Evening star., 1915-04-05

|
fight went beyond ten rounds. Willard
himself asserted that he was not In the
least nervous over tho result
strength against youth and strength.
with the betting odds at s to on John-
sons skill. johnson. one OF the largest
men who ever stepped into prize ring.
and ten years younger than himself.
The negro champion 10 thirty-eight
years old. willard Is twenty-eight.
weighs normally twenty pounds more
one-half inches, being six feet six
inches tall. Not within the history of
the prize ring had two sucE giants been
brought together before.
vana race track. ten miles from the
city. Thousands made their way to the
track hours before the time set for the
opening of the encounter. Tickets to
advance but the 50 seats were to be
sold at the turnstiles at the four gates
today. Sunrise found men waiting in
line. Some OF them ha- been there all
night.
Forty-F1ve Rounds Scheduled.
Forty-fve rounds was the scheduled
length Of the fight. but few OF the
| thousands who gathered entertained
even a RAISING belief that II would go
that long. That would mean three
hours of fighting. allowing for the one
minute rest between rounds.
Tex O'Rourke, one Of Willards ad-
visers, ought that in the first ten
rounds .le advantage would be with
johnson because OF his superior skill.
After this O'Rourke said Willard would
wear the champion down. In thirty
rounds or less, he thought. Willard
| would win.
Jess willard popped out of bed with
the rising sun this morning and after
a light m-stretching exercise par
pared himself for a short turn on the
| road. after which he said he would loaf
| until time to go to the ring.
II am at," said Willard to crowd
OF admirers. who came over to his
| training quarters to look the cowboy
giant over. why shouldn't l be ready?
I have worked hard for several weeks
| and am down to my proper ring
weight OF 245 pounds. have left just
| enough fat on me to burn or during
| the fight I have studied Johnson's style.
| understand his methods. and have
planned my ring campaign according
| ly. 1 rather expect the nght to run
about fifteen rounds at least. John
| sons condition will enable him to carry
a fast pace for that distance. Then
the strain will tell and I will push him
to the limit
| Jack johnson smiled his famous golden
smile at his headquarters this morning
while idlfng away the time before the
fight. The black champion took stroll
before breakfast, but beyond that did
nothing in the line Of exercise. johnson
undoubtedly Is over his best ring weight.
and though he said he would enter the
ring at 225 pounds, he appeared to be
several pounds heavier.
Iohnson Inst Iovea Title.
"rn be right there all the way"
laughed johnson this morning. II know
when 1 have reached my best condition.
Ali this talk OF my having lost my punch
ing ability is nonsense Just you ask my
sparring partners They will tell you. As
to Willard, I know he is strong boy.
but you know what old Fftzsimmons once
said, The bigger they are the harder they
fall I'll get him with series Of blows
that will put him under before many
rounds have been run Off. I just love that
championship, and am not going to lose
it."
| There had been little preliminary bet
| ting, but there were indications this
morning that wagering would become
more brisk as the day wore on. Almost
every one with money to place apparently
waited for an eleventh-hour shift in the
odds In the hope of better terms John
son was favorite, with the odds at to s
and to s. ."..
These were the figures obtained to-
| day at the Miramar Hotel. where the
Orleans f1ocked before the fight. I'm
Ger tainty as to Johnson's real condition
and Willard's ability are the factors
which kept down the betting. and there
,1oNs
these questions this morning as there
was week ago. 1t is Johnson's skill
land experience against Wizards
youth. the experts said.
ticipated no trouble refereeing the
match. There will be no technical
champion if 1 can help 1t. The winner
will have to earn his laurels fairly l
lighters. and they know what is ex-
lpected of them"
Early estimates Of the crowd Which es
the tbsAn number at 1900. They Came from from
everywhere The hotels emptied after
an early breakfast. Most of them were
filled with Americans who had been
here several days in anticipation of the
big event. The last boats from Key
IWest brought many others. From the
interior of the island came men of all
stations, from wealthy planters to ma
tives, who stood in line for the three
dollar seats.
| Natives Early In Their Seats.
| Before daybreak crowds of natives.
secure in the belief and hope that
| Johnson would retain his 1aurels, be-
| gan pouring into the city. The streets
were filled with motley throng and
the training quarters of the pugilists
were the centers Of admiring throngs.
Hours before the two giants stepped
into the ring the stands were black with
spectators.
| They went to the track by automo-
| bile, by trolley, in every available ve-
hicle in Havana, and on foot Presi-
dent Menocal and his cabinet. the con-
gress of Cuba, the governor of Ha-
vana province. the mayor Of the city.
! foreign ministers and hundreds of
| women were in the audience. The cleo
| trio lines were unable to handle the
| crowds and many walked the ten miles
| from Havana.
| The promoters went during the
morning to Johnson's headquarters to
pay him the $4,000 which he was to
| receive as his share of the gate re-
| ceipts, win or lose. Under the agree
| ment Johnson was to receive also one
third of the moving picture privileges
Willard's share was 25 per cent of the
| total receipts and a one-third interest
| in the moving pictures.
FIGHT BY ROUNDS.
Round one-Johnson feinted and landed