THE BURNS-JOHNSON FIGHT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 444, 31 December 1908, Page 3

THE BURNS-JOHNSON FIGHT.

London, Dec. 28

Referring to the fight between Johnson and Burns, for the championship of the world, the Daily Mail says the combat was not heroic. Probably Burns obtained the championship in a period ot decadence.

“ Cestus,” the prize-ring writer in the Sportsman, while recognising Burns’s pluck, considers that Johnson was his superior at every point, justifying the belief that Burns had no right to be classed with the best champions of the past. “Cestus” expected that Burns would make a better fight, and considers that the brainy, crafty boxer lost his head and generalship.’ Sporting Life that Johnson was too big and clever, and that the winner exactly summed up the contest when he said that he could probably have won earlier, but preferred to punch instead. The New York correspondent of the .Daily Telegraph says that Americans dislike Johnson’s victory, but the negroes are greatly delighted. Jeffries has been sounded, but be declines to fight Johnson or anyone else. Owing to Burns’s lack ot popularity in England, sportsmen generally are glad at the result of the contest. v Tills Champion’s Mother. New York, Dec. 28. Johnson’s mother, a respectable old woman living at Galveston, Texas, states that when a boy Johnson was a rank coward. She says she was unable to be bothered to settle children’s fights, and gave Johnson a licking for being beaten by another boy. Then he developed confidence, and became champion of the village. The old . lady is very proud of her son’s success.

Sydney, December 30. Cabinet will shortly consider the question of prohibiting pugilistic encounters such as that between Johnson and Burns, which took place on Saturday. It is stated that Burns was to receive £6OOO out of the stake in the recent prize fight, whether he won or lost, or drew, and this was the only condition on which he agreed to box. It is also said that Johnson’s share was whatever the result.