The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-05

However, it would be unfair to Jones to hint that lack of managerial acumen was responsible for the scarcity of matches for Willard. Tom found 1t almost impossible to find a heavy weight willing to take a chance in the ring with Willard
 It may be Curley can do better. Jack is a hustler all right and knows the game thoroughly. At any rate Willard could do a. great deal worse than engage Curley to represent him.
 It would be a. good idea, for Manager CTrley to have a. talk with the lead- ing local promoters about matches be- tween Willard and Gunboat Smith and Frank Moran. Of these two worthies, one, the Gunboat, is already back in this country and the other is expected soon. If Jess really has tft1lar an1bi- tions it might be well for him to prove his right to fight for the championship by first disposing of his principal ri walls among the white heaVies.
 would like to see the Gunboat and Jess hook up. Of course Willard is a giant in size and weight compared with Smith, but the latter is a pretty good fighter for his inches, and yields a. mighty blow for a fellow of his av- ordupois. His record in the ring is far more impressive looking than Will lard'ss but Jess has not had the Gun ners opportunities to make good. His immense weight and wonderful strength and hitting power has most of his rivals in the heavyweight class too scared to take chance in the ring with the giant. However, Smith has already met and defeated him, and doubt if he would refuse an of fer to box Jess ten rounds before one of the large local clubs The Gunboat may not be able to overcome the tre- mendous handicap of weight, but he can be depended on to do the best he can, and that's all one can ask of any fighter.
 < I doubt if Moran would last ten rounds with Willard. That is, if Jess could be induced to go after his man wilIard's greatest handicap so far, as I can figure is his lack of aggressfveness and fighting spirit Only when Vii lard is stung does he show any de- sire to mix matters, and when he does it usually means defeat for his oppo- nent. When Jess Willard and Carl Morris boxed here last winter the ex- perts agreed that it was the poorest bout ever staged between big men. Morris was too afraid of Willard to force matters to any. extent and Jess adopted his usual defensive style Not until the ninth round did Willard show signs of being a real fighter Morris had managed to sting him with a straight left, and the big cow boy suddenly remembered he was In a fight Anyway, for a minute he cut loose and had he continued forcing the battle the probabiilty is. Morris wouldn't have lasted another round But after getting in a couple Of wal lops which caused Cars eye and cheek to pun as though stung by some poi sonous reptile the big fellow retired to his shell and remained entirely on the defensive for the rest of the set
 If Curley can, succeed in screwing Willard up to the proper fighting pitch there are few heavies who will have a chance with him If the big fellow can be taught to wade in and cut loose from the tap of the bell I pe- ueve he will lick any fighter in the game. But the question is. can Curley succeed where other trainers and man agers have failed?