The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-02-23


JESS WILLARD, JoHNsoN's NEXT oPPo-
NENT.
beat him. On the face of it there must
be something wrong with such a con-
clusion.
In order to win Johnson must per-
form what past pugilistic history
shows is in the nature of miracle
With the exception of Fitzsimmons,
who was an all round freak, no ring
champion since the time of Sullivan
has been able to defend his title at the
age Of thirty-seven, and even Fitz-
simmons met defeat at that age To
day there Is not a first class man in
any division as old as Johnson or even
near his age.
There are very few men now before
the public who are even thirty years
old. None of them is anywhere near
his best form. Among the heavy
weights Joe Jeanette, at thirty-five. is
the Oldest. For years Jeannette has
been going back. He is no longer a
card, and he devotes his attention to
fourth raters. He has not stopped a
good man for so long that his last de
cisive victory has been forgotten Sam
McNey, at thirty, is next. McVey is
still formidable fighter, but he reach
ed the height Of his career several
years ago. The rest of the heavyweight
stars are under the thirty-year mark.
The other classes show an even great
or scarcity Of thirty-year men. Johnny
Coulon, at twenty-five, was forced to
relinquish the bantam title. Abe Attell.
now thirty-one. is out Of the ring. He
was only twenty-eight when he lost his
title, and he had been slipping for sew
eral years before that.
Freddie Welsh, the present light
weight chSmpion, is twenty-seven and
Is about ready to fall. Judging by his
recent form.
The only prominent welterweight of
any age at present is Packey McFar-
land, who has retired Mcfarland is
only twenty-seven, but he must have
seen the handwriting on the wall or he
would not have dropped out.
only youth is represented in the
middleweight division. Frank Klaus
twenty-eight, retired two years ago
ana Billy Papke, twenty has not
donned the gloves for an equal lensN
OF time. Mike Gibbons is twenty
seven and Jimmy Clabby twenty-five
while Eddie McGoorty is twenty-six.
John L. Sullivan was thirty-four
when he succumbed to Father Time
aided by the light taps of Jim Corbett
sullivan was a physical wreck at thai
age and would have lost the honors
years before he did had he met frs
class man.
Corbett's finish came when he wa:
thirty-one. Corbett continued in the
ring for some years after he lost tn,
title, but the rest of his pugilistic ca
reer was marked by an almost uninter
rupted list OF defeats.
Bob FitZsimmons, the most remark
able figure in ring history, came int,
possession of the title at thirty -fv,
and lost it at thirty-seven. Fitz wa
the exception that proves the rule II
the case.
Fitzsimmons lost to Jim Jeffries,
giant. whose size, youth and strengt
more than offset the veterans cunnin
ring generalship and terrific hitting
Size, youth and strength are the DUAL
Ties upon which Willard will RELY I
prevent Johnson from surprising Rub
Roberts wonderful feat
Jefries was twenty nine when az
and rapidly accommodating flesh war;
ed him that it was time to retire. ST
years later, when he was dragged OF
Of retirement to face Johnson, he wa
but a pitiful wreck