New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-04
Roth Men Insist That They
Are Ready for Long and
Gruelling Struggle,
CHANCES OF BOTH
CAREFULLY WEIGHED
CIeverness and Science of Cham-
MON Likely to Count if Bout
Be Long or Short.

osN srnd less Willard insist that they
~ IN IS nearly perfect physical condl-
~, ss thci- systems Of training could
soth Mil step into the ring on Mon
49,, shortly after noon ready for the
'-.,,ce'c whether IL be short and ferce
- SSswr out 20 the limit Of endurance.
There IS almost ten years difference
=. ,bo ace Of thc two men. Willard has
10 better Of the height and reach, but
iobnson IS exceedingly muscular, apd
iii weigh more than nc ever DID IN
~ nreyious fight He probably
etched Dos pounds to-day. but VIII
,.te of three or four pounds drying
mt tomorrow and Monday forenoon.
Willard wants TO enter the ring at
On mounds lie is about five pounds
orsr that now. Zach will carry INTO
,be ring from five to seven pounds OF
srnersuous flesh. in order TO have
.omething aside from muscular energy
% burn W during the struggle.
~ ennareut endurance of each Is
,nl;mited. neither having shown Signs
~ exhaustion at any time during the
I.., week in their work. There is
TjSs difference Of opinion among the
c-;tics here regarding the possible
iengtb Of the fight. the style OF the
r,en and the advantages each possesses
Science on JohnsOn's Side.
T. ;s generally admitted, however
bot tho champion is Wizards master
~ tho mere science Of offensive and de-
Fcnsive lighting. and that he is faster
On h. feet and has the quicker eye
Wbether he can make this science e.
foctivo i'm the way Of blows landed IN
tho right place remains TO be seen.
The negro's best blows arc lett JAP
aud g right uppercut, although he mas
terrif, swing with either hand when
occasion offers. II is thought he may
nave difficulty in landing his lett jap
on Wizards face. owing to the hVe ana
4 half inch advantage III helght Ihe
cowboy possesses.
The same may prove true win ms
famous right uppercut. and johnson,
NAV change his usual tactics ana pouhd
the body at every opportunity LOT
Willard. so far as has been OBSERVED;
covers his body in a rather loose ana
careless fashion.
Willard. however. has learned TO snap
a line left TO the face and BODY which
is extremely effective owing TO ms
enormous reach. and the negro can look
swings and straight drives also have
more power behind them than john
sons. although his huge arms, with
their elastic muscles. and his shout
ders and back are not so impressive as
those Of the black Hercules. who has
great punched and knotted muscles
standing out from trunk and shoulders.
Johnson Much the Faster.
Johnson also has the advantage Of
ouickness and sureness Of foot. Al
though he shufles about, he has the
movements Of cat and is fine judge
Of distance. Willard is slow and APP
pears at times uncertain OF the next
step. Frequently he finds himself IN
an awkward. unbalanced position, and
II this happens in the ring the negro
will be sure 70 turn il TO his advan-
tage.
The feeling seems TO be general that
will either be a very short fight or
very long one In the past II has been
JOhnson's policy to have his opponent
come 20 him. Ii is thought possible
hat on Monday he may change his
tactics and rush, counting on getting
past Willard mediocre defence for
knockout while he is strong and fresh.
II this is impossible he is likely TO re-
sort TO q crafty wearing down system.
Willati's best chance 10 win lies in
terrific smash landed in the early
rounds or IN the slow gruellng of the
older man, although in the latter case
much depends on the virtually I'M
known ability Of both TO stand punish
ment such as only these giants can
deal
Willard at His Best.
Willard is better now than ever be
fore In his life; but the question is
whether ne is good enough to whip
Johnson. On the other hand. it is gen
orally agreed that Johnson is slower
han he was FIVE years ago, when he
fought Jefries. This has reduced the
light question 70 whether Willard has
advanced far enough 10 meet johnson
going back
A thousand sporting men here to-
osy would Ike 10 answer that ques-
ion, but no answer is possible until
Monday tells he tale. All realize that
there is psychological, as we'll as
physical. side to the fighting game, and
many believe m that respect Johnson
mas the advantage.
he has always been confident in
entering the ring, and he has shown
ability TO keep his head in times Of
stress At the same time, he is now
against a powerful physical ma
shlne, and there is some doubt that
ne viii stay long enough 10 batter his
way 10 victory.
The championship will be settled be-
lofe gathering largely foreign TO the
.ghters, although several thousand
americans have arrived in Havana in
me last few days. All the Americans
IN Cuba seem to have come here. The
Mo steamers which reached Havana
p'oay from Key West were packed and
many aboard were seasick from their
Iough voyage across the ninety
stretch.
The Cuban public will easily pay for
.ae battle and make up the $4,000
Surse johnson will get, win, lose or
NO one knows exactly what the ar
angements are with Willard. but il
aTems certain that even should he win
ne championship he will receive no
Yney until all expenses are settled,
receipts.
Promise of Big Crowd.
Unless the weather should interfere,
0hiy Cuban weather can, when the
SIN comes down in torrents. there will
Dig crowd around the ring.
enough Willard attracts little at
I'oh IN the streets as compared with
unison, who travels about good deal
an automobile with his wife, and is
nays sttlred in fashion 20 catch
re eye, yet the white man is a great
r''0nte among the Cubans and car
considerable portion of their
sefs' His training camp hN always
- keaflnued I'm nara z eoIunan