The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-29
lOHNSON'S RING WISDOM
BIC FACTOR IN Battle
Cowboy willard However. Has Every
Physical Advantage Over Negro
Champion-Biggest Boxers Of All
Time to Meet in Havana Encounter
By associated Press.

By ASSOCIATED Press.
New York. March as.-The history
of the prize ring offers no parallel of
the battle for the worlds heavyweight
championship, in which Jack Johnson
and jess Willard will engage next Mon
day at Havana. Cuba. Big men have
fought for this premier title OF fistiana
since the early days of the eighteenth
century, but never through he long list
of champions from James Ngg to Jim
Jeffries have two fighters of the phys
ieal proportions of Willard and John
son crossed arms in the roped arena.
OF the champions of modern times,
Cofbett. Jeffries and johnson all passed
the SiS.foot mark. while sullivan, Shar-
key and FitzSimmons were from one TO
three inches below this height. When
the negro title holder and his challenger
step into the rinS on Easter Monday
Willard will tower six feet six inches
in the air. while johnson will stand five
and half inches below him. In weight
these fighters are also far above the
ring average of the heavyweight class.
Willard will weigh close TO sS5 pounds,
which will give him an advantage OF
about twenty pounds over johnson in
the elinehing and tussling which will
doubtless play an important part in the
battle.
Next to Jim Jetfries, the Goliath of
modern ring times. johnson is the big
gest man who ever held the title. JET
fries weighed s20 pounds and stood six
feet one and half inches in fighting
shoes: Johnson is six feet one-hslf inch
tall and weighs about 21S pounds, in
condition; Jim Corbett scaled iSI
pounds at his best and was feet l
inch tall: Fitzsimmons was one and
one-fourth of an inch shorter and
fought at about 170 pounds; Sullivan
stood feet 10ie inches and fought
at 195 pounds: Tom Sharkey was five
feet nine inches and fought his best
bouts at clos. 10 100 pounds,
Compared with these past heavy
weight glsdiators, Willard appears as
a Samson. Even when ranged along
side of johnson. the Kansas cowboy
overshadows the negro title holder in
almost every point of physical measure
ments. In additin to his 5is-ineh ad-
vantage in height and ten years diff
ference in age, he outweighs johnson
bv twenty pounds. His reach of SS}s
inches. against the negro s 20 inches,
will also prove OF exceptional value If
properly used In all the measure
ments OF trunk and limbs Willard shows
an advantage in structure, muscle and
chest expansion varying from two to
four inches.
To offset tsese physical assets John
son has the benefit Of ring wisdom and
craft cultivated during his long career
as championship contender and holder.
Just as Willard surpssses johnson in
every point of physical makeup. the
Galsestou pugiist excels the Kansas
boxer in all departments OF the science
of giving and evading punishment.
With youth and power ranged against
exrerienee ana skill the battle is likely
10 develop into contest in which ring
strategy will equahzs brute strength
and courage.
johnson s ring assets are we'll known,
but uncertainty clouds Willard s pros
peets. In his short period OF active
glove battling he has never faced an
opponent of the power, skill and expert
enee of johnson. The negro Is no phys
ieal weakling. even at the age OF SS
wears. and. while Willard must be ae-
corded the advantage here. it is likely
that the champion 5 offensive and de-
feusive skill in both boxing and ehneh-
;nq will nullifv this 10 considerable
extent. In the closing rounds OF the
battle il is probable that endurance and
courage will play an important part.
Willard has shown both thes quail
ties. but up 10 the present time has not
been noted for agsressiveness or boxing
-, N n
opportunity will ne demonstrated in the
supreme test 81 Havana next Monday.
The future drawing powers OF new
champion. towering far above many OF
his predecessors. adds a glamo- 10 the
battle which the promoters have had
in mind since they began the prehmi-
nary arrangements some months ago.
That the mateh making was not
without It's delays and upsets is shown
bv the fact that if the pugilists meet
as scheduled next Monday exactly ssN
months viii have ELAPSED since the day
Jack Curlev and the other promoters
of the big bout decided upon securing
johnson : signature TO the articles OF
agreement. The big champion was in
France ar that time and Curley was en-
trusted with the commission 70 20 1nd
the Texas negro and secure his en-
dorsement on the articles which had
been signed by Willard day or two
previously. The syndicate which pro-
motei the bout had picked Willard as
the most promising Of the white heavy
weights to take the title from johnson,
and they still believe that the Kansan
will prove the victor.
Curley arrived at Paris. France,
early in November only TO find that
johnson had gone TO London. England