The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-26
CBy James J. Corbett, Former Heavy Weight Champion of. the World.)
 Especial to The Farmer)


 New York. Sept. 26.-The 1914- 1915 boxing boxing season will open in this city with the Gunboat smith Battling Levinsky ten round bout ar ranged for October g. This match has long been talked about and as both men have many followers in To- cal sporting circles a banner house is looked for. And from the success of this match from a. financial stand point an Idea may be gained as to the success or non-success of boxing in the metropolis during the coming season.
 The match does not look attractive to me. however. It will hardly decide anything one way or the other l doubt if Smith wi IL succeed in corner ing the elusive Ievinsl<y in ten rounds and on the other hand as the Battler entertains much respect for a hgnter with a healthy punch he is likely to play a. defensive game throughout. Therefore interest in the match will centre on the prospects of the Gunner landing a finishing blow.
 Gunboatss manager is hooking matches for his much challenged tighter right and left. But it will be noted that he has shown no inclina- ton to talk business with JesS Will lard Besides the bout with Levinsk the Gunboat has contests scheduled with Al Reich and Cyclone Johnny Thornpson and a dispatch from Bos- ton says the AtIasA C. of that city has matched Smith to box twelve rounds with Sam Langford.
 If the last mentioned bout takes place it will surprise me. Jim Buck lev recently announced that Smith would not consider a proposition to nj eet} Langford-thats he had earned a. decision over the negro once and that that was sufficient to prove his superi- ority Of course, that was not the real reason for declining the issue, as we all knows but that was Bucks ul- tirr1aturn, so he declared. What has brought about the change in front is dihacult Of explanation unless the Gun ner rand his manager decided they would have to take on a real fighter to escape the charges that they were picking marks And with Smith matched with Sambo the proposed af- fair with Jess Willard can be avoided for a while longer
 And my opinion is that in match ing himself with Langford, the Gun ner is taking on aAIess dangerous man than Willard. Sam has proved in re- cent contests tT1at4he is no longer the first class fighter of couple of years back. While his experience and ring Eeneralship are in evidence all the time the aggressiveness and scientific s1ugging that formerly characterized his work in the ring are conspicuous by their absence.
 Willard is the most dangerous heavy in the ring today, He has never even been dazed by a blow and the Gunboat boxed him when Jess was much greener than he is now. While Smith was given the verdict in that scrap it was a close thing and several critics asserted that Willard was en- titled to the verdict. If Smith Is sue f4r1 ir4- fz R<zin n Levinsky and Langford, he will have to talk business with the big fellow, or furnish a much better excuse than he has to date. The match would de- eide the question Of Americas best heavy weight
 Willard, by the way, has apparently given up hope of getting another chance at the Gunner. and has author 1zed a asyndicate of local sporting men -with. Tom Jones permission. of cours sSsna fc ia3 him with Jack world This syndicate has already deposited the sum of $10 ,OO0 in a Io- cal bank in support of a. challenge to the negro, with the amount named to go as a side bet if the champion desires The syndicate also agrees to locate the. battle ground and to pay Johnson the sum of $30.0o0 win, lose or draw-the amount Jack himself names as his portion for defending the title. <
 Just where the parties interested hope to pull off the scrap if Johnson's s consent is obtained is not made pub lie. But with Europe out of the run ming, and Johnson barred everywhere in the United States, the suspicion that Tex Rickard, at present located in South America is back of the scheme may not be far out of the way.
 
 in which Johnson and the best of the white heavies would be the principals, and it would not surprise me in the least if he is the stman with the dough- behind the scheme.
 Personally I do not believe there is a heavy weight better qualified to meet the champion than Willard. A fight ca finish between Jacksan Jess might not be sensational during the early rounds, neither man has speed worth mentioning and both operate along the same general lines -dous Eadvantage of youth, endurance and strength Willard would have a splendid chance of annexing the title
 snowy Baker, the Australian box ing promoter writes me that his scheme of ,intruducing boxing as one of the regular courses in the high schools of his native land is meeting with much greater success than he anticipated, and that the good work now being done along those lines vii mean that Australia Will supply the champions in all divisions of boxing in the. not very distant future
 And it is no idle boast either. Car you imagine what few years of this practical method of teaching the ar of boxing to the youth of Australia will mean to boxing-only that Aus traIia will have treble or quadrupIe the number of candidates for ring sa- premacy in the various classes, and each and every one with workins knowledge of the game that few il this country ever acquire until thes have had it hammered into them 1T the ring. Some years ago was chat ting with local school official ana brought up. the subject of teachins s,o,.zi1alr i1a the lalI lAl:zSscfooIs The of.