| Show ir S fl r Y i T Big Jess Willard Rates With Primo By JAMES J. J JOHNSTON Manager of Boxing Champions A AP Features Feature I Fifth of a Series SerIes' Jack Johnson made a trip around the world boxing all comers comI comers com corn I ers and earned fairly wide recognition recognition as champion since he had beaten Tomm Tommy Burns but what Johnson wanted most was for James J. J Jeffries to come out of ot othIs his retirement and fight Jeffries had quit while he was the undefeated champion and had given n his title to Marvin Hart Hart in turn was whipped by Bums Burns who fell before belore Johnson So while Johnson had whipped the then champ Burns many fight fig fans fans' still felt that the unbeaten Jeffries was the worlds world's best fight fight- er Johnson wanted a crack at Jeffries so he could have undisputed undisputed undisputed claim to the title Finally Jeff agreed to meet Johnson for the largest purse ever offered for a heavyweight fight up to that time This contest at Reno Nev was staged by Tex Tax Rickard later atEr latro to b become come the e country's coun coun- try's top promoter and also refereed refereed ref- ref creed by Tex marking perhaps the first time a promoter refereed a about about bout he arranged Jeff had been out of ot the ring too long to make a good fight and the Negro had little trouble with him stopping Jeffries In the round to firmly establish himself as the champion Johnson went to Europe won a few bouts and then came back to Cuba to meet the new white hope hope bulky bulky Jess Willard Towering Giant Willard was a towering giant with little knowledge of boxing but with confidence that his size and strength would carry him through h. He had a very natural right-hand right uppercut but no defense defense defense de de- whatever His Ills style was to wait walt until you took a punch at him then he would lean back and as you came in he would let go with his nis pet uppercut which was terrific I had an unusual experience with Willard which may be interesting to relate here A boxer had died after a bout with him and big Jess was upset and wanted to retire But he was prevailed upon to return return return re re- turn because of the prospect of a title bout with Johnson So when he returned to the ring his first first contest was in Milwaukee with Boer Rodel a South African whom I managed Willards Willard's manager left him unattended unattended unattended un un- un- un attended for a few moments so I thought 1 would try a a little 5 1 I S S I Jess Willard a champ who had little except size and strength on Jess I examined his I hands and whispered Look out and be very careful dont don't hit this chap too hard as he has a bad heart and if it he dies y you'll be in a hell of a fix Jess looked up in a bewildered manner and replied What What did you say 1 By that time his manager had returned and I I left Before Willard could tell his manager what I had said the referee referee referee ref ref- ref ref- called the fighters to start 1 and the fight was on Meanness in Willards Willard's Eyes Well Willard was afraid to hit Rodel a good punch and Rodel wasso wasso was wasso so afraid of Jess he wouldn't go near him and so the match was wasI horrible Afterward I walked into Willards Willard's dressing room and when I he saw me he turned to his manager manager manager man man- ager and said Ill tell you now what was wrong with me tonight and pointing to rn m me he related the story But there was meanness in Willards Willard's eyes and I took that moment moment moment mo mo- mo- mo ment to vanish from the room A A. few months later Willard won the title from Johnson in Havana Jess I should say was a shade better than Primo Camera Carnera Louis Loiis boxing Willard would be like the master matter and the pupil lupU w with th the pupil taking lessons and Louis battering battering battering bat bat- Willard into helplessness long before the tenth round Tomorrow Dempsey Tomorrow Dempsey |
