New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-05
THE WHITE HOPE
SITUATION STILL
in A BIG MIDDLE
"Gunboat" Smith the Best of a
Lot of Poor Timber in Heavy.
weight Glass.
WILLARD TOO GOOD NATURED
Lacks Fighting Instinct, as Was
Shown in Farcical Bout
with Carl Morris.

The bout between Jess Willard and
Carl Morris at Madison Square Garden on
Wednesday night failed to "clear up the
heavyweight situation" as those who so
industriously advertised the farce predict
situation" is more muddled than at any
time since Jim Jeffrles went down to de-
feat before Johnson at Reno, three years
ago. In looking over the bouts of the
leading hcavywelghts trail labyrinth
ian as the comparative scores of football
elevens stores one in the face, and, after
all. leads to no place in particular.
II IS interesting to review the series of
affairs between "Gunboat" Smith and
Jess Willard. ''Gunboat" Smith and
Georg Rodel. George Rodel and Jess Will
/ lard. "Gunboat' Smith and Carl Morris.
and Carl Morris and Jess Willard. one
might go further and include the bouts
between Willard and McCarty. Willard
and Arthur Pelkey and Pelkey and Nc
Carly. "Gunboat" Smith won a decision
! over Willard after twenty rounds In San
Rodel twice. one in ten rounds and once
In three Rodcl and Willard boxed ten
rounds i'm Milwaukee a few weeks ago.
with honors easy.
Fresh I'm the minds Of al who saw the
meeting Of Morris and Smith is the fear
less spirit shown by the Oklahoma man.
| I'm that bout, which ended In confusion In
the fifth round. he carried the fight in the
face Of terrific punches. and in the minds
OF many was on the high road TO victory
when the referee stopped the battle be-
cause Of an alleged foul. II is remembered
that Willard held Luther McCarty TO a
draw I'm ten rounds. and outboXed Arthur
Pelky who knocked McCarty cold.
Having seen Morris force Smith to the
limit Of his ability. the enthusiasts looked
forward TO a rare contest, and. In truth.
IL was rare. Seldom has anything been
seen To compare with it,
II is the opinion OF some who witnessed
the affair that Willard. II he possessed
the real lighting instinct would develop
into a real champion. Endowed by nature
with a wonderful physique. he has &C
qured some skill In the mechanical points
OF boxing lie has a good left hand. and
knows how To use IL In either hooking or
jabbing His right hand counters and
hooks are most dangerous. and while his
right uppcrcut has not been perfected. IL
is "A wallop to be avoided. Furthermore,
his defence IL good. and for man OF his
size he moves swiftly.
willard. however. would rather punch
cattle than punch men. In the early
rounds Of the affair. as long as Morris
was willing TO assume poses plastique and
do nothing. Willard was content to fe!nt
and step about the ring. leading half
hearted labs. Later. however. when Nor
rls butted. willard warmed up and landed
a few crushers. There were any number
OF openings left by Morris which II fol-
lowed through would have ended IN a
Knockout. but Willard was willing To let
well enough alone.
As the heavyweight situation now
stands there IN not a man. with the posi-
bic exception OF "Gunboat" Smith. worthy
OF consideration. There were many who
declared previous TO Wednesday night
that Smith was not as good man as
Morris. but these enthusiasts retracted
their statements last night.
Dumb Dan" Morgan, manager OF Bat
Ting" Levinsky. is out with challenge
20 any white heavyweight In the world.
Carl Morris. Jess Willard or "Gunboat
Smith preferred After watching Willard
and Morris manuuvre through ten Sroan-
ing periods Morgan chirped as follows:
The more | see OF hese hopes the more
/ am convinced that there is no such
thing. However. | will bet any part OF
81 900 that Battling ieyinsky can whip
any white heavyweight. My man is not a
hope lie is merely light heavyw eight.
Weighing 1863 pounds I'm the ring. | Will
engage I.eyinsky TO meet Morris and VIII
lard five rounds each in the same ring,
one after another. with five minutes rest
between bouts"
The heavyweights have something to
worry over in addition TO their local
souabbles. for Colin Bell. the heavyweight
champion Of Australia, is on his way mere
to meet them all. Bell is a second edition
OF Tom Sharkey. and can fight after the
fashion of the famous old sailor.
Three months ago the TIedden law,
leBdIiZlnE bOGlhS III w lSCoIlHlIl' NeHt i'''o
effect. and since that time 5000 has
flowed into the Golfers OF the state. Four
teen clubs are licensed, and each Is taxed
Ter cent OF the gross receipts OF each
bout.
Patsy Kline. OF this city, formerly anna
teur featherweight champion of the met
ropolltan district, will box his first pro-
fessional bout at the New Polo Athletic
club tonight. He will meet Jimmy Duny,
a lad well known for his clevereness and
hitting ability. Kline is rated as one Of
the most promising men recruited from
the amateur ranks iii several years.
Marty Allen and Sammy Hoffman Will
don the spangles for ten rounds at the
East New York Athletic Club tonight.
while an amateur tournament will be con-
Quoted at the Cathedral Athletic Club.
The National Sporting Club OF America
will reopen It's doors oil Monday night.
"Porky" Flynn. the Boston lightweight.
will cross gloves with some heavyweight.