0.22 — FOX'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. OF- CHAMPION OF THE WORLD WITHAHISTORY OF PAST CHAMPIONS PRICE 10 CIS. RICHARD K FOX PUBLISHING CO . »'-•' FRANKLIN SQUARE, NEW YORK / '*^«. //zHrts-x:^^ 0-7t^, ^ ^j ^1/ ^^-.-/f/Y, aa'^v- n ■ ^^H| A^^^^^^^H 1 ?jr •^•^*!?--^ '^ c^H V ■' _4 1 Ki J RICHARD K. FOX THE LIFE AND BATTLES -OF- J ACK JOHNSON CHAMPION PUGILIST OF THE WORLD Togetlier witli tlie Complete Records of" Jolin L. Sullivan, J?mes J. Corliett, Robert Fitzsiniinons. J;iiiies ]. Jeffrie-j Tommy Rums, Peter Jackson ami Jim Flynn. RICHARD K. FOX PUBLISHING COMPANY LRANKLIN SCIHARB, NFW YORK CITY. Copyright 1912 BY RICHARD K. FOX PUBLISHING COMPANV CONTENTS TAGK Johnson's Career 9 Burns-Johnson Battle - - - - 39 In the Ring- 41 Battle by Rounds - - - - 43 Battle with Jack O'Brien - - - 48 Battle with Stanley KetchcU - 50 Fight by Rounds . . . . 50 Arranging the Fight - - - - 55 Johnson-Jeffries Battle - - - 64 Fight by Rounds 66 Statistics of the Battle . , . 73 Johnson's Record ----- 74 Jeffries' Record - . . - 76 John L. Sullivan - - - - - 77 James J. Corbett - - . - 80 Robert Fitzsimmons - - - - 82 Tommy Burns - . - - - 85 Peter Jackson - = o ^ - 87 Jim Flynn ---'•- 28 TOE CHAMPION'S SMILE. ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Richard K. Fox ----- 2 The Chanipicju's vSmilc ... 6 Jack Johnson ------ 8 Johnson in London - - - - 10 Johnson in Training - - - - 12 James J. Jeffries - - - - 14 John L. Sullivan - - - - - 16 James J. Corbett - • - - 18 Robert Fitzsimmons - - - - 20 Tommy Burns - • - - - 22 Sam Langford - - - - - 24 Joe Jeannctte ----- 26 Sam McVey - 2C Molineaux ------ 30 Joe Walcott - 32 Joe Gans - 34 George Dixon ------ 36 Johnson's Remarkable Muscles - - 38 Jeffries Takes Ilis Time - - - - 4c Jeffries in Bad Sliape . .... 42 Tex Rickard, Fight Promoter - - 44 JACK JOUNSON, CHAJilPION OF THE WORLD. JOHNSON'S CAREER There is nothing spectacular about the career of Jack Johnson, and his earlier fight- ing" record does not mark the champion. As in the case of Peter Jackson, white pugilists, in many cases, have drawn the color line on him. Up to the time he fought Burns he really had no chance to show what he could do. But that battle and the one with Ketchell gave the public a line on his real ability. He began his career in 1897, when he beat S. Smith in ten rounds; kiter he put Jim Rocks away in four rounds. In 1898 he knocked out Rcddy Brcnicr in three rounds, and beat jim Cole in four. Me fought a fifteen round draw with Henry Smith. He went twelve rounds to a draw in 1899 with Pat Smith, and the next year beat Josh Mills in twelve rounds, and KU)n(like in twenty rounds. In the latter part of 1901 he met Joe JACK JOHNSON IN f-ONPON. LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON 1 1 Choynski in his home town. This battle brought his name before the publie and after winning several battles in the Southwest he was taken to Chieag'o, where he continued to win and to show signs of cleverness. In that year he had three knockouts to his credit, as follows: Charley Brooks, two rounds; Horace Miles, three rounds, and George Lawler, ten rounds. This showed that he had a punch. The next year, 1902, he added six knockouts to his credit, and one of the defeated men was Jack Jeffries, a brother of the then champion, who had begun to show promising signs as a boxer, but he only lasted five rounds with the black man. His first defeat was at the hands of the veteran boxer, Joe Choynski, with whom he was matched by the Galveston Athletic Club in March, 1901. He was outclassed from the start, as might have been expected from a man with his limited experience. He did very well, however, in the first and second rounds, but in the third he was caught on the jaw with JACK JOHNSON IN TBAININQ. LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. I .^ a right hook, and he went down and out. Foi this contest both men were arrested at the in- stigation of Gov. Sayers, and held in ,*i5,ooo bail, but they were eventually released. The big year for Johnson, so far as num- ber of fights engaged in was concerned, was 1902, when he was one of the principals in six- teen contests, losing not one, and having four draws. This was the year that he met Jack Jeffries, brother of Jim, and played with him for five rounds before he dropped him for the count. Probably his hardest battle of the year was on October 31, when he met George Gardiner, the middleweight champion of New England, befcjrc the vSan Francisco Club of San Fran- cisco, Cal., and he surprised the people at the ringside who came to see the clever New Eng- lander hang another scalp on his belt. John- son forced the fight from the start, and kept up the pace during the entire twenty rounds, winning the tlecision with plenty to spare. This battle brought him more prominently JAMES J. JKFFRIES, LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 15 before the public than all of his previous con- tests put together. After that he met and defeated in six rounds at Los Angeles, Cal., Fred Russell, and again on February 23, 1903, he outpointed Denver Ed ]\Iartin in twenty rounds in the same town. Sam McVey, who is at present cutting a wide swath in pugilistic circles in Paris, was Johnson's next opponent. He was a tough customer, capable of taking a good licking and coming back, and he had a punch, too. They came together in Los Angeles, (m Feb- ruary 27, 1903, and the bout went the limit of twenty rounds, but from the first the issue was never in doubt, for it was Johnson all the way. The man who is now champion showed then that he had a good punch in either hand, that he was quick, aggressive and resourceful. At the finish the decision went to him, and justly, too. The next day he announced that he was going after Jeffries, for he wanted a chance JOHN L. SULLIVAN LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 17 at the title that was to come to him later on. He claimed at that time that he was the logi- cal opponent for the big fellow and he was also sure that he could beat him. But the champion evaded him, having drawn the color line since he met Hank Griffin in 1901. Johnson won all of his battles during the year of 1903, beating the rugged McVey twice. His first opponent in 1904 was Black Bill, whom he met in a six-round exhibition bout in Philadelphia. On April 22, in San Francisco, he knocked out McVey in the twentieth round, putting a quietus on the aspirations of that boxer and proving conclusively who was the master. He also won from Frank Childs in Chicago in six rounds, and finished up the year by knocking out Ed Martin in Los Angeles in two rounds. Marvin Hart gave him his first real set- back, getting the decision at the end of twenty rounds in San Francisco on March 28, 1905. Hart won, however, purely on his aggressive- ness, as at the end of the fight he was badly JAMES J. CORBETT LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. I9 beaten and in miserable shape, while Johnson, on the other hand, showed scarcely a mark. He hit cleaner, he showed more cleverness, and he would have won easily had he forced the fighting instead of allowing Hart to set the pace-. From that time on he went steadily up, his speed, his cleverness and his ring generalship increasing, and he soon began to be recognized as a dangerous factor in the heavyweight division. The only thing that kept him down was his color, and there arc plenty of sporting men today who say that if he had been given his chance he would have been champion long ago, and Tommy Burns would have been in the scrap heap with the rest of the second raters. The only man of his own color capable of competing with him was Joe Jeannette. They met several times, but no one who ever saw these battles had any doubt but that Jolmson was the master at all stages of the game and could have 'lone with Jeannette just ab he pleased. ROBERT FITZSIMMONS LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 21 The fact that Johnson beat Sam Langford in Chelsea, Mass., in fifteen rounds, on April 26, 1906, showed his class, because Langford is and always has been a dangerous man in the ring in any company, as a glance at his record will show. At Philadelphia on July 17, 1907, he knocked out the redoubtable Fitzsimmons in two rounds, and the same year he put away Charley Cutler in one round and Jim Flynn in eleven. For the past five years his course on the pugilistic ladder has been steadily iipward, and he has come into his own at last. During his long chase of Tommy Burns he expressed the greatest confidence in his ability to put away the man who was proclaiming himself the champion. Time and time again he said he would finish the battle, if ever they met, inside of fifteen rounds, and those who have seen him box anywhere, and not prejudiced against him on account of his color, were convinced that he could do just as he said. There has been a lot of talk about a "yellow TOMMY BURNS. EX-CHAMPIOK MFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 23 Streak " that he is said to possess. He may have it, but if he has no one has yet found it out, so there is no use in nientioning it again. He is built magnificently, is strong as a lion, is clever, scientific, and carries a great punch in either hand. He fought for a small purse because he knew he was going to be the champion before he left the ring. He was convinced that he was the best man and so he was willing to fight to prove it, as a champion should. This big fellow heads the list of famous negro fighters, beginning with Molineaux, the giant black who fought Tom Cribb twice for the championship of England in the early part of the present century; and when you come to review the histories of the two men they are strangely alike in everything except that Johnson won what he went after. Molineaux went from \'irginia, alone and j)enniless, to face the greatest fighting man the world knew at that time. He wasn't taken seriously at first, but after one or two hard trvouts the SAM LANGFORDl LIFE AND BATTLES f)F JACK JOHNSON. 