Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-25
FIVE YEARS FOR WILLARD
champion Says He Will Retire at
the End Of This Period If
Indicated.
he EXPECTS TO FIGHT OFTEN
ny RINGsIDE.

ny HINGSIDE.
NEW YORK. April 2.-Jess Willard.
che new pbitocrat Of the heavywoights,
expects to be worlds champion for five
years and then retire undefeated. The
Kansas superman believes that he knows
best his own limitations. and he confides
that he VIII not dabble with the ring game
~ he survives as champion for five years.
Then he will be ready for pugIlistic OBJ
livion. after having reaped the full re-
ward OF retrieving the heavyweight cham
pionship for the white race.
Though undisputed champion, Willard
lacks the fighting instinct He is not like
The proverbial pugilist. who would rather
fight than cat" Jess admits this But as
titlehoidor he desires to elevate himself
as the most popular fighter TO hold
championship. and for that reason alone
willard wants TO fight often. so as 20
sndear himself 60 the boxing fraternity
II has been said by WIZARDS many
eponsors that the newly crowned king OF
the heavyweight element will not partic-
ipate in a ring battle for ~ least year
But already the captious fight public IL
bankering 70 see Willard In action as a
champion. and he must accede to public
demand or suffer his popularity to wane.
once unpopular. willard realizes II Will
he berculean task 20 re-estabiish himself
in the good graces Of ''vox populi
The boxing public 10 perfectly willing
that Willard should earn little easy
,noney-for about five or six months. But
after that less must fight the most logical
contsnders,
Best of white Fighters.
And n would be we'll for Jess TO hearken
40 the call OF the ring after few months
Of passivenees At present there is no
white heavyweight that can cope with
willard The dusky heavtes are not given
consideration as the new champion Is
unswayed in his resolve not 70 give
negro = chance at his title. Willard within
a half year should take on as many aspir-
Ing paleface heavyweights az are WILING
20 sacrifice themselves at tho altar OF
public demand. for he would have no Az
ficuity in extermlnating the crop OF mis-
guided youths as fast az they come 40
him.
But n willard acduiesces In the request
Of his managers and does not fight until
a year OF more hence. he may regret iti
for then the budding heavyweishts WIZ
have added experience OF year and
,.,gn, he able 70 put up a front that the
rustv willard would have trouble In beat
ing down. -
81 81 behooves willard 20 curtail his
theatrical bookings about midsummer and
etart training for a siege in defense OF ms
coveted title.
wizards unsolicited declaration that he
V,,u head the heavyweight division Tor
five wears Is probably actuated by events
nj Havana three weeks ago. when he re-
lleved Johnson OF his title. And We mere
.st,,,,tsvo a., fvfereatinR fact.
Iohmson I'm His Forttess
Johnson was at least Al years OF age
when he fell before wlllarrs onslaught
The former champion made this admis-
eion himself, and said II In such man
mar as to Indicate that he was probably
tao or three years older. Johns0ns
whiss wife said she knew her husband to
be At least 30. And Johnsons nature
makes it possible that he would with
hold anything OF an important character
from even his wife.
The record books showed Johnson TO
be 81 years. I days. when he lost his
championship. Bob Fitzsimnsons also
had passed. his thirty-seventh birthday
five days when he relinauished his lau-
rels 20 Jeffriss. SO n Johnson really is
beyond the so-year mark. he beat Fits
longevity record for holding the cham
pionship by several years.
willard Thtrty-Three.
Another interesting sideiight IL that
willard Il actually % years old. not n.
as claimed for him Willard has been
strangely mute on the question OF his
age. Now II Willard is really 30 years
old, we can readily understand why he
doesn't expect TO remain IN the game
for more than five years. Even the great
Fitx wilted at a. and willard has at
least four years OF hard fighting ahead
Of him 90 equal the freckied beauty's
record.
The Willard syndicate has made Il
known that before Jess next partakes
in a ring battle with his championship
at stake. his palm win have TO be crossed
with $4,000. az the guaranteed sum for
his services n they intend TO adhere TO
this plan II win probably be two years
before Willard win be called on TO defend
his title. But we believe that when the
stage demand for WIZARDS Thespian
service peters out. those In control Of Hig
Jess will compromise for n much de-
creased amount
Meanwhile willard is gathering In his
just rewards. more power to him; but
he should not overlook the supporting
public when IL gets ready 10 ask him to
become active and show his real worth
as a champion.
Gibbons Awaits Mcfarland.
Mike Gibbons IL still waiting for
Paokey Mcfarland TO como out of his
Eecluslon and cIinch the match the stock
yards champion preached several weeks
AGO.
Michael has posted forfeit Of $500 for
weight and appearance. but Paekey 10
yet "a be heard from. Gibbons has agreed
20 do IA pounds az O'Clock. which IL
at present an extremely low poundage
for the 81. Paul shroud. but Mike wants
10 show the public that he does not fear
the wizardry of Mcfarland.
PRETTY SnnM III WIlI Dc