"Boston Tar Baby" Outpoints Jim Johnson in Great Fight
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By Ray White.
It remained for two colored men to give Atlanta fistic fans a demonstration of real pugilism, which Sam Langford, the world-renowned "Boston Tar Baby," and "Battling" Jim Johnson, of New York, the world's knockout record holder, did with a vengeance in a 10-round gruelling mill at the Auditorium last night, in which "Tham" outpointed, without vanquishing, his antagonist.
Beyond question, it was 10 rounds of the most skilful, most scientific and at once the most terrific fighting by heavyweights ever seen in a local ring that the sport-lovers of Atlanta saw last night. At the same time, the entire card was perhaps the best ever offered--so good, in fact, that there was not a spot in it where criticism could be advanced with fairness to any of the dusky performers, or to the management.
Colored Card Throughout.
And it was a colored card throughout, opening with a rattling good battle royal between five local negroes of varying class, which was in itself well worth going to see. The battle royal was followed by a corking four-round bout between Young Jackson and Spike Wilson, which the latter, who was by several pounds the heavier, negro won by a decision, and that bout by what was scheduled for a six-session mill between Charlie Stinson and George Wilmington. Stinson fought like a tiger while he lasted, but was unable to weather the onslaughts of his heavier adversary, and the referee very properly stopped the contest in the third, giving Wilmington a technical knockout verdict.
When the main bout last night opened, the two giants came together with a crash and a bang, and during the first and second rounds, Johnson managed to keep comparatively free from Sam's terrible short-distance punches, and in that way he won claim to both rounds by a shade. He was the aggressor in those two sessions, but in the third the "Tar Baby" went in as though to get through and catch his train home. He kept close to the bigger fellow, and the way he bombarded Johnson in the clinches kept the spectators on their feet in bewilderment. That was Sam's round, but in the fourth and fifth Jim held him even during two rounds of the greatest fighting and most clever boxing any devotee of the "manly art" might wish to see. The sixth was Sam's by a very narrow margin, and he increased his lead in the seventh, when he slowed the big fellow perceptibly with a sickening smash in the pit of the stomach. He won that round, and for a moment it looked as though it was about time to reach for hats, when Jim awoke suddenly, and, with a piledriver blow sent to the mouth, he sent "Tham" back across the ring. The smaller man came back like a flash, however, and, bleeding from a cut lip, proceeded to validate his title to that round.
The eighth likewise was Langford's and Sam also, perhaps was entitled to a shade in the ninth.
Tenth Round Desperate.
But the tenth and last and most desperately-contested round of the match was won by Johnson. Both men came in for the beginning of the end, each determined to leave the hall with the other's scalp hanging to his belt. It was just after a gruelling mixup when Johnson scored the first and only knock-down of the bout. He caught Sam a horrible kick which was aimed at the jaw, but which missed its mark by a matter of a few inches and took Langford on the side of the head. The force of the blow sent Langford sprawling to his knees, but he was up instantly, unhurt, and for the remainder of the entertainment gave his heavier foe full measure for all that he received.
Danny O'Donnell, of Cleveland, Ohio, was the third man in the ring during the main bout, and covered himself with honor by his skill, fairness and competency. While both men fought absolutely clean and according to rules, the referee's job was a hard and a dangerous one. Danny did more than well, and his verdict was one against which not a word of complaint could justly be uttered.
William Shaw, a colored man, refereed the battle royal and the two other bouts; and M. H. Karnes made a very satisfactory substitute for Dick Jemison as the announcer.
Just before the wind-up bout Announcer Karnes made a speech, during which he elicited rounds of applause by announcing that, beginning with a bout on the night of July 3 the promoters of last night's entertainment will stage a series of ten contests. The opening bout of the series will include Charlie White, said Mr. Karnes, against either Joe Welling, Frankie Callahan, Jimmie Dundee or Irish Patsy Kline--most probably the last named. Other boxers--every one a top-notch man--the announcer said, has been signed to appear during the series, are Bennie Leonard, Johnnie Kilbane, Jack Dempsey, Fred Fulton, Pete Hermann, Earl Puryear, Pal Moore and others.
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