25 sporting men of England became convinced that he had enough of the fighter in him to make Cribb step a bit. They were matched and the battle of thirty-three rounds lasted fifty-five minutes. Though he was compelled to give in, Molineaux gave Cribb a fearful beating, so much so that the champion had to be assisted from the ring. The second battle between these tw^o at- tracted a great deal of attention in England, as there were many who believed that Molineaux could beat the champion. But in this they were mistaken, as the sturdy negro lasted but eleven rounds. Here is what a writer of the day had to say about it : "The battle, which lasted only nineteen minutes and ten seconds, left no doubt as to the superiority of Cribb. The science of Molineau at the opening of the fight was quite equal to that of the champion, but the con- dition of Cribb was far better, his temper more under control, and although there was no question as to Molineaux's courage, which JOE JEANNETXa LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 27 almost amounted to ferocity, Cribb was his superior in steadiness and self-possession." Jack Johnson, born in Galveston, Texas, on March 31, 1878, is now the heavyweight pugi- listic champion of the world, and from all in- dications is likely to remain so for some time to come. He becomes a notable figure in more ways than one and is the first negro boxer to gain the coveted title. Never has any other boxer the world over shown such persistency in following up a champion as Johnson did when he first made up his mind to go after Tommy Burns. He would scarcely have succeeded in obtaining a meeting with the elusive French-Canadian, however, had it not been for Sam Fitzpatrick, veteran boxer and manager, who took the black man under his wing and literally chased Burns almost around the world. Negotiations were first begun in America, but nothing came of them, and Burns went to England to gather what eas)' money was in sight in that country. When Burns became the idol of the English SAM McVEY, LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 29 and Irish sport-loving public by his decisive victories over their best men, Fitzpatrick made another move in his campaign by going to England and trying to force Burns into a match. The demands that the champion made for his end of the purse, win, lose or draw, were considered unfair, and Burns lost much of the good wishes of the public by the severe criticism of the British press. Many thought that the next move in Burns' campaign of evasion would end matters and that Fitzpatrick would never get for his negro boxer the chance for the title. This was when Burns set sail for Australia from England, a point that seemed too far off for the other combination, whose funds were being fast used up in their pursuit. Fitzpatrick and Johnson, however, did not give up the chase, for they had the word of Biirns that lie would fight when his demands were acceded to. Over in the Antipodes the champion was finally cornered, for a promoter, Hugh Mcintosh, was found who was willing to MULI^'EAUX, WHO rOU«HT TOM CUIBB liS 1810, LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 31 guarantee Burns $30,000, no matter what the outcome, and Johnson was only too willing to accept $5,000 as his end. Mcintosh, who is a man little more than thirty years old, showed great nerve in arranging all the details, as he stood to lose a vast amount if the interest did not prove enormous. One of the big initial items of expense was the building of a stadium at Rushcutter's Bay, capable of holding twenty thousand persons, at a cost of .^i 0,000. The advance sale of seats, however, for nearly a month before the scheduled date assured the success from a financial standpoint. Seats sold as high as $50, and the cheapest bench to be had cost $5. No event in a generation aroused the Australians as did this fight. An association of clergymen made an effort to have the mill stopped, but their attempt proved unavailing against the outburst of i)o|)ular enthusiasm. The Premier of Australia, liimsclf an old-time athlete, was just as mucli interested in the combat as the ordinary " bushwhacker," and JOE WALCOTT LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. SS many of the leading- business men and those identified with the government showed their eagerness to see the battle by their purchase of choice seats long before the date set. In place of the jibing criticisms that were meted out to Mcintosh because of what the Australians thought was foolhardiness, there is nothing now on the island continent but words of praise. Rumors of all kinds were rife that the fight would be "fixed" and that Johnson would be bought off. When it was said that Bums had wagered $10,000 on his chances many ot the " wise " sport followers were further convinc xl that Burns had been up to some more craft) tricks. That the battle was to be strictly on the level was asserted by Mcintosh in the fol- lowing cablegram over his own signature : "The fight will be absolutely on the level. You can bet on it with confidence. Johnson would not have chased Burns for nearly twelve thousand miles to get a match and then throw it, while Burns would not ' lay down ' to a JOE GANS. LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 35 negro. The earning capacity of either of these men in the event of victory would be greater than by indulging in a fake. So take it from me that the mill will be decided on its merits." Now that Fitzpairick's campaign in follow- ing Burns to the other side of the world with his negro challenger has ended in success he will be hailed as one of the shrewdest handlers of fighters in the history of the ring. Fitz- patrick had Peter Jackson when that negro was the most feared heavyweight in the game. Corbett was the only champion aspirant who had nerve enough to face Jackson, and even Jim "passed up" Peter after their famous "no contest" at San Francisco. Sul- livan drew the color line on Jackson, and F'itzimmons was frank enough to admit that he wanted none of Jackson's game. Jackson failed to take care of himself and was down ard out when Jim Jeffries whipped him. Fitzpatrick also handled (ieorge Lavigne, when he was the lightweight champion. GEORGE DIXON. LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 37 The Johnson-Burns match was the first heavyweight championship battle staged out- side of the United States in years. John L. Sullivan won the title from Paddy Ryan at Mississippi City nearly thirty years ago, and James J. Corbett beat Sullivan in New Orleans. Bob Fitzsimmons whipped Corbett in Carson City, Nev. , and James J. Jeffries defeated Fitzsimmons at Coney Island. Burns whipped O'Brien at Los Angeles and defeated Bill Squires, the champion of Australia, in San Francisco. Then he went to England and beat Gunner ]\Ioir, the cham- pion of England, in London. He also van- cpiished Jem Roche, the champion of Ireland, in Dublin. Sullivan fought only one battle abroad while he was champion, his memorable contest with Charlie Mitchell in Chantilly, France. It was a draw. Jackson whipped Slavin in Lon- don for the championship of England and Australia. LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 39 BURNS-JOHNSON BATTLE. The fight was scheduled to take place at eleven o'clock in the morning' of Deceiiiber 26, 1908, and so great was the excitement and the desire of the Australians to see it that hundreds came from the outer districts the night before and slept in the open in order to be on hand in the morning. One hour before the bell was to be rung for the contest every seat was taken by a crowd estimated at between eighteen and twenty thousand persons, who had paid into the box office a sum estimated at from $150,- 000 to $175,000. Statistics of the Fighters. Here are the weights and dimensions of the men when they went into the ring: Burns. Johnson. 