The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-06
JESS AS HAPPY
AS A SCH00LB0y
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real power behind the throne of the
new fistic king: He deserves tne
ing the championship to the white
race.
Willard is the third champion de-
veloped by Jones. Billie Papke and
Ad Wolgast rose to the championship
under Jones tutelage. 1 learned to-
day how Jones, despite disappointments
and reverses put Willard on his pres
ent pedestal. 1t cost him $4,000
during the last three years alone.
Seeing and believing in Willard abil-
ity when the champion was In the
rough, Jones grabbed him and ted1-
until he developed him. The contract
for Jones management called for but
$3.50. Now the contract to both is
worth a fortune.
hand who guided Willard and fash
toned him into the skilled offensive
and defensive fighter who utterly
amazed the many spectators Monday.
| Willard had been regarded clumsy,
| though no novice. Jones was also the
master mind who planned and direct
| ed the whole course of battle with
Willard infinitely following instruc-
| tions and never being in danger at
any stage of the fight.
Willard Leaves Tomorrow.
Willard leaves tomorrow for Jack
sonville, Fla, and will probably play a
weeks theatrical engagement there.
Afterwards he will spend another
week in New Orleans and then go to
New York for a long engagement.
Deluged with theatrical offers, Will
lard intimated today that the prize
ring will not see him again except in
exhibitions, for at least a year. He
and Jones intend to reap their we'll
earned golden harvest on the stage.
Promoters Curley and Frazee and
Manager Jones shared in Wizards end
of the purse and the real profit to the
new champion will come from his
| stage engagements and his share in
4 the moving picture rights.
| Johnson, said to be under espionage
of United States secret service agents
! endeavoring to return him in the
i white slave case, planned to leave to-
day for Martinique to take steamer
| for France where he and his white
| wife expect to make their home. John
son was not disturbed by reports that
he might be arrested, declaring that
he was safe while in Cuba or on the
| high seas.
How Kansan Did 1t.
(By Jess Willard.)
Havana, April 81 knew I could
johnson gave me a great battle for
20 rounds but he could not hurt me al
though his punches were powerful
1 had not figured 1 would win be-
fore the twentieth round, feeling sure
Johnson would show up well until
that time. I was sure that my endur-
ance was superior to his and that by
! laying back 1 could tire him out.
| 1 fought cautiously until the TWEEN
tieth round and then in the 21st and
22nd, seeing Johnson firing rapidly, I
went in to finish him up.
In the twenty-fOurth I knew I had
the championship within my grasp.
In the twenty-fifth I shot across two
! body punches, knowing they would
weaken the champion, and when the
| twenty-siXth came 1 went out to fin
ish Johnson.
| When the round started johnson
was slow in getting from his corner
and his grogginess spurred me on. I
backed him into corner, tented with
my left, forcing him to shift his guard
and then shot my right against his jaw
with all the power in my body, ending
the fight and realizing my Hfe's great
est am bition.
johnson Makes Statement.
(By Jack Johnson.)
Havana, April 6.-I met a better
man and was beaten.
I did the best 1 could and put forth
the best that was in me to win but
despite the rain of blows Willard
seemed unaffected though I hit him
hard enough and often enough in the
first 90 rounds to floor ten ordinary
men.
one cOnSOlaI1On nave Is C1dI l.
proved to my friends that I was in
condition. This was shown by the
fight up to the goth round. No man
could have tried harder than to win
but I was up against man who
wouldn't crumple when hit him and
whose right to my jaw took the cham
pionship from me.
Jones' Statement
Havana, April 6.-"Next to Jess
Willard 1 am the worlds happiest
man. Tom Jones said today.
81 took Willard under my manage
ment when everyone was calling him
a joke, for 1 saw in him the coming
heavyweight champion of the world.
He was in the rough but I knew
that training would fit him. I was
patient and painstaking with him and
= knew that when he was developed
to perfection he could whip the best
fighter living.
The sweetest thing about this vic
tory is the fact that Willard beat the
real Johnson. The negro was in fine
shape and he showed almost as well
as ever in his life, so the Willard vic
tory is not a fluke, but a real victory
over a real fighter.
willard is now head and shoulders
above any fighter in the world and
none can beat him. I predict that he
will be champion longer than any man
who ever held the title.
There is none that can hurt him,
none can show greater endurance, and
none hasa more terrible punch.
''Willard's supremacy in pugilism
will be long lived