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Show WILjAHu OS cS Hi Sl:j;j.?A. Comparison of Two Pugs Gives the Old Boy . the Palm. x ;OLD-TIME RULE BEST America's First Champ Has Never Been Out-classed in Courage. NEW YORK, Feb. 3. What -would Je'sa Willard have looked like In a bout with John L. Sullivan had he met tho lato veteran when he was In his prime? Jim Corbett, who won the championship champion-ship from John L says It would havo been a farco, with Sullivan on top. Jefferies says that none of tho younger fighters could have stood up under John L.'s mighty wallops. Willard hns not expressed himself. Tho question, howover, is one that will nevor bo answered, because of tho death of the "Boston Strong Boy." who defied the world, and tho nice things that are now being said about him cause us naturnlly to contrast him with tho present ohampion. The two men certainly wero not very much alike. The one fought a whole lifetime to make $1,000,000 and the other recently rofusod to fight because ho did not need tho same amount of money. Mot All Comers. When John L. Sullivan won the championship frpm Paddy Ryan in Mississippi City, February 7, 1S82, ho began at once a lour of the world, fighting all who camo, never questioning question-ing whether thoy had qualified to meet him. but fighting them becauso thoy wero willing to meet him. That was enough for John L. It was Indeed a triumphal march and he emerged victorious vic-torious from many a spectacular battle. bat-tle. But he was defending his championship cham-pionship and was ready and willing to surrender it to the right man when he met him. Imagine Jess Willard in a bare knuckle baltlo running seventy-five rounds, ns the Klllrnln -Sullivan fight at Richburg. iMiss. This may possibly answer tho question of tho superiority of the two heavyweights of the "square circle." Sullivan liked London and its rules of fighting are summed up in his own words : "Fight to a finish or no fight at all." This was what he called real Sportsmanship. Sports-manship. "The greatest Roman of them all," John L. offered $1000 to any man who was willing to meet him Instead of constantly telling the world what the "forty thieces" promoters were trying try-ing to. make out of his shows. Since Willard carao into the possession posses-sion of the championship belt he has fought but one bout. That was with Frank Moran at Madison Square garden. gar-den. Sullivan witnessed this bout and said Moran had tho bettor of it. Since then Willard has withdrawn from active ac-tive pugilistic circles and Is living n sort of a hermit's life to the boxing world. Even suggestions of Red Cross charity did not succeed in bringing him forth. His .only offers for this cause come In the form of "no decision" decis-ion" bouts. There Is no wonder tha't Sullivan was popular, but there is some doubt whether Willard ever will be. |