New-York tribune., 1915-03-25
JOHNSON READY
FOR HIS BATTLE
WITH WILLARD
Big Negro Sheds Fat and
Is Approaching Best
Fighting Weight.
TRAINING HARD
DESPITE WEATHER
Jess Taking Things Easy, but
Shows Steady Improvement
in His Boxing.

II information that reached this city
last night is correct, Jack Johnson is
already prepared to spring a little
surprise on Jess Willard and the hun
dreds of fight followers in this coun-
try who have been of the opinion that
the big negro was out of condition and
burdened with fat.
After his workout In his training
quarters at the stadium in Havana,
Cuba, yesterday Johnson tipped the
beam at just 233 pounds. With the
battle with Willard almost two weeks
distant, the champion expects 10 enter
the ring at about 215 pounds, his best
fighting weight.
Johnson has started TO train in
earnest, and although the heavy rains
have interfered with his road work,
he puts in full day in the gymnasium,
shadow boxing, working with the
weights and boxing with Dave Mills,
Colin Bell and Bill Scott. These men
are all heavy and fast, and the cham
pion goes at top speed with them
Only about the hips does Johnson
seem trifle in flesh, and he should
be able to work that off easily by the
time he enters the ring. In the moist,
tropical climate the Galveston negro
perspires freely, wearing heavy clothes
in his training.
Johnson and Willard both charge
admission 10 their training quarters,
and large crowds visit the men every
day. The Americans seem greatly IN
terested in learning Johnson's condi-
tion, and it is reported they are sur
prsed at what they have seen.
The negro's wind is excellent and his
footwork as shifty as ever, while he
showed his old cleverness in the
clinches, in hitting and IN blocking
Only his judgment appeared trlfle at
fault. but Johnson says he will correct
this by the time the fight day arrives.
The champion was in bubbling spirits
Yesterday and had laugh and golden
grin for everybody present.
Willard, the giant cowboy. who was
already in good trim when he arrived
in Cuba, has his training quarters IN
the suburb of Miramar. He is taking
things easy and does not do as much
road work as Johnson. His wind ap-
pears wonderfully good and there is a
steady Improvement in his boxing. lie
goes at fast clip every day with jim
Savage. and appears ready to put up
the fight of his life when he faces the
champion heavyweight of the world on
Sunday, April 4.
Americans have begun to bet in
vor of Johnson, offerin; small sums
at IL to 5. Thus far there is only far
demand for seats at the championship
fight. Harry y. Frazee, principal backer
of the bout syndicate, arrived here to-
day and took personal charge OF af-
fairs.
Alfred G. Vanderbilt, who is here on
th Yacht Wayfarer, visited both train
ing camps to-day. He is planning a
large party for the big battle.
Only two clubs will hold bouts to-
night, namely, the Madison Square
Garden Club, where Leach Cross and
Charley White will appear in the star
event. and the Sharkey A. c., where
Freddie Hass and Danny Fields Will
appear in the main go and Harlem
Tommy Hopkins and Joe Dore in the
semi-fnal.
The bout between Cross and White
should provide enough thrills to sat
isfv-if the men box TO form. Both
are heavy hitters and both have an
nounced their keen desire to win. To
the victor of tO-night's battle many
OFFERS will be made for other good
bouts. The winner Of this bout has
already been promised match with
the winner Of the Jack Britton-Ted Md
Lewis affair, at the both Street A. q.
tomorrow night.