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THE AUSTRALIAN.
.'A TALK "\VITH LANG.
Lang Is a man of herculean propor
tions, and of remarkable strength. Ho
he demonstrated his. unflinching pluck,
both on the football field nnd ln the
ooxing arena, and has great nopes 01
defeating his opponent.
"You see, It is like this," he remarked
this morning, "Johnson's reputation
doesn't searo me. lie may have
frightened Jeffries out of ihc business,
but he has no terrors for me. His re
cord, no doubt, bears the imprint of a
champion's hand, but every time I look
it over, l become moro confident of my
ability to put him 'out.'
"Yes. 1 am a native of Victoria. I
was born at Nagambfe twcntY-four years
ago. J played the part of follower for
the Richmond Football Club for several
seasons, and I reckon that shows there
nro no defects In my physical make-up."
"You never met Squires?"
"No; not -In a straight-out fight; but
wo had many a four-round "dust-up,"
and my friends wore always looking for-
; ".TACK" JOIINSOX (AMERICA). ; Help
; ".TACK" JOIINSOX (AMERICA). ;
wand to ihc day when nil) and I would'
be contesting for the Australian heavy
weight supremacy." > '
"luires is a difficult man to spar
with?"
"Yes. As n matter of fact, ho could
not spar— well, not gently, as sparring
goes. He would lash out loft and right,
and that was the end of you, Jf he
landed fair and square. I had to put
up with some good stiff punching, but,
with nn eye to tho future; always took
it In good part.
"My friends figure it out that I have
tin excellent chance of beating Johnson.
His style of fighting will suit mo down
to the ground. I. wilt give him" ail. his
wonderful science . In, for it's the" fruhch
that wins the battle. .1 am notvgivlng
to blowing about my capabilities, but I
feel pretty certain, after seeing Johnson
spar, that I can knock him."
"But what of Johnson stopping you?"
"Well, .his record doesn't prove him
to be a hard puncher. Of course, (f
wo are together for twenty rounds he
will probably beat" me on points; but that
will be my special business to avoid."
"Have you ever been 'knocked out?' "
"No; I havo never yet received a punch
thut hag seriously troubled me, . and I
. .... LANG (AUSTRALIA). Help
. .... LANG (AUSTRALIA).
have mot all the best mon at present In
; the game."
j "When a novice I put in 20 rounds with
Ed. Williams, nnd though ho mode des
perate efforts to put mo out In the last
few rounds, he did not succeed. Then r
won on a foul in four rounds over Tas
mania's champion, Malley Jnckwm, und
followed up by settling the pretensions
of Tom Fcnnessy— the only mar. In Vic
toria, by the way, who tnood \ys rounds
Iteforc Squires— in '13 rounds."
"You rely 4hcn on your great strength
of hitting, endurance ond stamina to
carry you through?"
"That's what won Squires nil his bat
tles, and ns clever as Johnson is re
puted to he I expect to be able to wear
him down <0 such an extent thnt his sub
sequent defeat will be easy,"
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