27 yeiirs .\'4e 30 years 5 ft. 7>i in Height 6 I'l. l?i in. 176 poiiniifi Weislit 196 pounds 74^^ in Reach 72X in. 12 in Foreiirna 13 in. 13Ji In Biceps 14>^ in. 16 in Neck 17 in. 40Ji in Chest 43Ji In. 32>^ in Waist 33 In. 38 ii Hips 37 in. 23;.) Thigh 22^ in. i5}i in Calf 16 Id. JEFF TAKES HIS TIME GETTING UP. LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSIJN. 4I IN THE RING. At 10.42 a. m. Johnson entered the arena, accompanied by his seconds, vSain Fitzpatrick, Miillins, Unholz, Lang and Bryant. Wild cheers greeted him, and the big black man turned and bowed to all four sides of the ring. Jtist as Johnson took his seat Burns ap- peared. He was smiling and the plaudits of the spectators were even more enthusiastic than those accorded Johnson. Burns took up his position in the western corner of the ring, surrounded by his seconds, Keating, O'Keefe, O'Donnell, Burke and Russell. When the cheering had died down some- what Johnson crossed over and shook Burns by the hand. The Canadian glanced at the big mauleys of the Texan and noticed that both were covered with bandages. Fearful that perhaps they might not be of the soft surgical kind he scrutinized them closely, but. finding them to his satisfaction, he made no objection. The announcement was made that if during LIP-E AND BATTt,?:S OF JACK JOIINSON. 4.^ the contest the police should interfere and stop it, the referee would immediately give a decision based on points scored. When Burns stripped it was noticed he wore elastic bandages about his elbows. Johnson shouted across the ring, half angrily, "You must take tlio-^c off." THE BATTLE BY ROUNDS. First Round. — After a few moments of preliminary sparring Johnson reached Burns with a sharp upper cut and the Canadian went to tlie floor, remaining there for the count of eight. He signalled to his seconds that he was all right, however, and when he arose sailed in for Johnsons body. Jolinson swung a hard right to the head, and Burns staggered backward n( arly across the ring from the impact of the blo\■.^ Then Burns, rushing in, planted a right of great force on Johnson's chin and by an excellent display of boxing warded off a return. Johnson, nevertheless, managed to put through a stinging left to the head at the soimd of the gong. Second Round. — When the gong clanged Johnson yelled across to the approaching Burns, "Come right on," and he swung his right and landed hard on Burns' ciiin. The champion's ankle gave way under him and ho went down, lie was up immediately, however, and Johnson got to close quarters with him and placed right and left to face and body. Burns' left eye here commenced to swell. Johnson thus far had the better of the battle. TEX RICKARD, FIGHT PROMOTER. LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 45 The big black man was coming all the time and he swung a terrific left into Burns' stomach. Burns was doing but little. He was bleeding from the mouth and apparently was tired. The men were clinched as tlie bell rang. Third Bound. — Burns swung his right to Johnson's head and then did some wonderful execution at infighting, chopping his right to the ribs frequently. Johnson dur ing the round landed some terrific blows to the kidneys. Fourth Round. — When the men met in the centre of the ring Johnson shot a heavy right into Burns' ribs. The men talked wildly to each other, each seemingly intent upon getting the other excited and landing the money winning punch. During the jeering they sparred fiercely, but few blows were struck. Then Johnson swung left to the body and Burns brought right to head. Johnson, closing in, threw a terrific right and left to the head of the Canadian, The bell found the men in a hard clinch. Fifth Round. — Apparently refreshed from his minute's rest, Burns started the round briskly, landing his right on Johnsons head and punching the body with both hands. Johnson managad to slip over a few rights to the head during the round. Sixth Round. — Johnson rushed and Burns clinched. Breaking loose, however, with one hand, Johnson swung his right a dozen times into the white man's ribs. Burns jolted Joluison's body frecjueutly and swung his right hard over the ribs and put a stilt left to the stoniucli several times. Jolmson Ircatcd ilicsc blows as a joke, laughing at the crowd nnd makin;;- sarcastic remarks to 46 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. his opponent as be bustled Burns into a corner and scored a couple of rights to the body. Seventh Round.— Johnson rushed Burns across the ring, dealing out rights in which there was no mercy. Burns got a left to Johnson's jaw and Johnson raisi-d a lump under Burns' right eye in return. Burns here seemed to be losing strength. Johnson was landing re- peatedly on Burns' eye, meanwhile addressing the people about the ringside, and tlx.ugh Tommy was working dexterously at infighting he placed several terrific blows onBurns'ribs, dropping him to the floor for a few seconds. Eighth Round. — Burns' eyes were pufTed up and he was bleeding from tha mouth when he emerged from his corner. The white man's blows apparenily had little effect on the Texan, who went severely about belaboring the head of the champion. Ninth Round. — "Come on. Tommy; swing your right!" yelled Johnson as the gong rang. Burns re- sponded by calling the negro a "yellow dog." There was not very much fighting, probably more talking, dur- ing this roimd. Tenth Round. — Both men seemed tiring. Johnson still used his fists effectively on Burns" head and stomach and Burns was doing all he could in reply. His blows, how- ever, lacked steam. Eleventh Round. — The perspiration pouring ofif the body of Johnson made it look not unlike highly polished walnut. Burns tried to cross his right over, but Johnson cleverly avoided him, meantime hiUfrhing at the champion. LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 47 Burns is outclassed and Johnson apparently is invulner- able. When the bell rang Burns limped to his corner. Twelfth Round. — Johnson continued to rushtind Burns took a tremendous lot of punishment gamely. His jaw is greatly swollen. Thirteenth Roimd. — Johnson continued to play for the injured eye and the cut mouth of Burns, which was swollen twice its normal size. Blow after blow the colored man rained upon him, and the gong alone saved the white man from defeat, for he was reeling and groggy as it rang. During the intermission between the thirteenth and fourteenth rounds the police officials consulted together, aad it seemed probable that they would stop the fight in the next round Mcintosh went to Bums' corner and had a talk with the champion, who declared that he was strong. Mcintosh tlien asked the police not to interfere. Fourteenth Round. — Johnson went right after Burns when time was called. The white man warily backed away, but Jolmsnn, following him up, dropped Burns with a heavy right to the head. "One, two, three," slowly counted the referee, and Burns remained down until eight seconds had been tolled off. When he arose Johnsun flew at him like a tiger, and, xising both hands immercifuUy, soon had the champion tottering. The police then juni|)ed into tiie ring and stopped the fight. Hugh D. Mcliitosli, tlic referee, immediately declared Johnson the winner, lie adiled that he considered it ilie best fight he ever hud witnessed in Australia and that both men had fought most fairly. 48 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. THE BATTLE WITH O'BRIEN. Johnson's next fight was in the arena of the National Athletic Club Philadelphia, Pa., on May 19, 1909, when he met Philadelphia Jack O'Brien for six rounds. Johnson gave his weight at 205 pounds, while O'Brien stated he weighed 162 pounds. O'Brien gamely carried the fight to the big colored fellow during most of the rounds. But in doing this O'Brien got some very hard bumps and was pretty badly hurt at times, and there was no doubt that the champion had the better of the contest. At times Johnson cut loose with great vigor and then it was that O'Brien was punished severely. The white man was down several times, although only once on a fair knock- down. Once O'Brien was carried through the ropes by one of Johnson's fierce rushes and had it not been for the assistance of those on the outside he would have fallen to the floor on the other side of the ring. LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON, 49 The blow that knocked O'Brien down was delivered in the fifth round and came in the midst of a fierce rally on the part of the colored fellow. His lefts and rights drove O'Brien backward as wind would drive chaff, and a short right, the kind for which Johnson is famous, caught O'Brien under the left eye. Jack went down as though kicked by a mule, but came up quickly without waiting for the count. The mark of the blow was plainly visible, for blood trickled from an abrasion and a swelling about the size of a mouse slowly ap- peared, O'Brien wisely tried to hold until he could gather his senses, but the burly negro shook him off and shot home two or three more lefts and rights, which O'Brien slipped or parried. 