Omaha daily bee., 1915-04-05

rush. figuring on getting quick finish.
Johnson's Policy.
johnson is figuring ON getting past
Willard,s comparatively mediocre defense
for a knockout. while he il strong and
fresh. II this IL impossible. he Is likely
60 resort to crafty wearing down
system.
Wizards best chance 70 win lies IN a
terrific smash landed in a mixup In tho
early rounds. or the slow gruelllng OF the
older man. although in the latter case
much depends on the virtually unknown
ability OF both 10 stand punishment. such
as only these giants can deal.
Willard r. n better fighter now than
ever before in his life, but the dues-
ton IL whether no Ia good enough to
whip johnson. On the other hand Il Is
generally agreed that johnson Is slower
than he was five years ago. whom he
fought Jeffries. but many observers sur
misc that he has not gune back much
This has reduced the fight question to
whether Willard has advanced far enough
to meet johnson going back
The Psychological Side.
A thousand sporting men here today
would like the answer 20 that ques-
ton. but no answer Is possible until
Monday tells the tale. All realize that
there is a psychological as we'll as q
physical side TO the fighting game. and
many beliVe that In that respect Johnson
has the advantage. He always has been
confident in entering the ring and he
has shown ability to keep hts head in
time OF stress.
The championship will be settled before
a gathering largely foreign to tho fight
ers, although several thousand Americans
have arrived In Havana In the last few
days All the Americans IN Cuba seem TO
have come here. The two steamers which
reached Havana today from Key West
were packed and many aboard were sea-
sick from their rough voyage across the
ninety-mile stretch.
The Cuban public will easily pay for
the battle and make up the $4,000 purse
Johnson Is to get No one knows exactly
what the arrangements with Willard are,
but It seems certain that, even should he
win The championship he will receive no
money until all expenses are settled and
then only percentage OF the net receipts.
willard Great FRvorite.
Unless the weather should interfere as
only Cuban weather can. when rain comes
down In torrents, there win be an assem-
bling OF immense crowds Although
Willard attracts little attention In the
streets, as compared with Johnson. who
travels about a good deal in an automo-
bile with his wife and IL always attired
in fashion to catch the eye, yet the
white man is great favorlte among
the Cubans and carries considerable
portion OF their wagers. His training has
been extremely popular and victory by
him would be wildly acclaimed
While the Cuban authorities readily
granted permission for this fight they
win not, it Is announced, sanction fights
between local white and black men IN the
future. They sax they are not concerned
with foreign problems, but have their
own to deal with. They are not taking
any chances OF untoward happenings on
Monday, however. az militia will be
freely dispersed about the race track
where the arena has been constructed.
So Many. Uncertain Angles.
There Is less actual betting on this con-
test than on any similar match in years.
There are SO many uncertain angles 20
consider that the big betters are doubt
ful where to put their money Bob Yer
non of New York, who is stakeholder
for syndicate. said that Johnson had
authorized him TO offer to bet any part
OF $4,000 on the champion at six to five.
But the champion did not give Vernon the
money, and there is no rush of Willard
supporters, to cover the offer. The VIII
lard men say they want odds OF two TO
one. There Is no chance that these odds
win be given by the Johnson adherents
Johnson notified the promoters that he
was not satisfied with the plan OF nine
teen-foot ring, which he considers too
small for big men. Consequently, the
pugilists will battle In twenty-foot ring,
with a three-foot extension outside the
ropes.
large crowd passed in steady
stream before tho ticket windows OF the
downtown headquarters all day long.
Most OF the tickets were sold in blocks
Of two. four and six. and in ali sections
of the arena The total taken in for the
day exceeded $4,000.