New Britain herald., 1915-02-13
C01beft a Nan 0f Little
 Faith in B0ut at /narez
Thinks Fans Will Continue to Reside in Missouri Until Jack Johnson Shows Up on Scene - Willard
 Has Slight Chance

twritten for the New Britain Herald.>
 New York, Feb. 13-With the John son Willard match only three weeks away-if the management intends to pull it off on March 6-the fight fans would be taking a greater interest in the affair were the champion on the scene of battle. While the promo oters confidently assert that Jack will be Johnny on the spot" the fight bugs are from Missouri and want to he shown
 Of course, it is difficult of belief that such a shrewd promoter as Jack Curley would be wasting his time and money on a proposition that was so far up in the air as this match appears to be at this writing. Therefore those who know Curley will have faith in his statement that Johnson will be in Juarez on schedule time ready to de- fend his title against Willard. How ever, until such time arrives the fans will hardly take the battle seriously It is unfortunate that such conditions make it i'm peratiVe for Johnson to sneak into Mexico, but as it is the be- lief that General Carranza will pre- vent his landing if he can, such me thods are absolutely necessary.
 But until, Johnson does arrive, and the fact is made public, there will be little interest, and no betting, on the bout in this country.
 Willard Has Slim Chance
 Without trying to hedge in any way or to boost Jess Willard's chances in the coming battle--for on the dope iOn ty eli fo c1, not be forgotten that the ex-cowboy is not facing a world beater in Jack Johnson However, the impression seems to prevail that Johnson is un beatable, though if anyone will take the time to figure out just what John son has accomplished during his en- tire career he will quickly arrive at a conclusion that so far the big smoke has not beaten real first class man at least a good man in his prime.
 Johnson and Willard are matched to SC, forty-five rounds. Unless Johnson, and he has never yet won a battle in jig time, cops Jess early in the melee, the Kansan's chances will be growing greater with every clang of the gong signifying a round is over. Forty five rounds are considerable fighting these days If Willard can get through, say 8 dozen rounds, without being badly hurt. the fight may develop into an endurance contest. And in the matter of condition, figuring age, dis siration, etc, Willard ought to have big edge on his colored opponent. Johnson is in his thirty-seventh year, and has gone a pretty swift pace the last four or five. Willard is ten years younger and don't know what the word dissipation means so far as practicing it in any of it's many forms gees. Therefore if the battle does simmer down into a question of which man can remain on his feet for two hours and quarter, the odds will be in favor of the white.
 Another thing, Willard can hit and hit hard too. I think he can deliver a much harder punch than Johnson can Of course, having a punch and know ing how to land it are two different things and that is where Johnson has the edge-in cleverness and eXper- fence. But if Willard fights on the defensive for dozen or more rounds, Johnson's chances to get in effective wallops will be growing simmer and simmer as the fight grows ilder.
 Many believe Johnson will fall be-
 
 him. But few regard Willard as a good man.. If Jack were to battle sam Langford I believe that the Bos- ton tar baby would be the favorite in the betting. And when we recollect that Frank Moran stayed the limit of twenty rounds with the champion last summer, it will not be surprising if Willard, a much better man everyway than the Pittsburgher, sticks the for ty five if he doesn't do any more.
 Taking the records of the two men and comparing them, what do we get. Nothing that would give Willard a look-in, but Jess has never fought Langford, Jeannette or McVey, pop uarly looked upon as the only first class men besides the champion, and there is no telling just how good he is. He has done nearly everything asked of him with the single except ton of beating Gunboat Smith, and if they were to meet tomorrow the chances and that Jess wouldn't find it very much of a task to deliver the goods.
 There are many fans who will back 8 champion any time he starts regard less. But those who follow the game closely know that the sure thing in the betting is not always the sure thing in the ring. Although I, like all perts who figure a fighters chances on his known form, can't naturally give Willard a chance on the dope, on common sense basis we must not figure his entirely out of the running IT Willard takes the defensive through out and compels the negro to force the milling his chances of emerging the will ho l I>lx
 Havana Needs Clean Hands.