The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-23
WILLARD is BEST
Marvin Smith, Buffalo Sport
Writer, Boosts Kansan.
Just Beginning to Learn to.
Handle His Fists.
BORN AND RAISED ON FARM
Future Ring Champion For
merly Lived Here.
Eastern Writers Give Big Fell
low Chance to Clean Up.
BORN AND RAISED ON FARM

With big Jack Johnson in the discard
precipitated thereto by public senti-
ment, the heavyweight title will pass
out of his hands as though he died
writes Marvin Smith, in the Buffalo En-
quirer.
That means a white man and the best
one of the large list of aspirants will
never be allowed to jeopardize his title
by meeting colored men. Back to the
days of John L. Sullivan who establish
ed precedent. already the fistic dope
sters of the press are busy with col
umns of space scintillating with adjec-
tiyes pertaining to the fistic prowess OF
this or that big man from different
parts of the country, as having all the
attachments of becoming a champion
A wedding out process will be pursued
by the promoters throughout the coun-
try. Probably better man than either
Corbett, FitzsimmonS or Jefries ever
was, and let us hope that he will fol-
low the narr w path and not be killed
off by an army of fair weather friends
which are always prominent when
boxer is the king-pin of his brigade.
The future champion developed from
the present field OF youngsters in order
to be q champion will have to be a
blend of the types of the predecessors
200 pounds, quick on foot, clever
boxer, a possessor of knockout, a ply
sique that will withstand a gruelling if
forced to. and last, but not least, must
have brains, a quick thinking chap, in
and out of the ring. Is there one among
the white hopes that could be developed
into this blend of requirements? I will
answer, I think so, and right here in
Buffalo at the present time. There may
be others. If so, so much the better.
The one l have in mind is big Jess
willard. who is here a visit.
EarIv Career of the KanSan.
1 don't wish to detract or under
estimate or attempt to throw a blanket
on our Buffalo boy, George Davis flu
ture, as his work has been consistent
and creditable, and he will surely be
found a stubborn contester for the title
in race. This big, good-natured Kan
san will come through the bunch, in the
vernacular of the racetrack as a thor
Oughbred comes through field of SELL
ing platers at the entrance of the
stretch. His career up to date is novel;
like. Born on a big farm in Kansas, |
near Topeka, of Scotch-Irish parentage.
twenty-four years ago. though both his |
parents were born in this country, his !
father in Ohio and his mother in Ken !
lucky, up to the age of IS he worked on ,
his fathers farm along with his older |
brother, who, by the way, was one of !
the best foot racers out west, stepping |
Inside of the ten seconds. Jess's father |
and dealt in horses exclusively He /
would buy wild bronchos from Mon !
tana, ride them himself before shipping /
them throughout Kansas and Okla |
homa. No broncho was too wild for him /
until he grew too tall and heavy. He |
next went into the livery business, and |
operated large plant. All this time |
he never had seen big city, knew no |
dissipation and at the age of nearly 90 |
he went for his first city visit to Okla
homa City with a constitution thor |
oughly set and cemented by clean Iiv- |
ing, far different than the average big |
city boy gets an opportunity to pos |
sess. He struck Oklahoma City stand |
ing feet inches and weighing $50 |
pounds. He now weighs 235. He saw
for the first time a boxing match-a |
pair of 1ightweights. He became fas- |
cinated instantly. sought the promoter |
and told him he would like to try the |
game. Now, Jess didn't know any more |
about the boxing game than a rabbit |
knows about Latin, just a big powerful !
fellow with a strong heart. The pro- |
moter matched him with Louis Fink |
who was over 200 pounds. and was Carl |
Morris ring tutor. The bout, Willard's |
first one, took place on February Is |
1911. He knew nothing about training |
or anything else. His work was crude |
but impressive to the audience. The |