Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-01-02
BY JAMES ]. coRBETT.
Former Heavyweight Champion of the
World.

Former Heavyweight Champion of the
World.
New York, Jan. 2.-(Special to the
Capital Journal Jack Curley, man,
aging director Of the Jess Willard com.
pany-by the way, that 5 a new wrin.
kle, Incorporating a pugilist-has an.
nounced that johnson and Willard will
meet in battle for the championship
of the wo,ld sometime next March. A
dispatch from FL Paso states that Juar-
ez, Mexico, has been selected as the
battle-ground, and March as the date
for tae big doings,
Now, | am not one of those persons
who have attempted to poke fun at
Willard and his desire to take shcct.
cut to the championship, and realize,
probably to a greater extent than other
critics, that the game is full of surprises
and that the dark horse often brings
home the bacon. The one objection !
have TO the matcn is that Willard has
not yet qualified as the accredited rep
resentatiye Of the white race, tine hope
of the sports who for more than four
years have been vainly seeking a white
heavyweight with skill enough to hum
BILE the big negro now at the head Of
the division and who has been anything
but a credit to the sport.
have repeatedly urged those back
of Willard to turn him loose among the
leading white heavyweights first, thus
giving him an opportunity to prove his
class. ! believe he can lick any ana
all of those at present actively engaged
in the pursuit Of "white hoping" but
he should settle the question beyond all
doubt. If he can beat Smith, Coffey
Reich and the rest he should then be
matched with Langford McVey Of
Jeannette, anyone would do, and II
found worthy of their support the pub
Tic would rally to his colors as one man
and the receipts on March g. or what
ever date selected for the bout with
johnson, would shame the record break
ing gate at Reno July !, 1910. For
given little encouragement in tne way
of fighter who figured ON the dope
to have chance to bring back the title
the sports would turn out in such mum,
bers that it would tax the ingenuity
and resources Of the promoters to BULL
an arena large enough to accommodate
them.
But nothing Willard has accomplish
ed to date warrants the belief that he
has tne ghost of show to defeat John
son. Those who are roofing for VII
lard, and most white men are, pin theiI
faith on the sole chance that johnson 5
mode of living in recent years has start
ed him down the ladder-and he will
have to be pretty well down TO lose
Judging by what jess has so far shown
in public. On that frai hope tine fans
are forced to base their hopes for O
shift in the pugilistic deal next March
Willard has not made much of a hit
anywhere he has appeared outside Of
New York, whore the fans are more
lenient than in other cities. But Jess
last bout here with Carl Morris, an
other elepnantine product of the times
almost cost every bit of respect lomI
sports ever had for him.
No matter how the bout ends there i,
bound to be great deal of dssatisfac
tion expressed on all sides. If johnson
wins the critics will roast everybody
connected with it for fosting such an
uneven affair on an unsophisticated
public, while if Willard cops there is nc
telling what will be said aud writer
of the affair, And all because Jes.
has not yet shown anything worth
whilej whether through timidty or lacl
Of opportunity will not make any diff
ference in the public attitude.
While white champion would b,
moro than welcomed, a titleholder who
annexes honoS by any other method
than n victory on his merits will meet
with a scant reception from the Amer
lean public And should Willard de
feat johnson and the public is at all
suspicious Of the result, there will b.
a big demand for jess to meet Lang
ford or one Of tne other negroes left
in the hunt before they will accept hin
as champion worthy Of the name. And
this in spite o the prejudice existing
against the holding Of The title by q
black man, American sports do not
want to see one Of their ruce at the