50 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. THE FIGHT WITH KETCHELL. At Jimmy Coffroth's Colma, Cal., arena on Oct. 1 6, 1909, Johnson retained the heavy- weight championship of the world by knock- ing out Stanley Ketchell in the twelfth round. The end came so suddenly that when Ketchell rolled to the floor and Referee Welch counted him out the 10,000 persons crowding the arena were absolutely c[uiet for a full minute. THE BATTLE BY ROUNDS. First Round. — The men dispensed with the usual for- mality of shaking hands as they wallied to tlie centre of the ring. The discrepancy in stature and weight was particularly noticeable as they came together. Johnson towered above the white man. The first point scored was by Johnson, who landed a hard left to the stomach after a good deal of fibbing by each. Each man was cautious, feeling out the other. Twice Johnson landed with effect as Ketchell hustled him around the ring and forced him against the ropes. Then he sidestepped out of the dan- ger spot and the bell rang with the men in the centre of the ring fighting cautio;;siy. Ketchell looked nervous throughout, while Johusou smiled continually. Second Round. — They r.iu to a clinch and Referee Life and battles of jack johnson. qt Wl'KIi pried tlicm apart. On the break Johnson shot a straiglit left lo Ihe nose and soon repeated it. At every clinch Ke chell tried willi short-arm blows for the stom- ach. In a clinch Ketchell uppercut hard to the jaw with his left. This angered the champion, wlio rushed in laud- ing left and right on the body. Ketchell went to the floor with considerable force, although his fall was due more to a slip of the; foot than a blow. lie was up quickly and rushed in, but had great difficulty in getting under Jack's long reach. Johnson merely toyed with him until the bed ended the round. Third Round. — They sparred for thirty seconds and then closed in, swinging right and left at close range Ketchell landing on the body once with his right. Ket- chell drove his right high on the breast, and as they clinched Johnson uppercut twice with the right. The referee separated them. They again rushed in close, Johnson putting in short rights and left to the stomach. The white man uppercut with left to the face as they broke from a clinch. Just before the round ended John- fccm swung his right to the jaw. Ketchell went to his corner, however, dancing, and looked fresh. Johnson kei)t up a running fire of conversation with his seconds during the minute respite. Fourth Round.— After much sparring Johnson rushed in, forcing his man to the ropes. Placing his arms around Ketchell he fairly carried him to the centre of the ring. Ketchell swung a terrific right intended for Johnson's jaw. It just missed, but it was a close shave. Johnson then 52 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. steadily backed away as they sparred for a lead with Ket- chcU follov.'ing. He tlien sent a hard right to the jaw, but Ketchell kept constautly teasing him in an effort to make him lead. It was a tame round. Fifth Round. — Ketchell opened with a left to the body to which Johnson replied with two lefts to the face. John- son sent Ketchell's head back with two straight lefts to the nose. Ketchell again essayed to force Johnson to lead. Ketchell showed unexpected cleverness at blocking. John son then swung his left twice to the face and the men sparred at long range, Johnson working in a left to the face. Neither man showed damage as the round ended. Sixth Round. — Each missed a left swing, and then Ketchell landed a left to the body and followed with an- other left to the jaw. Johnson countered with a left to the stomach. Johnson shot out his left catching Ketchell on both hands as the latter threw up his guard and Ket- chell was sent to the floor. He jumped up smiling. John- son gave him a warm reception. He uppercut wiih right to the jaw and raked Ketchell's face with a succession of lefts to the jaw. Ketchell continued to force the pace but was met with two lefts on the nose that started blood. Johnson had a good lead at the end of the round. Seventh Round. — Johnson swooped in with two lefts on the nose, Ketchell countering with a hard left hook on the body. Johnson shot another straight left to the nose and Ketchell missed a terrific left swing for the jaw. As they closed in Johnson uppercut with right to the jaAv. Blood flowed from Ketchell's nose. At close quarters LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 53 Johnsoa landed several times on the nose and face. Sud- denly Kctchell swung Lis left with terrific force. It caught the champion solidly on the jaw, raising a big lump that was perceptible to the spectators. It was the best blow of the fight. Eighth Round. — Johnson immediately closed in, land- ing twice with his left on the face. The fighters roughed it, shoulder to shoulder, and Ketchell worked in a hard right uppercut to the jaw. The referee separated the men, Johnson landing left and right on the face as they broke. Ketchell missed with another of his terrific swings and almost went through the ropes from the force of his effort. John.son forced his opponent back gradually and landed a left to the jaw. Ketchell again missed a hard right swing and again nearly went through the ropes from its misdirected force. Ninth Round — They closed in, each landing short-arm rights on the face. Tlie referee was forced twice to break the men from clinches. Tlie champion sent in four sting- ing straight lefts to the face, but Ketchell did not break ground. On the contrary, he rushed in, hammering at the champion's stomach, but liis l)lows were smothered. Ketchell planted his left over the ribs and Johnson coun- tered with a short left to the jaw. Johnson again liookcd his left to the jaw and a cliruh followed. Johnson broke it up witli a hard straight blow to the face. Immedi- ately after, however, the men were again wrestling. Johnson swung Ketchell almost off his balance. Getting him against the ropes he sent a right wallop to the stom- 54 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. acli and Ketchell winced. Jolmsoa patted Ketchell on the stomach with his open hand as the bell clanged. Ket- chell looked worried as he took his chair. Tenth Round. — After a clinch Johnson sent two light lefts to the stomach and quickly shifted to the jaw, where he connected twice and Ketchell started spitting blood. Johnson wrestled Ketchell to the floor, then lifted him up and placed him in the centre of the ring. In a mid-ring rally Johnson sent three straight iefls to Kelchell's sore mouth and nose, starting the blood afresh. Eleventh Round. — After some desultory sparring Ket- chell whipped his left to the kidneys and missed two hard swings for the jaw. It was noticeable that the right uppercut that Johnson used with good effect in his other fights had little effect upon Ketchell. The Michigander landed a terrific right almost on the point of the jaw. The champion immediately clinched and seemed content to rest. Ketchell forced the fighting, seeking to follow up Ihe advantage, but could not solve his opponent's defense. Ketchell's battered face was proof that Johnson's constant left jabs were reaching their mark. Twelfth Round. — Ketchell suddenly rushing in sent his right to the jaw. Johnson fell flat upon his back and tlie fall seemed to have injured him, but the tricky cham- pion was waiting for him. He swung a hard right to the jaw and then a left to the body. As Ketchell fell back- ward Johnson sent another right swing to the face and the white man went to the mat as if ho had been shot. There he lay, blood streaming from his mouth. He made a weak effort to rise, but fell back and was counted out. LIKE AND BA r'l'T.KS OF JACK JOHNSON. 55 ARRANGING THE BIG FIGHT. Then began negotiations for the big battle between Johnson and James J. Jeffries. All this while there had been talk of bringing the two men together, and at last Jeffries was in- dncedto come out of retirement. The result of a lot of talk was the following: Form of agreement entered into this eleventh day of August, 1909, between Jack Johnson, of Galveston, Tex., and James J. Jeffries, of Los Angeles, Cal. 1. It is agreed between these men mutually that they shall box a certain number of rounds, the same to be anywhere from 20 to 100, for the heavyweight championship of the world. 