Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-08-02
WILLARD LIKELY CHAMPION
Now Seems the Most Probable Of All
White Hope Pugilists.
Is LITTLE HARD TO AROUSE
Lanky Raneher, A. Properly stirred
up. Possesses All Of the ouaIifi-
cations 90 Pat ~ over
Jack johnson.
NJ RINGsIDE.


NEW YORK, August 1.--Interest in the
heavyweight situation on this side OF the
Atlantic Is dwindling apace. and unless a
Caucasian relieves a certain Jack Johnson
OF the title shortly speculative mani
festation viii wane until It dies out en-
tireiy.
Fora time after johnson thumped JEFF
fries into submission at Reno the big
fellows commanded all the attention of
the pugilistic element. The existence OF
other divisions never entered the minds
OF those who are the buiwarks Of the
game They concentrated their time and
energy upon developing a man capable
Of coping with the mighty Ethiopian.
The boom in the heavyweight division
was on. white hopes" bobbed up like
mushrooms and went into seclusion quite
az rapidly Beat Johnson was the slo
gan Of the paleface, and 100000 was to-
be the reward Of the successful COM
Blatant
Then johnson became implicated in a
government trial and he blithely skipped
TO the other side OF the big protecting
ocean. The sportively inclined determined
10 FORGET johnson. II was decided not 10
resurrect him until there appeared a
white man who had chance with the
burly black.
johnson Forgotten.
johnson was forgotten. Tho ''white
hope" brigade soon was looked upon as
hopeless congiomeration Of beef and
Drawn. lacking wholly IN initiative. They
were shy on brains. The crop was sieved
thoroughly. and only three showed latent
fighting ability. These were Gunboat
Smith. Jess Willard and Frank Moran.
Then came the real tests. They &C.
CURED only recently over in Paris and
London. In Gay Paree Moran made a
pItIable showing against Johnson while
in London ring Smith was declared a
technical loser to Georges Carpenter. the
white heavyweight champion OF Europe
True the decision was said 10 De out
rsgeous. but the fact remains that Gun
boat did commit a foul and thereby lost
the fight Even in his fight in New York
the Gunboat showed a tendency for UNI
fair tactics. His transgresslons OF the
rules were overlooked by vaciliating ref
erees who lacked the courage of their
convictions. Gunboat sadly missed his
guess when he tried them on Eugene
Corri Europe's foremost arblter.
So Jess Willard alone remains of the
American contingent II the lathy rancher
could only be induced to pay a visit TO
France. and get into the ring with John
son II is not at all unlikely that a new
champion would emerge from the brawl.
willard Well Qualified.
Willard Possesses pretty nearly every
qualification of champion. One thing
in his dlsfavor is that he must be thor
ouahly aroused before he will put forth
his best efforts. He is lackadaisicai and
win not allow his temper TO become ruff
fed while an opponent IL not annoying
him with hard blowa Willard Is a ter
rifle puncher and Is extremely clever fol-
a man OF his heft.
Willard would stand an excellent chance
OF defeating johnson. One thing must
be impressed on the lanky westerner In
order that he may humble the champion
II no would only permit Johnson to dc
the leading he would have a glorious
chance OF scoring a knockout
Johnson'B forte lies IN making his ad.
vefsariea lead and beating them 20 the
counter. Only one man has ever beer
able to make Johnson abandon his watch
ful waiting tactics. That was Jacl
o'Brien. He outwitted johnson, and wheT
the Numidlan tried to lead he fIounderet
all over the ring. Johnson had to laugh
at his own Iudicrous efforts TO land OF
o'Brien. Fortunately FOR BLACK Jack.
o'Brien had nothing more damaging thar
wasplike punch. 50 Jack weathered tn,
six rounds
Negro IL Willing.
johnson has expressed willingness I,
fight willard six rounds in Philadelphia
ten rounds in Boston or twenty round
over on the other side. The contest Il
America would be a no-decislon affair
SO Willard is seriously considering cross
Ing the big drink 90 take on johnson ii
long bout with the championship a
stake
Meanwhile Carl Morris, az one time tn
foremost white hope" in captivity, sur
reputiously has sailed for England Il
search OF trouble. Gunboat Smith
really the object OF the voyage Morrl
has given the Buckley protege some lItti
: trouble In their two contests I'm this city
and Carl believes he can prove TO In
satisfaction OF Londoners that he Is a al
perior bettler TO Smith.
II Smith turns down the proposition
Morris would not spurn a match wit
Carpenter, nor even one with Jack John
son, for that is what Morris set out /
do four years sEo-fight his way throug
the white hope" ranks In order 20 e
Mistah johnson.