The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-04-06
SCHOOLS


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to whip Willard. undertaking the Iat.
ter's splendid condition and youthful
stamina
The light was all Johnson's during
the FIRST twenty rounds. Willard only
once or twice taking the aggressive.
and then swinging clumsily and Wild
~ Meanwhile his body was growign
pink under the blows that nas1Sd
! from Johnson
In these rounds Willard took beat
ing which would have put an ordinary
lighter down and out The crowd got
used To seeing him throw on these
slashing blows and expected to see
Johnson do the same thing when vii
lard swung his right To the negro's
chin In the fatal goth round. They eN-
pected to see Johnson jump up and
continue fighting just as Willard had
come back. but the old champion knew
that he had fought his last champion
ship fight.
Spared For Time.
From the goth round To the final.
the night looked slow and the crowd
began TO boot and ask that somebody
do sonethinF. There was a single cry
of fake But IL was not taken up py
the other spectators. The reason II
looked slow was because Johnson.
who had been doing all the fighting.
suddenly stopped and began sparring
for time.
II was some time before Willard and
his seconds realized that Johnson was
through and only needed a blow or
two TO send him TO pugilistic Oblivion.
During the early part OF the fght.
Johnson carried all his old time con
fdence and self assertiveness. lie con.
Btantly banded words with the specta-
! tors about the ring and talked steadily
at Willard. who needed the negro 5
chatter about as little as ne did his
blows.
Wizards seconds were after John
son all the time. warning him to keep
away from Wizards terrific right. II
was in the 10th round mat one of Wit
lard's seconds shouted. Jack. YOU
run into Jess right; We viii pick you
Up right over there"
BE sure you take good care Of me. d"
said Johnson.
II SO happened that when Johnson
went down for the count ne was in
, Wizards corner.
When spectator called out: John
son YOU will get yours today" Johnson
replied We'll there Is good money in
Il, isn't there"
Not Fight Negro.
Willard probably will take his own
time in accepting any challenges. lie
already has announced that IL he won
ha Gel.
There Is no doubt that today's hght
will 60 the new champion a world OF
sood. Today he was palpably nervous
and al first was afraid to 20 at john
son. He constantly jabbed or lunged
and then backed away instead of fol-
lowing up an advantage when il came
TO him.
II can hardly be said al present that
/ Willard Is great fighter. but he is a
wonderful specimen OF physical man
mood. and u likely 10 develop an ag-
gressiveness and skill that may make
him invincible for years to come.
Willard looked very clumsy against
Johnson today. \ more skillfuI man
might have knocked johnson out after
the twelfth round for after that the ne
gro was going on speed. nerve and
skill
Throughout the fight. the Cubans
kept shouting words OF encouragement
10 Willard such as XIII the black
bear and KNOCK him out. and let us
20 home. When one spectator shout
cd al Johnson hat ne was an old man.
the negro replied.
You just watch the old man. and
with that he chased Willard twice
across the ring. knocking his head
hrst 20 the right and then TO the left
with series OF cross blows
Through the 2ist 22nd. 23rd. and
24th rounds johnson hardly struck a
blow. He kept feinting at willard
who was ever ready 10 break ground
When johnson finally went down in
the 26th round. he rolled over on his
back. The sun was beating down with
torrid intensity and his arm drew up
as though 10 shield his eyes from the
glare, while the referee counted him
out
There was virtually no big betting
here on the fight The odds from
small wagers today varied from g TO r
10 20 > on the negro.
Picturesque Setting.
The setting for the big contest could
hardly have been more picturesque "
was held in Oriental park the race
course az MarianaO. - miles from Ha-
vana. This park. Is a sort Of natural
amphitheatre H. surrounded By yer.
dant hills. with here and there a tow
ering palm tree standing sentinel The
ring was constructed Immediately in
front OF the grandstand and was sur
rounded by temporary boxes and
bleacher. put Mp circus fashion over
night
The crowd which paid 20 see the
Fight would be difficult 20 estimate.