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Show W1LLARD HAS KEPT HIMSELF IN TRIM XKW VOKK," Jan. 5. Contrary to general belief among the boxing bugs of tho country, Jess Willard. the world's heavyweight champion, does not weigh a too. Since Jess came out with his announcement an-nouncement a short time ago that he would defend his title for the benefit of the Red Cross or some other wartime war-time organization, it has developer! that Willard lias been carrying no more than fifteen to twenty pounds of Mirplus avoirdupois, and that he -would have little trouble getting into shape in so far as Ihe weight is eoneertied. At the time of his offer to meet anv man for the title several prominent promi-nent followers of boxing in Chicago were surprised beyond measure to see Willard appear in gym costume, appar-entlv appar-entlv earrviug no more than five or ten pounds excess baggage. They could scarcely believe their eyes. Willard explained at the time that he has not permitted himself to grow fat aud flabby. He says he has taken enough exercise to keep his weight down to a point where it is -within easy-reach easy-reach any time he is called upon to train for a championship battle, and with this fact in view the boxing fans are entertaining a hunch that the big cowboy is still capable of taking care of his crown. Willard may not be as good now as he was when he met Jack Johnson at Havana, say some of the boxing bugs, and in the same breath they remark re-mark that none of the present eon-tenders eon-tenders for the heavyweight skypiece are as capable in the ring as the big smoke was when he met Willard. And this joes with a lot of 'em. regardless of the fact that Johnson was supposed to have been all in when he met the present champ. |