Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-04-09
JOHNSON LOST
TO WILLARD IN
26TH ROUND

lied from his own country, today los
his claim to fistic fame as the heavy
weight champion of the world, the ii
tie being wrested from him by Jes.
Willard, the Kansas cowboy, the big
gest man who ever entered the prize
ring.
Today's fight probably has no paral
lei in the history of ring battles. Fol-
20 rounds Johnson punched and pound
ed Willard at will, but his blows grew
perceptibly less powerful as the fight
progressed until at last he seemed
unable or unwilling to go on.
Johnson stopped leading and fol
three or four rounds the battle be
tween the two huge men was little
more than series of plastic poses OF
white or black gladiator
So it was until the 25th round. when
Willard got one of his widely swing
ing, windmill right-hand smashes to
Johnson's heart. This was the begin
| ming of the end.
Warns Wife to Start Home.
When the round closed Johnson sent
word to his wife that he was all in
and told her to start for home. She
was on the way out and was passing
| the ring in the Goth round when a
singing left to the body and a cy
clonic right to the jaw caused John
son to crumple on the floor of the ring
where he lay partly outside the ropes
| he 81
| up Wizards hand in token of his
newly won laurels.
End Came Suddenly.
| The end of the fighting came witt
suddenness that daZed the specta
tors. 1t followed two or three rounds
of almost complete idleness on the
part of the contestants and the GROVE
settled down to long drawn ou
struggle, believing that it would 81
the full limit of the As rounds without
either being able to register knock
out.
| johnson Brilliant at Outset.
The early rounds were filled will
flashes of Johnson's former wonder
full speed, when he would rain rights
and left to Wizards body and face
delivering 10 blows to one of the biz
white challenger's.
Through oil this time Willard wa
strictly on the defensive. On occasions
Johnson played with him, once stand
ing with guard down and letting vii
lard swing at him, only to dodge ant
llaufgh at the awkwardness of his OF
ponent.
johnson Confident.
During the early part of the figh
Johnson carried all his old-time cor
fidence and self-assertiveness. H
constantly banded words with spec
tators about the ring, and tai Ike
steadily to willard, who needed tn
negro's chatter about as little as h
did his blows.
When a spectator called: johnson
you will get yours today" Johnson RI
piled. well there is good money i
it, isn't there?"
Johnson, his wife and little grou
of friends plan to sail for Martinique
|
where Johnson proposes to settle dow
and lead the life of farmer, raisin
pigs and chickens. There is no dput
that he is through with the ring.
Willard Not Great Fighter.
1t can hardly be said at preser
that Willard is great fighter, but h
is a wonderful specimen of physics
: manhood and is likely to develop a
aggressiveness and skill that ma
make him invincible for years to cpm'
Willard looked clumsy against Johl
son. A more skilful man might hav
knocked johnson out after the tw elft
round, for after that the negro wa
going on speed, nerve and skill.
) $1,000 to 10000 in Arena.
. The crowd which paid to see tn
fight would be difficult to estimate
but it looked to number between IL
900 and 10000. In addition, fully 500
persons viewed the fight from the di
tant slopes and hills.
Willard Expected Beating.
! Willard said before entering tn
, ring that he expected to take bea
ing for 10 or Is rounds at the hand
of his faster and more skilled oppol
ent and he had trained to withstan
it. AS a matter of fact he took
rounds of severe punishment, br
! laughed the blows aside and keI
standing up against the rushes OF tn
! negro, who several times in each {
} the earlier rounds swept Willard b.
; fore him to the ropes. Wizards bac
) showed numerous welts raised by tn
, ropes as he fell into them.
Champion Is Modest.
: Willard probably is the most modes
champion who ever stepped out of
J prize ring, taking his victory as phi
osophically as he had looked forwar
tn the fight Neither he nor .JohnsO