PRIZE-FIGHT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10499, 6 July 1910, Page 1

PRIZE-FIGHT.

JOHNSON MAKES A SLAUGHTER. [By Electric Telegram*—CoptbluHT-3 (Per Pkess Association.) .Received J,uly 5, at 5 p.m. Reno, July 4. In the fifth'round Johnson talked volubly, and wresting at close quarters Jeffries got hits twice on to the body. Both wore bleeding at the mouth. Jeffries sent the negro's head hack a foot with a straight left, which made Johnson look serious.

In the sixth round Johnson landed three lefts on Jeffries, drawing blood from . his cheek: Fighting cautiously, he followed with three uppcrcuts, and fehen Jeffries waded in, but was met with a -nasty' uppercut which closed his right eye. Two "more lefts drew blood from Jeffries' nose, and Johnson had the best of the round.

In the seventh found the men sparred for a. while and then had a long clinch. Johnson three times hit Jeffries on the damaged eye and got an uppercut on to his jaw, which was followed by blows by Jeffries on the jaw. Johnson again hit left and right to Jeffries' face. In the eighth round Jeffries rushed, landing twice on the negro's face without damage, and he also landed two body blows, so that the honors were even.

In the ninth round Johnson was still talkative and hit a powerful left on the jaw, which made Jeffries' butt and clinch. Jeffries crouched and the negro drove a wicked left into his stomach, two jabs following to the mouth and eye, but Jeffries did not seem to mind. Johnson had the best of the round. In the tenth round Johnson landed Jeffries twice on the head and a clinch followed, with much infighting and wrestling. Johnson landed two lefts to the jaw, and then, amid yells, Johnson peppered Jeffries' body, out-boxing his opponent. In the' eleventh round Johnson was hitting often, and Jeffries fighting wildly. The negro upper-cut his man frequently. _ Jeffries, "though looking bad, electrified the crowd by rallying ami landing Johnson on the iaw and bodv.

At the beginning of the twelfth round the men clinched, and after the negro had missed a swing to the jaw Jeitries rushed in, and was met with a straigiit left breast to breast Johnson swung hard lefts on the body and face, and was still talkative. He blocked Jeffries' body blows, and landed his right on the mouth. He also shot several lefts on to his opponent's face, sending Jeffries' head back a foot. The latter went to his corner in sorry plight.

In the thirteenth round there was clinching and wrestling in the centre, of the ring, but no damage was done to either, until Johnson, breaking away with rights and lefts on the face and. mouth, cleverly evaded Jeffries'" clumsy attempts to reach him. The negro cut loose with many blows from either band on iiie jaw and body. had visibly weakened, and a right upper-cut almost lifted him from the floor, and he seemed ail at sea. In the fourteenth .round Johnson landed a straight left, which he followed by a jab on the mouth. He amused himself, and taunted Jeffries to close in. C'orbett yelled to the latter'to beware of upper-cuts. Jeffries' eye was almost closed. Johnson landed repeatedlv on the mouth, and Jeffries shook Ids head. "Clever as you, Jim."' shouted the negro to Corbett, as his blows took effect again and again. The round ended tamely, Johnson having all the honors. The fifteenth round opened with a clinch, then the negro drove Jeffries to the ropes, and left him- hanging ovr them. The seconds rushed into the ring before the timekeeper could finish counting Jeffries out, and Johnson stili remained the heavyweight champion of"the world, having knocked Jeffries out iu the fifteenth round.

From the beginning of the thirteenth round experts at the ringside passed the verdict that Jeffries must simply stay and not fight if he hoped to have a chance to stay the limit.

The fight was one-sided from the 'start. "The negro blocked the old champion's blows at every stage of the game, and punished him heavily in the last five rounds, in which Johnson went at Jeffries savagely, and in, quick succession delivered, three knock-down blows, Jeffries each, time failing against or into the ropes. As Jeffries staggered for a foothold after being sent to the floor for the third time, Johnson sprang at him like a tiger, and with, a succession of lefts on the jaw sent him down and out. AFTER THE BATTLE.

As fJeft'ries was helped to his corner he said, "I am not a good fighter any longer. I couldn't- come back, boys ; I could not come back. . .Ask Johnson **' he will give me his gloves!" As Jeffries hung over the ropes hundreds of friends rushed closer, crying "Don't let the old man get knocked out,"' but the time-keeper was inexorable, and the count went on. -When seven was reached it was evident that Jeffries was finished, and hundreds of persons broke through the ropes, and the time-keeper (Harding) scurried from trie ring into the crowd. Jeffries" was picked up by his brot-jicr and carried to'iiis corner dazed.

