El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-10-31

Smith was a shock to the sports who
IMAGINED manager Jim Buckley had an
ace in the Gunner II should after all
prove q good thing for the sport In
the first place 1t robs Smith Of his eX-
cuse for not meeting Willard on the
ground that he had already beaten
Jess and that the latter's reputation
did not warrant the match. The Gun
boats own reputation was made to
look rather cheesy by Langford's well
directed punches
And in the second place the rest Of
the hopes" will now likely be able to
get their chances at Smith without haT-
ing to nav so dearly for the privilege.
In other words, the fellows who have
been allowed" TO box Smith the past
wear have had their work for pracu-
caIly nothing. Buckley hogged the re-
ceipts on the alleged rep OF his man as
the leading white heavyweight IN the
And in the third place it ought to
sion that noise about matching Willard
with Jack Johnson for the title VIII
lard may be able TO lick the champion,
hut that is neither here nor there
What the public wants TO know tirst
IS can he beat Gunboat smith II he
can't they do not want 10 waste an
other thought on him And should ne
succeed in defeating smith Impressive
y the next step would pc 10 PIT nun
against sam LanEfOrd- The result OF
that battle would determine his stand
ing in the public estimation as cnaIn-
piOnship aspirant
should Fight Way Up.
Jess may be a great fighter, and the
coming champion Let US So NM II LOT
the sake of argument. And the worst
luck I wish him is success in MS en-
deavor. But there is nothing in his
record to warrant talking fight win
johnson at this stage. If Willard wants
public support his duty is to fight his
-, TEwnh0ar Smith is the
man he should first meet, and If his
showing with LangfOrd's latest victim
warrants a match with the redoubtable
Sambo, II should follow in the natural
order Of events
Tom Jones, Jack Curley and the 9TH
ers. whoever they are, now boosting
Johnson Willard match, have the
chance Of their lives to make the big
fellow the most popular man in the
ring. That is If Jess has the goods in
him victories over Smith and Lang
ford would make him the greatest
drawing card and earn for him the
heartiest public support ever accorded
a challenger for the heavyweight title
The only logical course for Willard
IS that ] have pointed out II his back
ers do not take advantage OF the op-
portunities offered to make their man
the most popular heavyweight the ring
has ever known, IT viii be tacit ad-
mission they privately lack the contl-
dence in the big fellow that they pub
icly profess
shouldn't Roast smith.
The tendency to roast Gunboat Smith
because IanEford beat him should be
curbed. The Gunboat did the best he
knew, and IT IS no everlasting disgrace
to be licked by a fighter as great as
Langford. Jack Johnson. tOuted by
many sOcalled experts as the greatest
fighter in prize ring history, has been
lodging sam for many years While
the suspicion exists that the first
Langford-Smith meeting. in which the
Gunner was awarded the decision, was
a frame" there is nothing to prove
It other than the remarkable reversal
Of form on LangfOrd's part in the sec
Ond bout If there was any shady
work il might have been all on Lang
ford's end: he has been accused many
times OF Saving" opponents for future
use in the ring, and he may have done
that with Smith. The latter, on the
strength Of the showing he made in
the first attempt may have been en-
tirely honest in the belief tnat he was
the better man
GunbOat Is Still Pretty Fair.
The Gunboat is still pretty fair
sort Of fighter-as the white heavies Of
today are figured. I doubt il any Of
the crop Of white boys can lick him.
barring Jess Willard and possibly Al
Reich The latter might turn the trick, |
and nigh repeat with Willard also.
p
the heavyW ght division has produced
in years The sports are suspicious,
however, about AIS courage. and until I
he proves he is a game as well as clev-
er fighter, they viii be lOath to pin
their hopes on him.
But TO get back to the subject Of
Smith He should be encouraged and I
not PANIED because he was beaten b. /
LangfOrd- He is apparently the only I
one Of the leading waiIe nea ties with I
ring. He might have been the victim 4
D. misplaced confidence in the bout /
with LangfOrd, but ne certainly had the /
courage to take q chance. I have not /
vet heard Of any Of the others clam I
bring for a bout with the 'tar baby"
Says johnson Is No Wreck.
Danny McKettrick, manager Of /
Frank Moran, Young Ahearn and few i
1ther fighters with made in Europe /
populations, say that Jack Johnson Is 1
Tar from the physical wreck American
newspapers love to picture him In /
IcKettrick's opinion Johnson is still 4
able TO defend his title and good
enough TO beat any Of the other heavies I
n the game, not excepting sam Lang
ord Dan says the latter is made TO 4
)rder' for the big smoke AMI that any
ak about LanEfJTd l-ea:Ing Johnson /
iOes not emana-e from anyone Tho !
las seen both men in a15Ion and Knows 4
what they are capable IF accomplish
nE-
According to the same authority, II
will take man every bit - pig and
.lever boxer 10 defeat i lh son, and in
he latter opinion I fully concur A
iiugger would be a sucker for a big,
strong defensive fighter Of The john
iOn type. Jack would probably hest
my man who would carry -he battle TO
lin It will take. as McKittrick ar
yues, fighting brains as well as fight
ng muscle to dethrone -he big negro.
That is, allowing that Johnson is stili {
n full possession Of his great strength
nd stamina.
Statement May BE Inspired.
Danny's statement regarding John
IONS physical condition may be in
Dired, however, by the fact that he is
frank NOran's manager, and Frank is
ue for a public ring appearance in this
country before long Naturally il is TO
heir combined interests to boost the
hampton. as that makes Noran's ef-
Orts in France last June appear more
reditable-
Harry Wills. the New Orleans negro !
Who has been matched TO box Langford !
{ San Francisco, looks like another l
urdle in the paths of the ambitious /
White heavyweights. il stories Of his {
rowess in the ring are true. I am in |
eceipt Of letter from a Pacific coast
port predicting that Wills viii beat