Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-12-12
FIGHT FANS NOT EXCITED
Coming Mix Between Willard and
Fulton is Not Creating Overly
Amount Of Interest.
FULTON HASN'T THE CLASS

NEW YORK. Dec. 1.-THE fact that
Jess Willard has been matched to meet
Fred Fulton for twenty rounds at New
Orleans next March has not created
great deal OF excitement So little is
known of Fulton's ability that 1t Is taken
for granted that he will fall an easy
prey for the champion. So far no one
has been found who is disposed to hint
that the big novice from the west has
even an outside chance to defeat the
man who walloped Jack Johnson.
The only interesting feature of the
match is that 1t will be Wizards first
outing since he won the title. There
is always a certain amount of interest
in new champions maiden effort. This
time there will be more than usual for
| 1t was not until he won the title that
Willard was able to convince ring fol-
lowers that he is first class fighting
man. Even yet there are many who are
uncertain whether the gigantic Kansas
is a flawless machine and this doubt will
not be removed until he has polished off
few OF the leading contenders in true
championship style.
Here in New York willard's class was
recognized more quickly than elsewhere.
He did most of his best fighting in this
city and although opinion was by no
means unanimous that he was a diamond
in the rough. there were those who saw
at once that he had all the essential
qualities, despite his lack of polish.
Native Sons skeptical.
] In other sections of the country Will
lard was less favorably regarded. Even
to this day CALIFORNIA; are firmly con-
WINGED that he Is a false alarm and that
this will be shown the first time he meets
real fighter. They cannot forget that
he could not beat that Joke. Charley Mil
Ter. or Gunbost Smith. Smith was never
in high esteem in California and Miller
was the clown OF the ring. The only
reason the promoters put him on was
because his weird actions kept the crowd
in good humor. WIZARDS victory over
Johnson silenced the far coast critics,
but failed to convince them and IL he
fails TO make good there will be no
surprise felt in that quarter.
Now that willard Is the champion, the
chronic hero worshipeTs are hailing him
as invineible. That sort of thing always
happens when a new champion is crowned
and due allowance must be made for
certain amount Of exaggeration. AS
matter OF fact. in sizing up willard, his
out altogether. That affair Is worthless
as means OF estimating his ability.
since there is no means OF telling just
how good. or bad. Johnson was at the
time.
1t is far more significant that even in
his novice days Willard showed great
wallop. tremendous strength and the
ability TO withstand punishment. he fig
ured to beat the aged johnson on what
he showed in the general run of his
bouts, even though his lack of polish
caused him TO be roasted to a turn. The
fact that he succeeded should not be
taken 70 mean that he Is now any better
than he was before the Havana battle.
Smokes Are Overrated.
Cold-blooded critics, who know Johnson
well. agree that he always was an over
rated fighter. All the negro heavyweights
are to some extent. When Langford and
McVey were battling the other night II
was the general opinion that no white
man would have had e chance with
either. During the bout Mcyey landed
probably 100 clean blows on I-angford
heed.
The net result was a film OF red. hardly
enough 70 dim the flash Of his teeth. Yet
Perky Flynn was able 10 flatten Lang