Johnson stoat! in the centre, ami received congratulations. At first ho would not ""shake hands, hive later ho conic; to Jeffries' comer,, and then Corbett waved him away. John L.. Suilhan was the first to •congratulate him in his corner. Jeffries- was . taken to his training camp at Tdoaiux Springs. LONDON BECOMES EXCITED. Received July 5, at 11.10 p.m. ■ - Loudon. July o. Crowds assembled in Fleet street at 9 o'clock and watched the fight' bul-letins-at the newspaper offices. ■ The special-police had a difficulty in 'controlling . the large . and excited crowds of partisans of the champions. who cheered every point. •-The- theatres and . music halls were packed, and the, details, of each round were cheered until the closing, when the audiences flocked into the streets and eagerly, purchased, the .special'editions. - . . There were similar scenes m - the suburbs and provincial towns. The newspapers are devoting columns to descriptions of the light, but Jeffries' failure generally diminished the 'popular interest. .-'- The"' Daifv News says it ;s strange •that the most sacred day in the United States' civil calendar-was- celebrated before the world by the -most nakedly commercial -prae fight- in- the- history of pugilism. .''■"■•■"' •

Received July G, at 0.50 a.m. . Sydney, July 5.

Crowds gathered at the newspaper offices awaiting the result of the fight, and there \vas considerable exclteriieivt and "nmch disappointment "at Jeffries' failure.-•".• .-■>'■;;"•' ■•'.'.' '•'.- ■■ -;vr:'

THE AFTERMATH. .' Received July 6, at 9.45 a.m. -. Seattle, July 5

The white population is glum on account of Johnson's victory. Many bet ranch money at heavy odds, and their losses combined with race prejudice have angered the lower class. Many riots between neyrces and whites have occurred iu the southeast. Seven riots broke out in New York and a negro tenement was ignited. There were three riots in Pittsburg, one at St. Louis, one at Pueblo, and others at Atlanta and Houston.

Clashes wcro frequent throughout the. black belt, but only two fatalities are reported, two negroes being killed at Littlerook and one wounded in Illinois.

The. negroes are jubilant, and they gathered in the churches and prayed for Johnson.

Experts agree that Johnson.-. is the greater fighter. Twenty thousand persons, saw the battle, including 000 women. The crowd- was undemonstrative over Jeffries' defeat; they were sorrowful but uncomplaining. , ■ Received July-G, at '8.5 a.m. ' - "■ New York, July 5. Numerous lights have occurred between Je/fries-Jobuson partisans and many people have been wounded in different localities. Two negro constables in Illinois and a negro in New A ork have been killed. Negroes hold Keystone, West Virginia." and the police are powerless. Received July 6, at 11.45 a.m New York, July 5. Fierce racial disturbances have taken place at Pittsburg, Philadelphia. Atlanta, Kansas City, St. Louis, and. Houston (Texas), in which the disappointed whites are mostly the aggressors. Hundreds of people have been injured. Throe negroes in Georgia and one in Texas have been killed and five negroes and three whites are in hospital at Los Angeles, California. THE SPOIL. Received July 6, at 9.45 a.m. Seattle, July 5.

The seat sales amount to £250,000. The pure is £120,000, with a £IO,OOO bonus added for each fighter. WHY JOHNSON WON.

Johnson will go to Chicago immediately, and Jeffries to California. His physician says that Jeffries' iujtiries are not serious and consist merely of cuts on the lips and forehead; the right eye being closed. Johnson says he won because he outclassed. Jeitries in every department. Before entering he was certain he could win, and he never changed his mind. Jeffries' blows lacked steam, and how could lie hope to win ? With the exception of a slight cut on the lower lip. really caused by an old wound being re-opened, Johnson says he was unmarkecl. He received no body punches that caused discomfiture, and lie will be in shape for battle to-

morrow. Jeffries, he said, deserved credit for his game fight; his heart was true, and he was a real fighter.

None could say they did not do their best. Both were on the square. Nothing rough was said. 1 joked with him and told him he was a bear but I was a gorilla and would defeat him. The next few weeks I will spend in vaudeville and then I will go to Chicago to rest. 1 will have no fight for so-, oral months; there is no one to give me a good battle. 1 will pay no attention to Langford's challenge; the fight would not draw. JEFFiUES' VERSION. .Vetfries says lie lost because youth was not there. He believed lie had his former clash, but when the fight started his speed and youthful steam were lacking and his old methods were impossible. His right body punches which never before hud failed wore mere love taps. His trainers would say he did not box enough, but it would have been no different''if he had sparred a dozen times -more. He simply was not there. That was all false pride against their better judgment fo say he should have won. Six years ago it would have been .different. He guessed the public would leave him alone now.