2. Contest to be held before the club offer- ing the best inducements and mutually agreed upon by the contestants. 3. The division of the purse shall l)e on a basis of either 60 per cent, and 40 per cent, to winner and loser, respectively, or 75 per cent. 56 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. and 25 per cent, or winner may be permitted to take the entire amount. The decision in this matter to rest with James J. Jeffries. 4. The sum of $5,000 each is to be posted with Charles A. Comiskey of Chicago as a guarantee of good faith and the fulfillment by each side of the terms of this agreement. Said money to be posted within seventy-two hours. It is further agreed that the above named $5,000 shall operate as a side bet on the result of the contest. 5. It is further agreed that the club will be selected and mutually agreed upon sixty days from date, at which time all further details will be mutually agreed upon. 6. Contest to take place not later than six months from date of selecting club and the signing of final articles. (Signed) Sam Berger for JamesJ. Jeffries. (Signed) Jack Johnson. Then there was another meeting at which this agreement was drawn up and signed. The agreement entered into this day between I.IKE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 57 Jack Johnson and James J. Jeffries provides for the following : 1. They agree to box for the heavyweight championship of the world. 2. They agree to box for the club, organ- ization or person offering the best financial in- ducement. 3. Bids for the contest must be submitted on Dec. i, 1909, at 3 P. ]M. at the Hotel Albany, New York city. 4. Each club, organization or person mak- ing a bid for this contest must have a repre- sentative on the ground wIto will post §5,000 in coin or certified check to make good any and all stipulations of this bid. 5. Referee to be selected when the club's bid is accepted. 6. It is hereby agreed that the contest shall be forty-five rounds or more. 7. The purse shall be divided 75 per cent, to the winner and 25 per cent, to the loser. 8. Each of the contestants lierewith posts with Robert P. Murphy, of New York, as tern- 58 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. porary stakeholder the sum of ijiiio,ooo. Of this sum each posts $5,000 as a wager or side bet on the result of the contest and $5,000 as a forfeit to guarantee compliance with these articles, 9. The contest shall take place not later than July 5, 1910. 10. It is hereby understood and agreed that the contest shall be fought under straight Mar- quis of Queensberry rules and with five ovmce gloves. 11. The final stake and forfeit holder is to be decided upon when the club is selected. Witness our hands and seals this 29th day of October, 1909. (Signed) James J. Jeffries, Sam Berger. Jack Johnson, George Little. Witness: Bob Vernon, William J. Wright, Robert P. Murphy. The meeting to open the bids and decide the details of the match was scheduled to take place in New York city, on Dec. i, but Police Commissioner Baker decided this proceeding LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 59 would be unlawful and threatened to arrest Johnson and Jeffries and all the principals if they met for this purpose, and the scene of the gathering was transferred to Naegeli's Hotel in Hoboken, N. J. The scenes at the opening of the bids were dramatic. As was expected the stakes were so high that only the heaviest gamblers had a chance to sit in the game. Six men only sat in the big game. They were Eddie Graney, Tex Rickard. Jack Gleason, Jimmy Coffroth, Tom McCarey and Hugh Mcintosh. Coffroth was pooled with and represented by Jack Gleason. Mcintosh's cards were played by Phil King, his American representative. Stakeholder Bob Murphy took his seat at the head of the table. George Little and Jack Johnson were on ]Murphy's left and Tom McCarey and Sam Bergcronliis riglit. Seated around the table or pushed about in the crowd that surged through the room were the other bidders, Jack Gleason, Tex Rickard, Eddie Graney and Phil King. 6o LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. Graney's bid was read first. As president of the Tuxedo A. C, of San Francisco, he made three propositions to the fighters. First he offered them 80 per cent, of the gross re- ceipts, with a guarantee of 875,000, the entire picture privileges to go to the contestants. Second, 80 per cent, of the gross receipts, $70,000 guaranteed, with $20,000 for, or ^;^ 1-3 per cent, of the moving picture privileges. Third, 90 per cent, of the gross receipts, with no guarantee and the entire moving picture privileges. Graney's bid was accompanied by a certified check of $5,000, as a guarantee of good faith. In his bid he stipulated that he would hold the bout in an open pavilion, seating 25,000, with a guaranteed seating capacity of 25,000, in or within five miles of San Francisco. Jack Gleason, pooled with Jimmy Coffroth, was the next to be considered. The Gleason- Coffroth proposition offered the fighters a purse of $125,000 with no picture privileges, or a guaranteed purse of $75,000 with 66 2-3 per LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 6l cent, of the inoving- picture profits, or 80 per cent, of the gross receipts with 66 2-3 per cent, of the picture privileges. Gleason promised to post $30,000 immediately upon accepting his first offer, $20,000 on agreeing to the sec- ond proposition, or $10,000 if the fighters chose his third offer. Gleason posted a New York draft for $5,000 with his bid, and stipulated that the bout would take place in Colma, Ocean View or San Francisco, on July 4, 19 10. Mcintosh's bid was the third opened. The Australian proposition was as follows: "I guarantee each man for the contest in America, $37,500; if the contest is held in England, $40,000; in France, $40,000; in Aus- tralia, $50,000, all rights reserved. I make the alternative offer that if the contest is held in cither America, England or France, Jeffries and Johnson may have the whole of the gross gate, less $10,000, witli a minimum guarantee of $25,000 to each man, all rights reserved by me. If in Australia, whole gross gate receipts without deduction, and with a guaranteed 62 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. minimum of $37,500 to each man, all rights re- served by me. My second alternative offer is that I will give purses in America or France of $50,000 and one-third of privileges. "For the pictures I offer: In England, $13,000 and one-fourth interest; in Australia, $20,000, all rights reserved. The contest to take place at a date to be named by me during the year 1910, each contestant to receive not less than three months' notice. Five thousand dollars will be deposited by me as a forfeit to guarantee my good faith." Then Tex Rickard handed a sealed envelope to Murphy, and as the stakeholder carelessly tore open the envelope, Rickard cautioned: "You had better be careful with that en- velope, Mr. Murphy. It contains money." It did. Rickard inclosed $20,000 with his offer, fifteen $1,000 bills and a check for $5,000. When Master of Ceremonies Murphy began to read, " G. L. Rickard, of Ely, Nev., and John J. Gleason, San Francisco, submit the following bid," further commotion was LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 63 caused, for it was seen that Gleason not only had tied up with Coffroth, but also was bound up with Rickard. The Nevada mine owner and the California baseball magnate offered the fighters a guaranteed purse of .f 101,000, with 66 2-3 per cent, of the moving picture privileges. The bids stipulated that the bout would be held on July 4 in California, Nevada or Utah. Besides the $20,000 accompanying his bid, Rickard announced that he would post $20,000 more sixty days before the fight and would put up an additional $50,000 forty- eight hours before the encounter. Tom McCarey's was the last bid to be opened. McCarey, in behalf of the Pacific A. C, of Los Angeles, offered the fighters the entire gate receipts and 50 per cent, of the moving picture privileges, or a guaranteed parse of $110,000 with 50 per cent, of the moving picture privileges. If the contestants accepted the McCarey proposition, new and final articles must be signed within twenty- four hours. 