everybody that put 'em up against him, Squires! Moir-, Koche .• ■ and Smrth, Squires and Lang going down before him like nine-pins, "Tahmy" all the while -amassing a fortune which, he declares, win or lose with Johnson, will be sufficient to keep him and his wife — to whom he is greatly attached — from want all the rest of their lives. Anyhow, this is fighting, not affection. Bums is confident of winning. In a letter to San Francisco, recently published m these columns, he promised to whip the nigger and then retire, though he appeared to be itching for a go at Ketchell, who will recently was a big star m the American pugilistic firmament. It is said that this fight with Johnson is to be the go of Burns's life. Why, nobody has said or proved, excepting that he is up against a nigger over 6ft. m height, longer m reach, and is conceding him nearly two stone. Johnson will PROBABLY STRIP AT 14 STONE, and Burns, if he goes much over 12.6, will never have been heavier m his life. I For weeks Burns has been secluded m the Blue. Mountains, motoring, running, climbing, boxing, wrestling (and as massaging is a special feature of his training operations), all 'accounts agree that he will enter ijhe ring m the condition of his life!.' Of the 'coon, who has only within a month or so seriously settled down to training, it is. said, he punches hard, and those' 1 Sydney pugs who have been tmed against him, have been doubled up as a result of his taps. But Jack has teen training on champagne. He has money to bun, h» has been treating the ladies to diamond rings, ' m fact, Jack Johnson, till a few weeks ago, was quite the idol of Sydney barmaids. Of late, though he has been training at Manly, where swimming and other exercises have been indulged m. He is reported to be m good fettle, but whether a °oon trained on champagne' and chicken with his hard head, his powerful punches, . his brute strength, aad his towering heierht will be more than a match for diminutive Tommy, with his wonderful short-rrn^ fighting abilities, his ring craft generally, is to be proved to-day. Burns was, and- probably , still is, slightly favorite m the betting m Australia, though m America the nigger is a 2 to 1 on favorite. ; Of course it must not be forgotten tha-t bad blood exists .between the pair. There is 1 even more than racial hatred, because the statement is attributed to Burns, that JOHNSON POSSESSES A YELLOW STREAK. This has been as gall and wormwood to the nigger, m fact, has hit him on the raw, and his retort has been that Burns has all along side stepped him, has thrown every obstacle m the way of a match being made, and that now that he will have Tommy m a 24ft. ring he will sec and Burns will see, and the public will see, who possesses the yellow streak. Johnson's threat will., make for a fierce fight, and though 'his cry for two judges m addition to the referee has heen ridiculed, because he fears the prejudice against his color, only the referee will officiate. No doubt can exist that the ni.'ger is out to win, but so is Tommy Burnsi