BOXING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 58

BOXING.

Great interest is being taken in the training- operations o£ Jax?Tt .Johnson, who X 3 preparing for his contest with. Tommy Burns in Sydney on Boxing Day. In fact, so many persons want to see him a.t work I that a special tram is run from Sydney 1 each afternoon. Burns is away at Medlow, on the mountains, and beyond the reach of "the madding crowd." Bill Lang is ■ anmg those who spar with Johnson, the Victorian having gone to Botany on November 20. The coloured champion is putting in some hard work. He is up every morning before 6. o'clock, and with his trainer, "Duke" Mullins, cover* 10 miles on the roads round La Perouse before breakfast. In the afternoon, after his work, Mullins, who is an adept in the art, puts him through a course of rubbing down and massaging, lasting over an hour. The operation is an interesting one to watch. Tommy Burns, the world's champion, is eaid tc be co well that ho could $;o into the ring now. Consequently he will ease up a little preparatory to getting thoroughly wound up for his- big engagement. He not only walks, spars, end 6kips, but plays handball on a. court which has been specially constructed for him. by Mr Mark Foy, aud does a lot of swimming. Burns has made arrange- . menta, in response to repeated * requests, to do a portion of his work in - Sydney, and will come to town from Medlow twice a week in his motor car. He ' will return to the mountains after the exhibition. Burns has also consented to appear et a performance to be given by Mr Harry Rickards for the purpose of raising funds to provide 1000 dinners for the poor on Christmas Day.

In consequence of the big demand for seats at the Stadium to witness the, con- - test for the world's championship . between Jack Johnson and -, Tommy Burns, it has been decided to concentrate the ushers oh - the higher-priced seats, and not reserve - any but £10, £5, £3, and £2 seats. Already over a. thousand applications have been receiyed for seats, and the seat speou.- / lator is getting busy. Needless to say, seat* will not be disposed of to speculators. To meet the inevitable rush- on the day of the contest—though it is doubtful if there will then be many seats left —a large number of box offices will be opened along the front of the Stadium, and about 200 police officers will assist in U and lipg the crowd.

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