New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-06

down 10 long drawn out struggle.
believing that It would go the full limit
OF the forty-five rounds without either
being able TO register knockout.
Negro Fast at First.
Tho early rounds were Alled with
flashes of Johnson's former wonderful
speed, when he would rain rights and
iefts on Wizards body and face, de
liyorinC ten blows TO one from the big
white challenger.
Through al this time Willard was
strictly on the defensive, and on oc-
c8SIon Johnson played with him, once
standing with guard down and letting
Willard swing at him. only to dodge
and laugh at the awkwardness of his
opponent.
In many respects the fight resulted
Just ms many predicted. Willard and
his friends particularly prophesying
that If the battle lasted twenty rounds
Johnson could not win. This was
based partly on the belief that Viii
lard could stand all the punishment
Johnson could inhict, and partly on the
doubt as TO Johnson's condition and
his ability at his age to fight long
battle against the odds Of superior
height, weight. reach and years.
Willard said before entering the
ring that he expected to take beat
ing for ten or fifteen rounds at the
hands of his faster and more skilled
opponent, and mad trained to with
stand it.
AS o matter Of fact, 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 be
fore him 10 the ropes. Wizards back
showed numerous welts raised by the
ropes as he fell into them.
White Man Awkward.
In the rushes Johnson would start
the attack at Wizards body. and when
the latter's hands and arms caUe down
TO guard that part Of his anatomy
Johnson would swing rights and let's
TO the unprotected Jaw and face. VII
lard kept coming cheerfully back for
more.
Johnson's grin through the early
rounds began TO change TO a look Of
wondermcnt as the battle turned into
the tWenties 1t was at this stage that
the negro came to the conclusion that
lt was useless for him to try TO knock
out the young Western giant Johnson
seemed also to know that he was in
TO condition TO fight forty-fyc rounds
His blows lacked the force which sent
Jefries topping from the topmoSt rung
of the puCilstic ladder at Reno. Time
had done its work.
IL had been the opinion Of Johnson
and many Of his friends that he would
not have TO be in the best o. condition
20 whip Willard, undertaking the lat
tcr's splendid condition and youthful
stamina.
The fight was all Johnson's during
the first twenty rounds, Willard, only
once or twice taking the aggressive,
and then swinging clumsily and wildly.
Meanwhile his body was growing.pink
Johnson.
Finish Surprised Crowd.
In these rounds Willard took a beat
ing that would have put an ordinary
fighter down and out. The crowd got
used 70 seeing him throw off the slash
ing blows and expected TO see Johnson
do the same thing when Willard swung
his right 10 the negro's chin in the
fatal twenty-sixth round. They ex-
pected to see Johnson jump up and
NOltiAu t uS biiBt just az " lIldIu ndu
come back, but the old champion knew
that he had fought his last champion
ship fight
From the twentieth round to the
final the fight looked slow, and the
crowd began to boot and ask that
somebody do something. There was
single cry of Fake" but it was not
taken UP by the other spectators. The
reason it looked slow was because
Johnson. who had been doing all the
lighting, suddenly stopped and began
sparring for time.
1t was some time before Willard or
his seconds realized that Johnson was
through and only needed a blow or two
20 send him TO pugilistic oblivion.
During the early part of the fight
Johnson carried all his oldtime conf
dence and self-assertiveness He was
constantly bandying words with the
spectators about the ring and talked
steadily At willard who needed the
Negroes chatter about as little as he
did his blows.
s-