64 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. Berger and Johnson both asked Murphy to read agam the Graney and Rickard propo- sitions. The two discussed the bids for a time and then asked for twenty-four hours in which to consider them. On the following day all the principals met in Hoboken, and without any formalities accepted Rickard's bid, carrying with it the greatest gambling proposition ever heard of. Tex Rickard, who was the promoter of the record-drawing fight between Joe Gans and Battling Nelson at Goldfield, Nev., on Sept. 6, 1906, is a celebrity of the gold fields of Alaska and the mining camps of Nevada and the Southwest, who has lost fortunes time and again only to win them back on another turn of Forttme's wheel. JOHNSON-JEFFRIES BATTLE. The battle took place as scheduled, but not in California. Governor Gillett, for reasons best known to himself, stepped in at the eleventh hour and prohibited a continuance LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 65 of the arrangements, and also announced that he would call out the militia in case an at- tempt was made to pull off the contest in Cali- fornia. Rickard then went to his home State, Nevada, and within a short time procured assurances from the business men of Reno that the license w^ould be subscribed and he would be helped in every way to erect a suit- able arena. Both training camps were then transferred to quarters in the neighborhood of Reno. A day or so before the Fourth the purse was cut to 60 and 40 instead of 75 and 25 per cent. It was announced that Charley White, of New York, would act as second referee, to take the place of Rickard in case anything occurred before or during the battle to require the substitution of another man. The men were examined by physicians, according to the laws of Nevada, and pro- nounced to be in the best possible physical condition. On July 4 the great arena was filled with 66 I,TFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 20,000 people, and shortly after two o'clock the principals were in their corners. Johnson entered the ring at 2 130, and Jeffries followed two minutes later. In Johnson's corner were Billy Delaney, Tom Flanagan, Barney Furey, Kid Cotton and Frank Sutton. Behind Jef- fries were Jim Corbett, Joe Choynski, Sam Berger, Farmer Burns, Abe Attell, Bob An; - strong and Roger Cornell. Timekeeper was George Harting. Timekeeper for Johnson, Stanley Ketchell ; for Jeffries, Billy Gallagher; Announcer, Billy Jordan, of San Francisco. Referee, Tex Rickard ; second referee, in case of an emergency, Charley White, of New York. There were no preliminary bouts. Time was called at 2 137, and both advanced to the centre of the ring. THE BATTLE BY ROUNDS. First Round — Jeff walked in and Johnson gave ground. Jolinson led a straight left. Then a clincli followed. Jelf hooked a left on tlie ueok and in the clinch sent a left to the body. Johnson responded Avitli a left and they continued to stand breast to breast, LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 6? trying for inside blows. As they broke Jeff sent a left to Johnson's neck and crossed to the body. The round was tame. As they turned to their corners, Jeff tapped Johnson on the shoulder and smiled. Second Round — Jeff assumed liis crouch, but missed his first attempt. Jack forced the pace and Jeff stepped nimbly away. Jack sent a left to Jeff's face, and as they clinched ripped a hard uppercut to Jeffs chin. They held together and were unwilling to give each other any chance. Jeff sent a right to the rilis and took a left on the face at close quarters. Jeff' crouched and waited for Johnson, but he was not willing. They came together without a blow and Johnson tried his uppercut but missed. Jeff put a right on Jack's shoulder and pushed him about. AVhen they broke Jack shot his left hard to Jeffs face and tried his up- percut but missed again. Then there was a lot of wrestling and not much fighting. The gong rang with- out a good blow having been struck. Third Round — Jolmson fell into a short left to the stomach. Tliey clinched. Jack dashed a left to the nose and they clinched again. Johnson missed with right and left uppercuts and then Johnson tried a vicious right to the head, but Jeffries ducked and clinched. Johnson was very cautious in tiie break- aways. Johnson sent two liglit rights to tlu' liead and liiey clinched. At the bell Jellrics s<'nt a light left to the head. Tne round was even. Fourth Round— Johnson sent a left to the head. Jef- fries blocked Jack's right to tlie same place anil a 68 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. clinch followed. Jeffries sent three hard rights to the stomach. Johnson put a left to the head. Johnson's nose Avas bleeding. Jeffries goes into a clinch. Jolin- son sends a right to the kidneys. In the clinch he sent a straight left to the head and then took one in return. They clinched. Johnson held in the clinches. John- son Avent against the ropes and took three jabs to the stomach. The crowd Avent Avild at Jeffries' shoAving. Atthe break Johnson sent a right to the ear, without damage. Jeffries had a shade the better of this round. Fifth Round — They sparred and Johnson kept talk- ing to Jeffries. He kids Jim in the clinches. Jeffries rushed in Avith left to the ribs. Then a clinch. John- son sent a long left to the stomach, but did no damage. Jack Avorked a left uppercut to jaw, and Jim's mouth was slightly cut. He dashed in and sent two lefts to face. They sparred and Johnson backed away. He appeared to be very cautious and played on the defen- sive. Jeffries sent a straight left to mouth, and an- other to the nose, increasing the floAV of claret from that organ. They Avere clinched at the bell. Kound even. Sixth Round — The pace was slow up to this time with- out doing much damage to the men. Johnson shot a left to Jeff's face and closed Jeff's right eye.. Jack missed two rights. Jeff's nose was bleeding when the gong rang. When Jeff took his seat his seconds got busy Avith bis eye, but Jeff told them that it Avas O. K. It Avas Jolmsou's round. Seventh Round — Jeff walked right in. Jack led right LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. O9 and left and missed. Jefif's eye was badly swollen and be rubbed it with bis glove. He feinted about and tried to draw Johnson on, but the negro declined to eome in. Jeff stepped in with left to body, but missed it and took a left on the head. Jeff hooked a left to the jaw. Johnson sent in lefls to Ihe face. Jeff pulled his way into another clinch, but failed to land. He drew Jack into a lead and shot a left to tiie face. In a close quarter mi.x;;p Jack sent his left to the face. Eighth Round — Thej' sparred at the opening and John- son feinted. They rushed into a clinch and Jack hooked to the ear with a left. Johnson scut two rights to the head and repeated a moment later. Johnson 'blocked beautifully. In a half clinch Jeffries pounded the stom- ach. Jeffries ducked a left and took a right on chest. They clinched again. Johnson sent a left to the stomach. Johnson held in the clinciies and referee breaks them. Johnson forced a clinch, hanmieiing the kidneys. John- son tried a terrific right hook to the jaw but missed. Johnson sent a h'fc to the head. Jeffries dashed in with a right, but it was blocked. They clinched and Jack tried rijiht to head, but was short. They were clinched at the bell. Johnsons round by a slight margin. Ninth Roimd — Jeff stood up and walked into a left to the chest. "Make him fight," yelled C'orbett. "Never mind, just wait," said Johnson. Johnson walked in and tried left for body. Jeff got inside of it and put his head against Jack's chest and shoved the black fellow back to the ropes. Jeff took it all in calmly and seemed to be waiting the opportunity to land a good one. Jeff walked 70 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. into two left jabs on the face. They did no damage. His wrist landed hard on the ribs and Johnson did not appear to like it. It was Jeff's round. Tenth Round — They came up slowly. Jack shot a left to the face, but Jeff brushed it away and responded with a left to the body. Jack again missed a lightning right to the jaw. Jeflf put his shoulder against Johnson's body and shoved him back. At close range Johnson sent a left uppercut to Jiff's face. Jeflf got under a left lead and seemed to want to wear Jack out by bearing his weight and shoving him. Jeff struck out two lefts to face from a clinch and got one of the same kind. Jeff took two lefts on the face when they broke. He stepped in quickly and shot a left to the body as gong rang. Eleventh Round — They walked up carefully, Jeff finally trying his left only to find it blocked. He took a left in face three times, but smiled and talked to Jack. They broke away from a clinch and Johnson sent a stiff left uppercut to the face and a right to the body. He kept Jeflf bobbing his head to keep away from the right uppercut whenever they came together. In a cliuoh Jack sent two uppercuts to face and Jeflf appeared tired. They shoved about, Jeflf with his head on shoulder and when they finally broke Jack hooked left to nose, drawing blood. Jeff appeared tired, compared with Johnson. Just before the call of time Jeflf rushed in and sent left and right to body, but Jack was going away and was not hurt. Decidedly Johnson's round. Twelfth Round — .Jim walked