The Sentinel=record., 1915-04-04
STAGE ABOUT SET
 FOR BIG BATTLE
JOHNSON HACKERS ARE NOT WILLING TO MEET ODDS DE.
 HANDED BY OTHER SIDE.
From the Camps of Both Aspirants For Championship Honors Come Evidences of Hope Of Winning.

Havana. April 3.--Forty-e hours before their battle for the heavy weight championship of the world, Jack Johnson and Jess Willard were declared 10 be in as nearly perfect physical condition as their systems of training could accomplish
 They are fit to fight for their lives. they say, and will step into the ring Monday afternoon ready for the struggle. whether it be short and fierce, or drawn out to the limit of endurance.
 There is ten years difference in the age of the two men. Willard not only is the younger but has the bet ter of the height, and reach. How ever, Johnson is exceedingly muscu- lar, and will weigh more than he did in any previous fight Today he prob. ably weighed 228 pounds, but will take off three or four pounds drying out tomorrow and Monday forenoon.
 Willard wishes to enter the ring at 240; he is about five pounds over that now. Each will carry into the ring five 10 seven pounds of super fluous flesh in order to have some thing aside from muscular energy to burn mp during the struggle
 The apparent endurance Of each is unlimited, neither having shown any signs of exhaustion at any time dur ng the past week in their work. There is a wide difference of opinion among fight experts regarding the
 possible length of the fight; the style of the principals, and the adyan
 tages each possess.
 It is generally admitted, however
 that the champion is Willards mas ter in the science of offensive and de- fensive fighting, and that he is faster
 on his feet and with the eye. Whether
 he can make this science effective in the shape of blows landed in the
 rigat place, remains to be seen. The negro's best blows are a left
 iab and a right uppercut, although he has a terrific swing with either hand when occasion offers. It is thought he may have difficulty in landing his left jab on Willard's face, owing to the five and a half inches advantage in height which the cowboy pos sesses.
 The same may prove true with his famous right uppercut to the jaw, and Johnson may change his usual tactics and pound the body at every oppor- tunity for Willard, so far as has been observed. covers his body in a rather loose and careless fashion.
 Willard however, has learned to snap a fine left to the face and body which is extremely effective, owing to his enormous reach. The negro can look for trouble in this direction.
 The white mans swings and straight drives have more power be- hind them than Johnson's. although his huge, smooth arms, with their elastic muscles. his shoulders and back are not so impressive as those of the black Hercules who has grea punched and knotted muscles stand 1 ing out from the trunk and shoulders
 Johnson has the advantage Of Quickness and sureness of foot; al. though he shuffes about, he has the movements of a cat, and is a fine udge of distance. Willard is slow and appears at times uncertain of the next step. Frequently he finds him self in an awkward, unbalanced posi- 1 tion and if this happens in the ring, 1 the negro will be sure 10 turn it to his advantage.
 Expert opinion supports the belief that it will be either very snort i fight or a very long one. In the past | it has been Johnsons policy 10 nave 1 his opponent come to him. It is | thought possible that on Monday he may change his tactics and rush, | figuring on getting past Willard S | mediocre defense for a | knockout while he is strong and | fresh. If this is impossible he is likely to resort 10 a crafty wearing ] down system.
 Willard's best chance to win lies in a terrific smash landed in a miX-up l in the early rounds, or the slow | grueuing of the older man, althoueh in the latter case, much depends on | the virtually unknown ability Of both to stand the punishment such as only these giants can deal
 Willard is a better fighter now than ever before in his life 1t is generally agreed that Johnson is slower than he was five years ago. when he fought Jeffries, but many observers surmise that he has not gone back much. This has reduced the fight question to whether Willard has ad- vanced far enough to meet Johnson going back.
 A thousand sporting men here to