THE BURNS-LANG FIGHT.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1047, 31 March 1910, Page 13

THE BURNS-LANG FIGHT.

The fight between Burns and Lang, which was to have taken place on Easter Monday was postponed on account of Burns’ illness, the ex-cham-pion being in a totally unfit condition to enter the ring. The promoter, Mr. Mclntosh, therefore decided upon April 20 as the day on which the contest will take place. On hearing of this decision, Lang objected to the length of the postponement, and steadfastly refused to go beyond April 13 for the date of the contest. In the meantime, Burns will make an effort to get himself into condition by that date, failing which he will stick out for a further postponement.

John L. Sullivan, who, as stated recently, is coming to England on the Ivernia to spend his honeymoon, (says a London exchange), is said by the “New York Herald” to be flush of money, as he has been successful on the stage, and his bride of forty-five is also well to do, principally in Boston real estate. J.L. will tour the British Isles in vaudeville. , Archbishop O’Connell, of the Roman Catholic Church, the “Herald” says, refused to grant a dispensation because Sullivan divorced his first wife on the ground of desertion. /

Not so long ago (says a boxing writer) Jack Johnson was taken to task by several sporting writers because of his treatment of Sam Fitzpatrick, his manager. It is now an old story and a disagreeable one. Ido not wish to appear as defending Johnson’s conduct, but he is not the. only boxer who has treated his manager most shabbily. Here is the limit, however, as reported in a New York paper. “Johnny Frayne is in about as bad as any one can be out in ’Frisco. Just before his fight with Powell he canned his manager, Heine Raphael, who was responsible for all the best matches Frayne ever made. Raphael put up the 500 dollars forfeit for Frayne in the Powell fight. Just before the battle Frayne said he would refuse to fight if Raphael did mot sign a? paper forfeiting his share in all of Frayne’s part of the purse. To protect his 500 dollars Raphael signed the paper. After all that Raphael had done for Frayne this was looked upon as one of the meanest tricks ever pulled off. Frayne has very few friends left in ’Frisco, and it will be a long time before he can secure another match in that city

Jim Jeffries recently made the announcement that in his contest with Johnson he would stand out for the English system of refereeing, etc., the referee to be outside the ropes. “I have always been a great admirer, of Lhe English style of having the referee on the outside,” says Jeff., “for in the first place a fighter in England knows that if he holds on he is liable to be disqualified. In England the referee cautions the man only once. Fearing disqualification they do more real fighting than holding. 1 really think they should try the English style over here, for it would result in faster and fights and would give the public a better run for their money. I hate to see fighters hold on in clinches. I, for one, like to keep fighting all the time, and if Johnson will do the same the battle ought to be an easy one for the referee; he won’t have to break us often.’’

* * *ln - * . The strenuous efforts made by Joe Woodman to induce either Bill Papke or Stanley Ketchell to meet Langford in the ring have as yet failed to bear fruit. When the subject was recently put to Papke he promptly drew the colour line. He also declared that he would not fight Langford at any time, no matter how big a purse was offered. As for Ketchel, he is not doing any announcing, but the trouble he takes to keep a wide distance between himself and Sam is very noticeable. For champion, Ketchell is getting to be somewhat of a joke.

John Arthur Johnson, champion heavyweight pugilist, became a tax payer in Chicago, the other day, when a deed was filed for record making him the sole owner of the property located at N 0.3344 Wabash Avenue, which comprises a b The dwelling on a lot 50 by 164 feet. Th house and lot was purchased tor 11,000 dollars, paid in one lump.

Telling the story of his life, John L Sullivan refers as follows to the battle with Paddy Ryan at Mississippi city, when it is aLeged he won the world’s championship: “I was jubilant over this great victory that I jumped out of the ring and ran one hundred yards to my dressing-room. In an hour I was on the streets m my regular dress and receiving the congratulations of uay friends. More than 200,000 dollars changed hands as a result of that fight. In addition to losing money that he had bet, Ryan’s pocket was picked of 300 dollars while the doctors were trying to bring him around. :As an indication of how complete the', public regarded my victory over Ryan, I print the following from a New Orleans paper of the date succeeding? the fight: “Mr. Sullivan has probably put an end to heavyweight prize-fignting. It is altogether improbable that for many years a man will be found who would dare to face him in a prize-ring. He cared nothing for Ryan’s blows, and his hitting is so tremendous that it seems to be beyond the power of man to recover from the shock of one of his hands let out from the shoulder.’”

Joe Gardiner writes informing us that he is willing to meet Herbert May, the Goldfields lightweight champion wrestler, in Wellington at a date to be arranged. Gardiner also informs us that he has accepted Louis Robertson’s challenge for the lightweight championship of New Zealand.

A match took place the other night in the Princess Theatre, Westport, between Joe Gardiner and Wm. Mumm, the conditions of the contest being that Gardiner should endeavour to throw Mumm three times, pin falls, no break holds. There was a fairly large number present to witness the contest, and the audience were treated to a clever exhibition of wrestling. It was nineteen minutes before Gardiner secured the first fall, after’ which the pair had a breather. The second fall was secured by Gardiner after 32% minutes wrestling, Mumm putting up a great defence. The final bout was watched with much enthusiasm and again the Englishman triumphed, throwing his opponent this time in 17

minutes. Gardiner thus maintained his record of not having been thrown once since his arrival on the Coast.