The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-29
WILLARD TO COAST
Kansas Heavyweight Seeks
Boxing Engagements.
Has Broken With Cutler and
Hooked Up With Jones.

Jess Willard, the Kansas offering in
heavyweight fighting circles. has de-
serted Charles CKid) Cutler and signed
a contract with Tom Jones. This an
nouncement was made this week and
has been expected for two or three
weeks. The first information in To-
peka was received from Willard while
he was here few weeks ago.
The big Kansan did not believe that
Cutler had the necessary standing in
leading sporting circles to get matches
with the leaders of the heavyweight
class. Cutler is given credit for be-
ing a prince of good fellows, but Tom
Jones is recognized as one of the best
pugilist managers in the country and
Willard was anxious to throw off the
old and take on the new.
Tom Jones uncovered Ad Wolgast
and was respoi- sible for the latter
success in making more than a barrel
of money. Wolgast gives Jones credit
for his success and there is not a fight
er in the country but who would have
jumped at the chance to fall under
the guidance of Jones.
Cutler is peeved because Willard has
deserted him and probably has a few
good reasons to be. Willard is one of
the best drawing cards in fighting cir
Giles and Cutler realizes that he would
have made a large amount of money
if he could have retained the manage
made money and a pile of it. willard
was hopelessly in debt when he began
fighting about two years ago and he
has been successful in paying off all
his debts and has a few shekelS left.
Willard believes that he has paid Cut
Ter well for heis services and trouble.
Willard and Cutler were not work.
ing under signed agreement. Will
lard said, when in Topeka, that they
had agreed to work together until
hs9d h ic II Il
ues Cutters friendship and said that
to tell Cutler that things were off"
would be one of the hardest tasks that
he was ever called upon to perform.
Refuses to Sign.
Willard refused to sign articles of
agreement for a fight with Gunboat
Smith before the members of the
Paramount Athletic club, of New
York, for the reason that he did not
think the club was big enough to get
as much money as some others might
and for the reason that he wanted to
get away from Cutters management.
Cutler accuses Willard of refusing to
enter into an agreement to fight Bonn
badier Wells. Cutler claims that he
had arranged to put Willard on with
the gunner before Gunboat Smith had
been given the offer.
Gunboat Smith defeated Bomba-
der Wells. the man with a Plass jaw,
and sent him back home, and now
thinks himself a bear. He is a bear
as far as the Englishman is concern
ed. but did any of the sports ever see
Britisher who would fulfill advance
notices. excepting the veteran Charlie
Mitchell? Even this man could not
go the gait set by American pugilists
and was Knocked out by Jim Corbett
before the former got his muscles
1oosened up.
.Gunboat Smith may be all that is
claimed for him, but it would be diff
ficult for him to overcome the advan-
tages which Willard would over over
him. Willard measure six feet, six
which is said to be considera BILE more
than any man in the fighting game
today. Wizards reach is seven inches
greater than Luther McCarty's
Smith won host of admirers by de-
feating the Britisher, but that won't get
him anything in a fight with Willard.
Wise men of the game contend that the
former would be an easy victim for the
big Kansan. match with these two
other contest in pugilstic circles, except
ing a match with Luther McCarty. The
latter is at the top of the ladder since
his victory over Jim Flynn, and there
is no question but that he is the best
drawing card in this or any other coun-
try.
Jess Willard has been resting and visit
ing at his home in Emmett. for several
weeks. but went to Denver during the
latter part of last week. He believes
he can force matters to a close for a fight
with McCarty by visiting the Pacific
coast and is headed in that direction for
that purpose. In addition to that, he wants
fans. who have been wanting him to