The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-01
BOTH PUCS Plan
Willard Will Tour World if He
Wins Fight.
Johnson VIII Return to His
Interests in France.
PICK ALTERNATE REFEREE
Possible Accident to Welsh Will
Not Stop Battle.
Jack and Jess Feel Kindly
Towards Each Other.

| Havana, April IN. J. Hinke1 of
Cleveland was today named alternate
referee for the Johnson-Willard fight
next Monday He will referee in case
Jack Welsh is for any reason unable
to reach Havana in time. If Welsh
does get here, it will be Hinkle's duty
to sit at the ringside ready to act in
case Welsh should be knocked out by
a stray punch, or suffer from sunsick-
ness.
This decision was reached at a
ers held late today. At the same time
Bob Vernon of New York was appoint
ed official timekeeper of the club. with
Ben Harris, also of New York, al
| ternate. Sam Leonard of Toronto is
the timekeeper for johnson. The
timekeeped for Willard will be named
The routine in both camps began
early today. The pugilists were on the
road at sunup to avoid the heat. Their
sprints and walks are being cut down
daily now.
| Willard and his followers are so
confident of victory that they have
planned a triumphant entry into the
United States of the new champion
a few days after the battle. They
expect to make tour of the principal
cities of Cuba on April and 7, if
Wizards condition permits, and then
go to New York by way of Key West,
stopping at various places en- route.
| Wizards Dreams.
Willard expects to be the principal
figure at great reception in Madison
Square Garden. Later, he says, he
will make trip around the world.
His plan is much like the one made by
JeHries previous to his defeat at Reno.
He has no particular plans if he
should lose.
Willard says that fighting is a bus
mess proposition with him and that
he bears ennnity toward his op-
ponent. He says he will enter the
ring calm and determined to win be-
cause he needs the money and knows
he can win it in the prize ring.
Johnson, too, says he has no feel
ing against his opponents and would
like to be on friendly terms with all
of them, before and after his fights
it and not for the love of fighting. AS
the champion expressed it, a man
looking for a fight can get it on the
street, and "a licking, too
Johnson'S Plans.
johnson has interests in France
and after his bout with Willard ex-
poets to take his earnings, return to
the continent and settle down there
probably will visit South America for
exhibition bouts before going to Eu-
rope but if he loses, he will return to
France at once. AS winner he will
giving exhibitions time after time. He
knows that the moving picture rights
will be more valuable if Willard
chance of fraud on that account and
that it is the greatest desire of his
life to retire as undefeated heavy
weight champion Of the world.
johnson and Willard have met on
two occasions since they came to Ha-
vana but they exchanged only a few
words. Previously they had never
Unexpectedly last night. The cham
pion was dressed as usual in a white
flannel suit, white hat and white shoes, |
and was wearing a big diamond stud
estly in a blue suit and Panama hat
He also was wearing a large diamond
stud.
JOhnson's Bold Front
Johnson seemed studiously to avoid
paying the slightest attention to his
antagonist, talking loudly to his
friends. Willard in the meantime
carefully watched Johnson's every |
move. Outwardly Johnson is all con-
fidence, but in the privacy of his
training quarters he views the fight |
seriously, discussing it in a philo-
sophical vein with his trainers and
friends. This is something new in
johnson and causes many of his fol-
lowers to believe that he looks for a |
hard match and that he appreciates |
the enormous physical proportions |
and powers of endurance which Will |
lard possesses.
Willard does not seem to be at all |
nervous over the approaching battle, |
but he is under a severe strain never |
championship apparently does not |
appeal to him strongly as it does
to Johnson The young western cow
boy, who is entirely practical, sees in
it possibilities of wealth.
Every mail brings scores of letters
from the United States to Willard
Many are from cranks who offer ad-
vice which causes much amusement
One of these volunteer advisers wrote:
THE way to beat Johnson is step
on his toes and duck. Do this at
every chance and you will win sure"
Another writer advised Willard to
bury his chin in JohnSon's left Shout
der, where the pressure on a nerve
would partly para1yze his opponent
Another letter said that for $500
the writer would send Willard a sure
system for winning.
Still another offered lengthy ad-
vices and then demanded as reward
."The gloves you beat him with"
Johnson also is receiving daily a
great many letters of every descrip-
ton.