The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-04-05

| have studied JUhnsUu's style, under.
stand his methods OF having planned
my ring campaign accordingly |
rather expect the fight to run about
Fifteen rounds Mt least Johnsous con.
dltiou will ruHble him to carry a fast
pncc for that distance Then the
struIn win tell aud 1 viii push him to
the limit"
Jack WeaSs Smile.
Jack Johnson smiled his famous
golden smile ut his headquarters while
he ldlcd before the time for the fight
The champlOb took II stroll before
breakfast but beyond that did moth
Ing In the line OF exercise. johnson
IN undoubtedly over his ring weight
Although be- said he would enter the
ring at 22S he appeared to be several
pounds heavier
"I'll be- right there all the way, "
laughed Johnson Il know when
hive reached my best condition All
this talk Of my having lost my punch
ing ability Is nonsense Just you AJAX
my sparring partners As TO willard.
] know he Is a strong boy. but YOU
know what old FitZsimmOns once said.
the bigger they are the harder they
fall I'll get him with a series Of
blows that win put him under before
many rounds have been run or | Just
love the championship and | am not
going to lose II %
Wlllnrd thought he would start for
the ring about II O'Clock while the
champion said he would 20 over to the
arena At noon
There has been little preliminary
betting, but there we're indications
wagering would become more brisk ~
the day wore on. Almost everyone
with money to place apparently wait
ed for an eleventh hour shift in the
odds In the hope OF better terms
Johnson was fayOrlte, with the odds
at s 10 3 and to r. These were the
figures obtained today at the Mlramir
hotel, where the late arrivals from
Key West and New Orleans flocked
before the fight
Uncertainty as to JohnsOn's real
condition and Wizards ability are
the factors which have kept down IN,
betting and there was as much spec
ulation regarding these questions a,
there was week ago II IL JohnsOn's
skill and experience against willard.
youth the experts said.
Jack Welsh, the referee. said he an
ticipated no trouble refereeing IN,
match
There will be no technical cham
plOn II can help It. The winner vii
have to earn his lRurels fairly. | have
talked the rules over with the fighter,
and they know what IL expected OF
them
Early estimates Of the crowd which
began to gather with the sunrise plac
ed their number at 1900. They cam,
from everywhere The hotels emptle(
after an early breakfast Most Of then
were filled with Americans who hat
been here several days IN anticipation
Of the big event The last boats from
Key West brought many others From
the interior Of the island came men o.
all stations from wealthy planters I,
natives who stood in line for the s,
seats.
Before daybreak crowds Of natives
secure In the belief and hope tina
Johnson would retain his laurels, be
gan pouring into the city. The street
were filled with motley thronE, an,
the training quarters Of the pugilist
we're the center OF admirers. Hour
before the two giants stepped into tn
ring the stands were black with spes
tators.
They went TO the track by automc
bile, by trolley, IN every available v,
hicle In Havana and on foot Pres
ldent Menocal and his cabinet IN
congress Of Cuba, the governor OF Hs
vRna province, the mayor Of the cit,
foreign ministers and hundreds OF We
men were In the audience. The ele,
trlc lines were unable TO handle IN
crowds and many walked the ten mile
10 Havana.
Promoters went during the mornin
10 JOhnsOn's headquarters to pay hlI
the $4,000 he was to receive as hi
share Of the gate receipts, win or los,