Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-04-06

and his ability at his age to fight a
long battle against the odds OF SUI
perior height, weight reach ana
youth.
Willard said before entering the
ring that he expected to take a beat
ing for ten or fifteen rounds at the
hands OF his faster and more skilled
opponent, and he had trained tol
Withstand 1t. As a matter OF TACT,
he took twenty rounds OF severe
punishment, but laughed the blows
aside and Kept standing up against
the rushes of the negro who several
times in each of the earlier rounds
swept Willard before him to the
ropes. WIZARDS back showed num-
erous welts raised by the ropes as he
fell into them.
Golden smile Nanishes.
In the rushes johnson would at
tack Willard in the body and when
the latter's hands and arms came
down TO guard that part of his anat-
omy. Johnson would swing rights
and lefts to the unprotected jaw ana
| face After each of these attacksl
! Willard cheerfully came back Tor
more.
Johnson's continual smile through
out the early rounds began to change
to look of wonderment as the battle
turned into the twenties. and II was
evident to the spectators when the
negro came to the conclusion that Il
was useless for him to try TO knock
out the young western giant. john
son also seemed TO know that he was
lin no condition to fight forty-five
rounds. His blows lacked the force
which sent Jeffries topping from the
ltopmost rung of the pugilistic ladder
lat Reno.
johnson Undertakes Opponent
II had heen the opinion of Johnson
and many of his friends that he did
not have to he in the best condition
TO whip willard, undertaking the lat
ter's splendid condition and youth
full stamina.
The fight was all Johnson's dur
ing the first twenty rounds. Willard
only once or twice taking the aggres-
sive and then swinging clumsily and
lwildly. Meanwhile, his body was
growing pink under the blows that
flashed from Johnson.
In these rounds Willard took a
beating which would have put an or
binary fighter down and out. The
crowd got to seeing him throw OFT
these smashing blows, and expected TO
see Johnson do the same thing when
Willard swung his right to the negro's
chin in the fatal twenty sixth. They
expected to see johnson jump up and
continue lighting just as Willard had
come back, but the old champion
knew that he had fought his last
championship fight.
Fighting Is Slow.
From the twentieth round to the
final. the fight looked slow ana the
crowd began to hoot and ask that
somebody do something. There was
a single cry of "fakel" but 1t was not
taken up by the spectators The reas-
on 1t looked slow was because Johh-
son, who had been doing all the ilght-
ing. suddenly stopped and began spar
ring for time.
II was some time before Willard or
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 right,
Johnson oarried all his old-time con-
fidence and self-assertiveness, lie
constantly banded words with the
spectators about the ringsde and
talked steadily at Willard, who heed
! ed the negros chatter about as little
as he did his blows.
Ringside Repartee.
Wizards seconds were after John-
: son all the time, warning him to keep
away from Wizards terrific right. II
was I'm the sixteenth round that one
of Willard's seconds shouted: Jack,
YOU run into Jess right we will pick
YOU up right over here.
"Be sure you take good care of me,
, said johnson.
IL SO happened that when johnson
went down for the count it was in
Wizards corner
When a spectator called out:
johnson, you Will get yours today,
Johnson replied: "Well. there is good
money in it, isn't thereY
VIII Draw Color Line.
Willard probably will take his own
time In accepting any challenge. lie
already has announced that il he won
! he would not fight another negro.
, There is no doubt that the victory VIII
! do the new champion a world OF
, good. Today he was palpably nervous
: and at first was afraid to go at Johh-
J son. He constantly Jabbed or lungeu
and then backed away instead OF ioi-
) lowing up an advantage when IL came
: to him. ,,
II can hardly be said at present
that Willard is n great fighter, but he
is wonderful specimen or physical
! manhood, and is likely to develop an
apgressiyeness and skill that may
! make him invincible for years to
! come.
, Willard looked very clumsy agains'
: robnson TODAY. A more skillful man
: might have knocked Johnson out az
: Ter the twelfth round, for after that
, 1.-THE negro was going ON speed ana
nerve and skill.
1 Culans Cheer jess.
$ Throughout the fight, the Cubans
4 kent shouting words of encourage
/ iment TO willard, such as XIII the
c black bear!" and KNOCK him ou'
$ and let us go homer
:, When one spectator shouted a.
Z johnson that he was an old man tne
$ negro replied: "You just watch the
5 loId man." and with that he chased
willard twice across the ring, KNOCK
J ling his head first to the right and
: then to the left with a series OF cross
blows.
. Through the 21st, 22nd, 2Srd and
gath rounds, Johnson hardly struck
blow He kept feinting at wizard
! who was ever ready TO break ground
| When Johnson finally went down in
ithe 26th round, he rolled over on his
hack The sun was beating down
, with torrid intensity and his arms
. drew up as though to shield his eyes
from the glare, while the referee
counted him out.
~