over waiting for a chance to get inside Jack's defense. Jack simply LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 71 waited and then drew back and hooked a left to lace. "Thought yon said you Avere going to have me wild," said Johnson to Corbett's taunts. JelF bored his way to close quarters, but got a left on the sore nose for his reward. His nose bled freely and as he turned to take his seat at the gong he spat out a mass of blood. Jetf was not worried apparently and looked fresh. Thirteenth Round — When they broke Johnson sent a left to the body and a right uppercut to the chin. "Stick there. Jim," shouted Corbett. Jeff stuck until he was forced away. Then he took two lefts and a right uppercut to the jaM'. Holding him with right on shoulder, Johnson sent in three lefts to face in quick succession and then an uppercut to the face. Jeff seemed to be slow. He could not solve Johnson's de- fense and took all the blows that came his way. Jack swung a left to the face and then calmly clinched. Jetf continued to come in. The round was all Johnson's. Fourteenth Round — JeflTs eye Avas almost closed. Jeff walked into a left to the ear. Jack tapped the big fellow on tiie face twice and blocked Jeff's att(unpt at close fighting. Jeff took three straight lefts to face and got in a left to face. JetFs lefts Avere blocked by Johnson before they could get Avithin six inches of his face. "How you feel, Jim?" said Jack, as they closed in and clinched. "How you like 'em?" Jetf Avore a sober look and made no response. He took three more lefts. "They don't hurt," said Jeff. Fifteenth Round— When the men faced each other it was plain to all that Jeffries was in distress. His face was 72 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. puffed and bleeding from the punishing lefts and rights he had received, and his movements were languid. He shambled after the elusive negro, sometimes crouching low with his hand stuck out in front, and sometimes stand- ing erect. Stooping or erect, he was a mark for John- son's accurately driven blows. Johnson simply waited for tlie big white man to come in and chopped his face to pieces. They came into a clinch after a feeble attempt by Jeffries to land a left hand blow on the body, and as they broke away Jack shot his left and right to the jaw in a flash. Jeffries staggered back against the ropes. His defensive power seemed to desert him in an inslant. John- son dashed at him like a tiger. A rain of lefts and rights delivered at close quarters sent Jeffries reeling blindly. Another series of short, snappy punclies and the big white giant went down for the first time in his ring career. He fell under the top rope, over the lower one and onto the overhang of the platform. Resting on his haunches and right elbow Jeffries looked around in a dazed way and got up at the coimt of nine. While he was down Johnson stood almost over him until Rickard waved him back. He stood ready to strike, and when Jeffries arose from his knees he dashed in again. Jeffries reeled about and tried to clinch, but Johnson eluded him, and as the old champion swung around to the South side of the ring he jolted him twice on the jaw. Jeffries sank to his knees weak and tired, but got up again at the count of nine. It was then that Jeffries' friends began to call to Rickard to stop the fight. Rickard gave no heed to these appeals, Jeffries was LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 73 hi Iplcss DOW, and as lie staggered to bis feet the negro was waiting for him. A left, a right and another left, short, snappy, powerful blows, found their mark on Jef- fries" eiiin and lie went down for the third time. Again he sprawled over the lower rope, hanging half outside the ring. The timekeeper rai.sed and lowered his arm, tolling off the seconds. He bad reached the c lunt of seven when some of Jeffries' seconds put foot inside the ropes and Rickard walked between the fallen man and the negro champion. Placing his hand on Johnson's shoulder he declared bim the winner. While Jeffries was not counted out, this was merely a technical evasion. It was evident that be could never have got up inside ten seconds. STATISTICS OF THE BATTLE. Johnson's share of the money was §145,600, as follows: Sixtj'- per cent, of the purse . - - - §60,600 Bonus 10,000 Share of moving pictures 50,000 Total §120,600 Earned after signing articles and before fight - 25,000 Total §145,600 Jeffries' end was as follows: Forty per cent, of the purse . . . . §40,400 Bonus 10,000 Share of moving pictures 66,666 Total -------- §117,066 Earned after signing articles and before fight - 75,000 Total §192,066 Total earned by both fighters - - - - §;3;:37,666 Tlie gate receipts amounted to $270,775; there were 15,760 i)aid admissions; the profits on the battle which went to Kickard and Gleason were about §120,000. 74 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. JACK JOHNSON'S RECORD. Born Mar. 31. 1878, Galveston, Tex. Height 6 tt. 1% i J. Weight, 195 pounds 1897 : Beat— S. Smith 10 rounds. Jim Rocks, 4 rounds. 1898: Knockout— Rediiy Breuier. 3 rounds. Won— Jim Cole, 4 rounds. Draw — Henry Smith, 15 rounds. 1899 : Draw— Pat Smitli, 12 rounds. 1900: Beat— Josh Mills, 12 rounds. Draw— Klondike, 20 rounds. 1901: Knockout— Horace Miles, 3 rounds. Charley Brooks, 2 rounds. George Lawlor, 10 rounds. Won— John Lee, 15 rounds. Jack McCor- mick, 7 rounds. Jack McCormick, 7 rounds. Knocked out by- Joe Choynski, in March, 1901, 3 rounds. 1902 Rounds Jan. 17 Frank Childs - Draw Chicago - - 6 Dan Murphy Knockout 10 - Ed Johnson - Knockout . . - 4 Mar. 7 Joe Kennedy Knockout Oakland 4 Mar. 15 Joe Kennedy - KnocKOut .San Francisco - 4 - Bob White - Won . . . - 15 . - Jim Scanlon - Won . . . . 17 May 16 Jack Jefiries Knockout Los Angeles 5 - Klondike - - Knockout . . • 13 - - Billy stift - - Draw . . . 10 June 20 Hank Griffin - Draw Los Angeles 20 . Hank Griffin Draw Los Angeles - - 12 - Pete Everett - Won - - 20 Oct. 21 Frank Childs Won Los Anseles - - 13 Oct. 31 George Gardiner Won San Francisco 20 Dec. 4 Fred Kussell - Won Los Angeles • - S 1903 Feb. 5 Denver Ed Martin • Won Loa Angeles 20 Feb. 27 Sam McVey Won Los Angeles - - 20 Apr. 16 Sandy Ferguson Won Boston 10 May 11 Joe Butler Knockout Philadelphia - - 3 July 31 Sandy Ferguson No decision Philadelphia 6 Oct. 27 Sam McVey Won Los Angeles - - 20 Dec. 11 Sandy Ferguson Won Colma 20 1904 Feb. 15 Black Bill No decision Philadelphia 6 Aijr. 22 Sam McVey Knockout San Francisco 20 June 2 Frank Childs - Won Chicago 6 Oct. 18 Ed Martin • Knockout Los Angeles - - 2 Ml'K AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 75 JOHXSOX'S K£C'OICI> Continued. lyo,") Roun ds. Mur. 2S Marvin Hart Lost San Francisco - 20 Apr. 25 Jim Jeffords Knockout Pliiladelpliia - 4 May 2 Black Bill Won Pliiladelpbia 4 May 9 Joe Jean iiette No decision Pbiladelpbia - 3 Miiy 9 Walter Johnson Knockout Philadelpbia 3 June 26 Jack .Munroe - No decision Pbiladelpbia - 6 Ju/y 13 Morris Harris Knockout Philadelptiia 1 July 13 Black Bill - No decision Pliiladelpliia - 3 July 18 Sandy Ferguson - Won on loul (^lelsea 6 July 24 Joe Grim - No decision Pliiladelpliia 6 Nov. 25 Joe Jean nette Lost on foul Pliiladelpliia 2 Deo. 1 Yu. Peter Jackaon Draw Baltimore 12 Dec. 2 Joe Jean nette No decision Pliiladelpbia 6 1906 Jan. 16 Joe Jean nette No decision New York - 3 Mar. 14 Joe Jeanneite - Won Baltimore 15 Apr. 26 Sam Lansford Won Cbelsea 15 Apr. 19 Black Bill Knockout Will;e8barre 7 June 18 Cbarley Hagliey - Knockout Gloucester 1 Sept. 3 Billy Dunning - Draw Millinocket 10 ^ept. 20 Joe Jeannetie - No decision Pbilndelpbia - - 6 Nov. 8 Jim Jeffords No decision Pliiladelpliia 6 Nov. 26 Joe Jeanneite - Draw Portland 10 1907 Feb. 19 J'eter Felix - Knockout Sidney, A us. 1 Mar. 4 J. Lang Knoeuout Melbourne. Aus. 9 July 17 Bob Fitzsimmons Won Pbiladelpbia 2 Aus. 28 Cbarley Cutler Knockout Reading - - . 1 Sept. 12 Sailor Burke No decision Bridgeport - 6 Nov. 2 Jim Flynn Knockout t'olma . . . 