Omaha daily bee., 1915-04-05
FIGHTERS COMPLETE
TRAINING FOR BOUT
Crafty Black Spells All Attempts of
Anybody to Get Line on Him
in His Go with MONEY!.


yesterday afternoon for their forty-five-
round fight for the worlds heavyweight
championship on Monday. II was the
last public appearance OF the pugilists
before they enter the ring az the Marianao
race course.
Their final work was watched by the
biggest crowds since the arrival of the
fighters in Cuba At the end OF the days
exhibition. the same uncertainty and
doubt as 20 the probable winner per-
vaded the minds OF close followers OF
pugilIsm had been apparent during tho
last two weeks
Neither fighter showed anything like
a flash that would reveal hidden power
! or ability to clinch the premier honor
OF the boxing world,
watch willard BOx.
At Miramarx a big gathering of men
and women watched Willard box two
rounds with each OF his three spaFring
! partners lie showed some of his old
| faults. lack OF fighting spirit. which.
however. may have been due to a. desire
not to lnjure his opponents. and he
I spared with his mouth open and his
Jaw loose. blinking his eyes when lead
ing or expecting blow.
| A great crowd gathered at the stadium
TO witness the slx-round bout between
johnson and Sam Mcvey. which proved
to be a buresaue The champion did
nothing but ciinch and wrestle and smile
He did not lead a. dozen times in the
eighteen minutes. Occasionally he shot
forth a lightning jab and he showed
fast footwork. McVey, always clever.
hit the champion repeatedly. hat lightly.
Johnson. obviously crafty. was indif-
ferent and spoiled ell attempts TO get q
real line on his present ability. The
situation was extremely tantaltztng, as
men with money hoped 10 get some
actual idea OF Johnson's form
Takes No Chances.
The afternoon was cold and cloudy,
and the stadium was wind-swept. and
johnson said he was taking no chances
Referee Jack Welsh announced tonight
| that he had seen and talked TO the fight
ers and had told them he would not
decide the fight on a technioality. II
must be won in straight, stand-up
fashion. Personally ne was interested in
seeing the best man win, only after a
fair and equal chance
He instructed the fighters that they
must protect themselves In clinohes and
In breaking and also must break when
! ordered by the referee. Otherwise,
straight marquis OF oueensbery rules
will govern the battle,
Three sets OF five-ounce gloves arrived
FROM San Francisco late today The GUS
toms house was closed and It required
a special permit to get them out.
There is ten years difference in the
age OF the two men; Willard not only is
the younger, but has the better OF the
height and reach. However, johnson is
| exceedingly muscular, and will weigh
more than he did in any previous fight.
Today he probably weighed 22s pounds,
but viii take off three or four pounds
drying out"
surSEus of Flesh.
willard wishes to enter the ring at 30;
he lie about five pounds over that now.
Each will carry into the ring from five
to seven pounds of superfluous flesh. In
order to have something aside from mus
cular energy TO burn up during the
struggle.
The apparent endurance OF each 10 UNI
limited. neither having shown signs OF
exhaustion at any time during The last
week in their work. There IL a wide diff
ference of opinion among fight experts
regarding the possible length OF the fight;
the style OF the principals and the adj
vantage each possess. 1t is generally
admitted, however. that the champion is
WIZARDS master in the science OF often
slve and defensive fighting and that he
Is faster on his feet and with the eye.
Whether he can make this science effec-
tive in the shape OF blows landed in the
right place, remains to be seen.
Negroes Hest Blows.
The negro's best blows are a left jab
and a right uppercut. although he has a
terrific swing with either hard when oc-
casion offers 1t lie thought he may have
ldifficulty in landing his left lab on
Wizards face. owing TO the five and q
half inches advantage in height, which
the cowboy possesses.
The same may prove true with his
famous right uppercut to the Jaw and
johnson may change his usual tactics and
pound the body at every opportunity, fos
willard. so far as has been observed
covers his body in a rather loose and
careless fashion.
Willard. however. has learned to snap
q fine left to the face and body, which "a
Extremely effective. owing to his enor-
nous reach. The negro can look for
trouble in this direction. The white mans
wings and straight drives have more
power behind them than Johnson's
willard slow.
Johnson has the advantage OF quickness
and sureness OF foot; although he shuf-
files about, he has the movements OF a cat
and IA a fine Judge OF distance. Willard
Is slow. IL appears, at times uncertain OF
the next step. Frequently he finds him
self tn an awkward unbalancing position.
and II this happens in the ring the negro
viii be sure 20 turn It 10 his advantage.
Expert opinion supports the belief that
II will either be a very short fight or a
very long one. In the past II has been
JohnSon's policy ITO have his opponent
come to him II is thought possible that
on Monday he may change his tactics and
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