THE WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1304, 22 April 1915, Page 28

THE WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP.

PARTICULARS OF NEGRO’S DEFEAT. NOT A LUCKY BLOW. Later details from Havana show that the suggestion that the knockingout of Jack Johnson was due to a chance opportunity is an injustice to Willard. The consensus of opinion is that up to the end of the twentieth round th© black would have been entitled to a verdict. Then he showed signs of wilting under the terrific strain, and thereafter the fight was tame. The collapse of the negro was complete at the end of the twentyfourth round, when he turned to Tom Flanagan, who was sitting with Mrs. Johnson, and remarked, “I can’t go much further; tell the wife to leave.” Willard declares that the punch was a right to the body early in the last round. Johnsen was limp in the next clinch, and while it is true that he looked to see if his wife had left, it is not substantiated that, Willard chose that moment for the

death-blow. When the referee broke the clinch the cowboy rushed in forced Johnson into his (Willard’s) corner. Jack was slow, and was guarding against a swinging left hook which found the body. His legs quivered. The towering white giant again feinted for the body, Johnson dropped his guard, and the title was won by a quick, hard swing right on the point. Johnson declared that he proved that he was in condition by going 20 rounds. He tried his best, but he was up against a man who to crumple up when hit. There has been a hot argument as to whether Johnson was knocked un- 1 conscious. The first man who entered

the ring says most emphatically that he was. It is generally believed that the black knew he had no chance of winning, and chose to take no more punishment. In the seventh round he all but stopped Willard with a blow on the midriff, and at least half a dozen times rocked the Kansas champion with fierce jaw-punches. It is not expected that Willard will risk the title for 12 months. His manager, Tom Jones, says that the new champion hopes to visit Australia. => * * * The Havana correspondent of the United Press Agency states that Jack Johnson and his wife are on their way to Martinique to take boat for France. On arrival there it is their intention to start chicken-farming. * * * 4: Dick Burge, the well-known boxing promoter, has cabled Jess Willard, the new world’s champion, offering him substantial inducements to meet a heavyweight in England. * * * * THE NEW CHAMPION. Jess Willard, the new heavyweight champion of the world, who succeeded in knocking out decadent Jack Johnson at Havana, Cuba, is in his 28th year; he stands 6ft. 6in. high, has a reach of 83% inches, and weighs 16st. 61b. Willard is known throughout America as the human skyscraper. He was one of the great crop of white hopes which sprang up throughout America after Johnson defeated Jeffries at Reno in 1910. Mostly Willard fought men of inferior calibre. The best boxer he ever faced was Gunkoat Smith, who won a 20 rounds battle on points. No decision contests, each extending over 10 rounds, were fought by Willard with Arthur Pelkey, whom Bill Lang defeated in Sydney, and Luther McCarthy, who died during a battle with Pelkey at Calgary, Canada, a year or two ago. Jack Skelly, the well-informed New York scribe, last month referred to. Willard and his then prospective contest with Johnson in the following interesting article:— “If Jess Willard is lucky enough to defeat Jack Johnson for the world’s heavyweight championship, he will be an ideal king of Fistiana. With his grand, commanding, gigantic physique, he certainly makes a magnificent appearance, either in or out of the roped arena. Standing as straight as an arrow, six feet six inches in height, with a well-protected, symmetrical body, he certainly looks the part of a grand fistic glad.ator. He has a clear, healthy, out-of-doors, pink and white complexion that many a young maiden would be proud of. There’s not the

.slightest taint of dissipation in his; cheerful face or keen, deep-set, earnest eyes. in fact, he’s the picture of rugged, robust stamina. The big fellow seems to be always in good humour. He loves to smile and laugh even in the middle of a gruelling fight’ He has a very quiet, unostentatious manner, and seldom cares to talk fistic affairs, except when he is led into the subject by some friend or other.

If anything, I think Jess is too good-natured in battle. He often laughs outright at a desperate opponent making wild efforts to land on him. I would rather see him a bit more serious in his milling; I might say, more wicked and determined in his style. The only time he displays his pugnacious spirit is when the other iellow stings him hard. Then look out for fireworks! It’s very seldom indeed that he ever cuts loose in a combat, but when he does he’s a holy terror. In these flashy moments he appears to be able to knock anv antagonist into smithereens. On account of his great height Jess has a splendid defence for hisliead nd fa c e , but not so good a guard' tor his body. I imagine that Jack Johnson will land some hot wallopson his solar plexus if he’s not morecareful. Some of us old fans can remember how little Joe Walcott pumped some solid smashes into his bigtall opponents, and brought them down off their perch, as it were. The dusky champion may resort to the same tactics and do a lot of damage o Willard, if he does not- know how to protect that part of his anatomy.

John L. Sullivan, for example, was always a head 'fighter. He seldom made play for an opponent’s stomach. He aimed to hit an opponent on the point of the jaw and put him out most effectively. The first time he met Charley Mitchell (at Madison Square Garden, May 14, 1883), the clever boxing champion of England caught John L. off his guard and walloped a corker in the bread basket that sent Sullivan greatly amazed on his back. This was the only time John L. was ever floored during his long fistic career, except when he sank down exhausted before Jim Corbett at New Orleans, and lost his championship in the 21st round to the scientific young Californian. “If Jess Willard should land the crown, he will be the most popular champion we’ve had since John L. Sullivan’s palmy days. He will not only com a mint of money by theatrical engagements and boxing exhibitions all over the world, but he will be the fistic hero for some time to come. Johnson had a splendid opportunity, although he is a negro, to make thousands of dollars and to be well liked, but he threw his chances away to the four winds by not only disgracing himself, but also his race and the boxing game. If he had conducted himself in the gentlemanly manner Peter Jackson did, another grand pugilist of his own race, he might have gained the admiration of millions of fans. He has been the cause of several boxing commissions throughout the country drawing the colour line. It is a question, if Willard should become the champion, if another negro will ever get the opportunity to again become a titleholder. In other words, Johnson has killed the goose that laid the golden eggs for the coloured race of fighters in this country especially. “The Kansan cowboy for over a year has had an idea that he can defeat Jack Johnson. He never expressed himself in a bombastic, inflated manner, but in a quiet, conservative way to his manager, Tom Jones, and a few other close friends. He also so impressed Jack Curley, H. H. Frazee, and L. Lawrence Weber, the three promoters of the big fight. I believe Mr. Franzee is the principal financial backer of the affair, and he claims to have put 100,000 dollars into the enterprise. Johnson alone is to receive 32,000 dollars, win or lose. There is a great deal of advance expenses for presswork, printing, training, building ring, seats, etc. In fact, it is quite an expensive undertaking and risk when taken into consideration.

“So confident is Willard, however, that he can defeat Johnson, he has gone into the long severe training and the coming battle without a dollar being guaranteed to him, win or lose. If he’s beaten he will probably not receive a cent, but if he wins the money will flow to him. No other contender for the big championship honours has ever accepted such conditions. They always had to be guaranteed some fairly good end, win or lose. This indeed proves Willard’s wonderful confidence in his ability to land tlie crown.”