South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-07
WILLARD TELLS
WHY He Il MEET
PRESENT CHAMP
If He Loses to Jack Johnson He
viii Quit the Game-IS Anx-
lOuS to Get Title From COL
ored Man.
BY Frank G. Mcnkc.

NEW YORK. Jan Gosh. you're
missing a lot OF laughs If you aren't
reading the All About Myself arti-
cles that are being composed by Jess
Willard, cOW-puncher who is sched-
uled To act as "A punching bag fOI "A
dark gent named Johnson.
Mister Willard recently took his
pen in hand and when ne got through
rubbing IL along few sheets OF paper
IT was discovered that Willard mad
accomplished a new trick IN the prize
fighting line-he has issued forth
with ahbis before ahbis really are
due.
III 1 suffer defeat at the hands Of
Jack Johnson no one ever will hear
a chirp out of me. Then and there
viii be through with the fighting
game"
You can see by this that willard
looks for the worst. He didn't name
the undertaken that he wishes 10 take
charge of the remains
While the pen was still in his hand,
Willard composed a few lines 20 cX-
plain why ne has ignored the defis for
"a fight that have been hurled at him
during the past two months by white
hopes" who think they can whip VIII
lard, and who feel they are better
suited 10 meet Johnson.
II have refused to fight the other
WlAAAE MOItN ana l4dLkAt'ffi anu
jeanette because i am after one par
ticular goal-Jack Johnson" states
willard. Going along further on the
cause his manager. in whom Willard
has a Loo of confidence, viii take care
of that end of Willard.
"The main reason i am in the lime
light Is because / am matched 10 fight
Johnson" continues Willard.
Willard deserves credit for that
statement 1t was our belief until Viii
lard wrote these words that Willard
figured he was in the limelight be-
cause he was "a real fighter
Perhaps YOU have wondered why
Willard wants to fight Johnson. Many
folks have haZarded the guess that
the reason for it is that he wants to
give his relatives a chance To collect
around too long. If YOU are among
that crowd you are wrong in your
hazard.
Willard wants 10 fight Jack John
son so that he can beat Jack Johnson
and bring back 10 the dear. dear white
race the heavyweight championship
of the whole wide world. If you don't
believe this. here are the words of
Jess 10 bear as out
L believe a white heavyweight
champion would do more TO boost the
boxing game than a cOlOred one. /
believe 1 will bring the title back to
she white race"
Willard also says.
Few people realize what il would
mean to me 10 win the heavyweight
title"
Jess is wrong there. Everybody
knows what it would mean. tt would
mean that the days of miracles are
not past.
If ] never secured a penny for per
forming the feat" says Willard. 4
would feel amply repaid for bringing
the title back 10 the white race
subject, Willard qualified his state
h.ent, thusly
81 must Impress upon my readers
the fact that the staging OF Johnson
Willard fight will involve an initial
outlay of $4,000. When il is realized
that such a sum is TO be expended.
il is plain TO be Sc that / am in
horror bound TO be ii the best shape
for that battle Therefore. / cannot
take a chance on getting hurt by
meeting any dangerous heavyweights
at this time"