Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-11-21
SPORT NEWS
Corbett Says Willard Will
Not Get Crack at johnson

San Francisco, may be interesting to
the readers Of this column. | don t
know anything about Wills myself, but
he has plenty Of admirers to boost for
him. Billy Jordan, the veteran an
nouncer who probably has seen more
prize ring battles than any other man
in the world, thinks Wills u better
fighter than the great Peter jackson
ever was. This is praise indeed coming
from so good a judge as the veteran
Jordan, who goes on to say that Wills
can, in his opinion, beat any heacy-
weight in the game, not excepting John.
son and Langford and that the coming
battle with the latter fighter will prove
Wills one of the greatest fighters ever
in the game.
Peter jackson was one of the great
est heavyweight fighters the world
ever knew. | am not saying this be.
cause | fought him 81 round battle
once upon time and trying to get a
tardy boost for my own share in that
memorable affair, but because | have
had many Opportunities to study the
Queensbury stars Of the last quarter Of
IA century and base my opinion on that
coupled with my own experience in the
ring, Jackson was wonderful de.
fensive fighter, and almost as great
on offense. According to Jordan Peter
could pick man who came to him to
pieces, although he lacked aggressive.
ness. But in this Billy is slightly in
error. True Peter did not have the
slam bang aggressiveness of the hitter
day type of fighter but he had u won.
derful left hand and a scientific method
of attack that is practically unknown
to present day heayies. Jackson figured
every move and every blow he aimed.
Ii was all calculation with Peter. lie
was a stadent of boxing If ever there
was one, and he varied his methods to
suit the styles Of his adyersares
However, IL Wills has so tav0raby
impressed the veteran Jordan he must
have shown something out of the orli.
nary in his few battles on the coast.
Billy is not easily fooled in-his judg.
ment Of fighter.
Now that Freddy Welsh has picked
up something like $4,000 in short bouts
with Matty Baldwin, Ad Wolgast, Char.
ley White and Jimmy Duffy, and sotis.
fled the fans that he is Irregular
champion he might so Il bit further and
consent to take Willie Richie on either
in ten round match or in twenty
round decision bout for the champion.
ship.
Freddy should not 90 ont Of his way
TO make conditions difficult for Ritclic
lie should remember that return bout
is due a defeated titleholdcr according
to all rules aud etiquette of the sport,
and in avoiding u match with Richie
he will not make any new friends for
himself, Ritchie went all the way TO
England to box Welsh riskmg his
title in foreign country whore ho
knew that the Interpretation oe tho
rules would not favor his style Of mill.
ing, still il showed the supreme con.
fidence the American lad entertained
of his ability to beat England's cham.
pion on his own battle ground and his
reward should be q return engagement
with his conqueror Added to all this
the fact that there exists considerable
doubt Of Welsh = victory being elrun
cut one makes II imperative for Freddy
to talk business with the former titlc.
holder and try to prove that his victory
was deserved one
Willie aud Freddy would make q
great match for Madison Square Gar.
den. | dare say II would break all
records In New York for limited
round bout aud Welsh could gather ns
much In single evening for his share
as he could In half dozen engagements
with boys Of less reputation than the
Californian, While Charley White Is
being doomed for another fling at the
champion the match that would appeal
to American sports everywhere would
be return engagement with Rtchic,
A ten round bout at the Garden might
settle many differences Of opinion 70.
gardmg the much disputed decision rem.
dered by Eugene Corri in London last
June
Ritchie's style made an immense hit
with New Workers in the only battle In
which he was seen hero -thNt with
Leach Cross, He is always interesting
because he is trying avery inch Of the
way aud what he lacks in scientific
sense he more than makes up by his
intelligent aggressiveuess. There is no
such thing as stalliug with the Ameri.
can champion, he Is In the ring 20
fight, and eight he does every second.
Welsh eau make himself solid with
the public by meeting Ritchie half way