The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-06
THE BIG BATTLE
 BY ROUNDS
Continued From Page seven)
Sales. Hfeh.- Low. Cio.

the same place. Willard landed a right to Willard again scored right to the body and blocked the negros return. Jack drove Willard to a corner and landed two swings to the head. Johnson again hooked right to the body and followed it up with two punches to the head
 Round 1S-After playing a tattoo on Willard's chest and stomach, the negro drove Willard to a corner. where the ne- gro sma shed him twice on the jaw. Will lard's leads were easily picked off by the champion. After several tries, Jess landed straight left to Johnson's face and a right swing to the jaw. At the bell John son landed a punch to the body and an- other to the jaw.
 Both Sides Show Up
 Round 19-Both pugilists slowed up bit Willard now was the aggressor. Johnson stood in the middle of the ring and blocked Wizards blows. During the first minute not single hard punch landed, and Johnson seemed able to divine Will lard's every lead The negro started a rally, landing two lefts to the body and a right to the jaw.
 Round 20-Wiard opened the round with two light blows to the negro's face. The latter laughed and said: Lead again kid' Willard did so. and smiled also The crowd yelled: Hurry up; we want to see the races" Willard stabbed and paved the air until he landed a swing on the negros jaw. The negro immediately cut loose, and they battled across the ring. The crowd went frantic when Will lard drove hard right and left to the negrO'S body at the bell,
 Round 21-After a minute of posing and feinting Johnson hooked his left to Will lard's body and sent right swing to the head. Willard replied with a straight left to the resro's face. Jack rushed, but Will lard protected himself well. and they fell into a clinch Johnson walked around the ring. Willard missed a right swing and they both laughed Both were fighting for an opening at the bell.
 Round 22-The fight at this point had degenerated into a slow sparring and clinching battle. Neither pugilist ap- peared particularly tired or injured by the blows of his opponent. Willard tried setting the pace. In a clinch he bat tered the negro's body with rights and lefts. Johnson only grinned. Willard con tinued working at the negro's stomach. Jack gripned at the shrieSing crowd Nevertheless Johnson was showing the effect of the pace.
 Johnson Weakens
 Round 2s--Willard rushed into a clinch. Johnson held on until ordered to break by the referee. The challenger shot two lefts to the negro's face. They clinched again and wrestled about the ring. Jess added two more lefts to Jacks face and clinched. Up to this point Johnson had not struck blow in the round.
 Round 24-The crowd yelled to the men in the ring to fight but instead they clinched Willard laid his weight on Johnson at every opportunity in the clnches. Johnson pushed Willard back ward in the same manner as he did Jef- fries at Reno. Johnson missed two weak swings. The crowd howled with disap- proval. Willard then smashed the negro with a left to the face at the bell
 Round 25-Johnson's actions might have indicated that he thought he could not knock Willard out. and was trying to get the decision on points at the end of the 45 rounds. Willard shook the negro with a right to the heart. He then clipped Johnson on the jaw with fast left and started forcng the pace. John son was conserving 0every bit of his energy. Willard again landed left to the mouth and then repeated it. John son stepped around backward at the bell and dropped heavily into his seat.
 Round 2e. Johnson rose slowly from his 
 two-thrds of the way across the ring. Willard stabbed long left into the ne- gro's face. sending his head bobbing back. Before the champion could recover his position Willard swung smashing right, which landed full on Johnson's stomach. Johnson was flung against the ropes by the force of the blow and he clinched on the rebound.
 The cowboy tried to tear loose but the black man held grimly with eyes closed and legs shaking. Just before the referee broke them Johnson looked over Will lard's shoulder toward the box where his wife had been, his eyes showing dazed, tired, puzzled expression.
 As soon as Welch had broken the clinch Jess rushed again, forcing the negro into Willards corner where the finish came. Johnson was slow in guarding, and his strong. youthful opponent hooked swinging left to the body. The fading champions legs quivered and again the towering giant feinted for the body. John son dropped his guard and Willard won the title with a quick, hard swing to the exact point of the jaw.
 The negro's knees folded up under him and he sank slowly to the floor and rolled over on his back. partly under the ropes. Welch waved Willard back and began to count. Up and down swung the ref cree $ hand but Johnson never moved. His eyes were glassy. only the whites be- ing visible.
 At the count of ten Nelch turned and held up Willard's hand and new champion replaced Johnson who was still |'stretched on the floor of the ring. Time of round, one minute 26 seconds HI-- I~~~<~- ~-I--