11 1908 June Al MoNamara Won Plymoutb 4 July 31 Ben Taylor Knockout lOngland - 8 Dev. 26 Tommy Burns - Won Australia 14 1909 May 19 Vbil jHCk O'Brien No decision PliilBdelphia - 6 June 30 Tony Koas No decision Pittsburg 6 Sept. 9 Al Kauflman No decision San Fran. 10 Oct. 16 Stanley Kelcbell Knockout Col ma 12 1910 July 4 James J. Jeffries - Knockout Reno. Nev. - 15 1912 July 4 Jim Flynn - Won - Lhs Vegas 9 76 l.IFK AND HATTLK.S f)F JACK JOHNSON. JAMES J. JEFFRIES. James J. Jeffries was born in Carroil, Oiiio. His first battle of record was witn T. VanBuskirk, whom lie knocked out in two rounds. He beat Peter Jaeuson in three rounds, Tom Sharkey in twenty rounds, and then came East to show his calibre. He was a failure, ior he was billed to box two men at the Lenox Athletic Club, in New York. Arm- strong and Steve O'Donnell. He beat the former in ten rounds, but claimed he had hurt his hand and could not go on with O'Donnell. That was on August 5. His next appearance in the ring was when be gained the title by knocking out Bob Fitzsimmons. He won again in the same year from Tom Sharkey at Coney Island, the contest going the limit, but it was a questionable decision, the sailor forcing the fight all the way and mixing It at the finish. Many of the leading sporting men who witnessed the battle were of the opinion that it should have been a draw at least. For twenty-three rounds before the same club, on May 11, 1900, Cor- bett made Jeffries look like a novice, punching him when and where he pleased without a return, until the big fellow ended matters by catch- ing the ex-champion on the jaw with a left hook and putting him down for the count. Jeffries met Hank Griffln, Joe Kennedy and Gus Ruhlin in 1901 taking on Old Fitz in San Francisco on July 25. 1902, and knocking him> out in eight rounds. He agreed to put Jack Munroe, the Butte minen oul in four rounds at Butte, Mont., but failed, and so lost the decision. He knocked out Corbett in ten rounds on August 14, 1903, in San Francisco, and beat Jack Mu'rne m t'^'^same city the year following. RECORD. Born 1875, Carroll, Ohio. Height 6 ft. 1!4 in. Heavyweight. White. 1897: Knockout— T. VanBuskirk, 2 rounds. Dick Baker, 9 rounds. Draw— Gus Ruhlin, 20 rounds. Joe Cnovnski, 20 rounds. 1898; Won— Joe Goddard, 4 rounds. Peter Jackson. 3 rounds. Pete Everett, 3 rounds. Tom Sharkey, 20 rounds. Bob Armstrong, 10 rounds. 1899: Knockout— Bob Fitzsimmons, 11 rounds. Won— Tom Sharkey, 25 rounds. 1900: KnocKOut— Jack Finnegan, 1 round. Jim Corbett, 23 rounds. 1901 Bounds Sept. 17 Hank Griffin Won Los Angeles - - 4 Sept. 27 Joe Kennedy - Knockout Los Angeles - 2 Nov. 15 Gus Ruhlin - Won San Francisco - 5 1902 July 25 Bob Fitzsimmons Knockout San Francisco 8 Dec. 10 Jack Munroe Lost Butte - 4 1903 Aug. 14 Jim Corbett Knockout San Francisco 10 1904 AuK. 26 Jack Munroe Won San Francisco - - 2 1910 July 4 Jack Johnson - - Knockout by Reno, Nev. • - 15 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JACK JOHNSON. 77 JOHN L. SULLIVAN. They rail him "The Nolilest Roman of Them All." And it i^n't without reason, either, for he was a erent man. and he is a great man. who was always on the level. His popularity « ill never fade nor wane. John L. Sullivan was born on October 15, 1853. In his early days he nnpeared in many boxing contests in and around Boston, where he soon I ej.iriio a popular favorite. The first battle which brought him to the n.Ticecfthe seneral public was with Donaldson, nt Cincinnati, Ohio. S i.livan beat him easily, but the loser was not satwtied and challenged the Boston Strong Boy to meet him with hrd uloves for $500 a side. They met in a room in Cincinnati on December 28, 1881. By running awav Donaldson lasted ten rounds before he was knocked out. Later, wlien Sullivan came to New York, he made the announcement that he would give any man in the world $50 wlio would stand up against him for four rounds. The first man to try for the money was Steve Taylor, but his seconds threw up the "ponge in two rounds. It was then that Mr. Richard K. Fox l^egan to taUe an interest in pugilism, and he expres.sei his willingness to back Sullivan or anyone else against him in a battle for the championship of the world. Mr. Fox oSered, also, to have made a valuab'e and handsome belt to be emblem- otic of the title. At that time the only suitable antagonist for Sullivan seemed 10 be Paddy Rynn, It didn't take very long to arrange matters, and on Octoher 5, 1881, Sullivan's representatives were in the Poi.rcic (iAZKTTE cilice and the match was made for ?2 .500 a side, to be held witliin one hundred miles of New Orleans, Ln., on February 7, 1882. The figlit WHS held at Mississippi Citvand was the beginning of a new era in i)Ugili<(m in America. Over 15,000 persons were present at the ringside. A moment before tmie was culled, William II. Harding, then the sporting editor ol the Police (Gazette, stepped into the ring and gave Ryan gl.OOO presented by Richarl K. Fox. with which to bet on himself. Tne bet was taken and the monev placed in the hands of Harry Hill, the ofTicial stakeholder. Then began a fight that made pugilistic history, anil created more excitement in this connt-y than e". of the other pugilistic battles which had preceded It. The contest lasted nine rounds and started Sullivan on the road to success. After a short tour in which be met all comers, agreeing to stop ther> In lour rounds, Sullivan, at a benefit In Washington Park, New York, July 4, 1882, agreed to give |52 in. Heavyweight, Italian-Americnn. Color, White. 1901: Knockout— Chambers, 4 rouncis. Ed Seaman, 4 rounds. Ray Condy, 2rounif8. Won — Fred Davis, 6 rounds. Pat Malloy, 6 rounds. Fred France, 6 rouiKls. Kid Dawson, 3 rouiids. 1902: Knorkoul— Jack Lavell. 2 rounds. Georstp Condie, 2 rounds. Joe Tracy, 15 rounds. Biirnt'y Passow, 12 rouncJs. Ed Burns, 11 rounds. Jack Graham, 7 rounds. Won — W^illard Bean, 20 rounds. Won-toul — Jack Graham, 5 rounds. Draw— Joe Cotton, 20 rounds. Dummy Rowan, 20 rounds. 1903: KnocKout— Wm. JJalloy, 20 ro'inds. Kid Rowley, 2 rounds. Austin Yale. 7 rounds. Eddie Kellv, 20 rounds. Lost— Jtck Root, 8 rounds. Draw— Tom Kinslev, 15 rounds. Tom Kinsley, 20 rounds. 1904: KnotKOUt— Tom Kissile, 3 rounds. Ed ilcCoy, 3 rounds. Tim Hurley, 6 rounds. Ed coolev, 8 rounds. Ed Cooley.6 rounds, ^\■on — Cyclone Kelly, 20 rounds. Won-foul— Tim Hurley, 7 rounds. Draw- Andy Walsli, 20 rounds. Harry Peppers, 10 rounr.s. Morgan Williams, 20 rounds. Tommy Rilev, 20 rounds. Geortie Gardiner. 10 rounds. 1905: Knockout- Mor<;an Williams, 4 rounds. Dummy Rowan, 4 rounds. Jimmy Rowan, 6 rounds. Andy Malloy, 2 rounds. Draw— Tom Riley, 10 rounds. 1906: Knocke i out by— Tommy Burns, 15 rounds. Draw— Jack (Twin) Sullivan, 20 rounds. 1907: Knockout- Georue Gardiner, 18 rounds. Dave Barry, 7 rounds. Bill Squires, 6 rounds. Knocked out by- Jack Jolinson, 11 rouncis. Won— Jack (T^.in) Sullivun, 20 rounds. Won-foul— Tony Ross. 18 rounds. Draw— Jack (Tnin) Suli van, 20 rounds. 1908: Knocked out hy— Al Kauflman, 9 rounds. Sam LauL'ford.l round. Draw— Jim Barry, 10 rounds. No decision— J. (Twin) Sullivan, lo rouiiiis. Jim Barry, 10 rounds. Batilins Jolinson, 10 rounds. Won — Ralilini; Johnson, 10 rounds. Battling Johnson, 10 rounds. LIFE AND RATTLES OF JACK JOHNSOX FtYNX'S R e C O R D - Continued. 1909 Rounds Mar. 19 Billy Papke No decision Los Angeles - - - 10 June 1 Mont. Jack Sullivan - No decision Los Anseles - 10 July 14 Billy Papke No decision Los Angeles - 10 July 30 Phil. Jack O'Brien - No decision Denver - 6 sept.22 Bill Petlus Won Pueblo - 10 Oct. 30 Jack Burns - No decision Los Angeles 10 Dec. 31 Joe Willia Knockout Los Angeles - 10 1910 Feb. 8 Sam Langforii No decision Los Angeles - 10 Mar. 17 Sam Langlord Knocked out by Los Angeles 8 1911 Jan. 2 Tony Capon i Won Los Angeles 9 Mar. 28 Al Mindino Knockout Muskouefl 4 May 5 Al Kauflmari Knockout Kansas City - - 10 Sept. 15 Carl Morris - Won New York - 10 Nov. 20 Cliarley Sclniiidt - Draw Fort Wortii - 4 Dec. 27 Tony Caponi Knoci;out Salt Lake City 3 1912 Jan. 18 Al Williams - Knockout Toronto - 2 July 4 Jack Juhnson Lost Laa VegHs - 9 '^'^/S^ ALL SPORTING RECORDS GREATEST OF REFERENCE BOOKS ACTUAL SIZE OF BOOK SX-lJj INCHES. Mailed for Six 2-cent Stamps. THE STANDARD SPORTING AUTHORITY PUBLISHED EVERY YEAR. XHK BKST BOXER IVRfT£S The BKST BOOK All the Scientific Points of Boxine Made Plain Sent on Receipt of Seven 2-cent Stamps iNEw book: on WRESTLING By prank: gotch The World's Champion a N?20-FOXS ATHLETIC LIBRARY' ?:Uiil (fl An indispensible book for those who wish to learn the art of WRESTLING. SENT ON RECEIPT OF SEVEN 2 -CENT STAMPS n Here's a Standard Authority ! N9 4-FOX'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. THE AUTHORITY ON CARDS When You Get This Book You Get The Best. lfT7 "m" POX'S revised edition of 1 am^msmi ■H^IhbS^E ^mSSI&Mm i ^ \ 1 i SMNDiRD f AMHORmf ■■l^ki . PUBLfSMEO BY ^ BICHABB. K. POX J?* Ij Mailed for Fifteen 2-cent Stamps. In this book are Rules on Card Games which are official, and recognized as such all over the world. Do You Play Poket? QET THIS BOOK HOW TO WIN I ornciAL RULES PRICE I0CENT5 RICHARD K. FOX Publisher. pRANKLIN SgUARU. It Will Show You How To Win Legitimately HAINDV VEST POCKET SIZE SENT BY MAIL FOR SIX 2 CENT STAMPS W tu ?0 3 S c-i ^ O ^- * a ?0 •• ts ^ o (-K n i -D 01 G • -^ ^ ^ (/) c?- a z a a f •^ < So N CI Hi tf b o ^ M a. t ^ a 5" Z « « •O ^0 ro m r 2: m > z ^ ^ a •t i» *, b p CENTRA! AA 000 891 494 7 University oi oaiiiornia, San Diego DATE DUE ^gg 1 7 1Q77 A.d.0. K9jfe.t l ^^^88 TTPgn MAY 1 5 2000 M i i:i\Liui\y-vi\ I Lv^/Ai S PUBRARY LOA^ NOV 1 :^ 1 9 88 a [TlRL FEB^2 W1 NTERiayiARY LOArJ Kb 2 k! 1991 U.CS.D. — -^-i4m- APR 3 1994 FFBOt C/39 !>0M !)'ii65 f/CSD Libr. T U: