The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-02
BOTH FIGHTERS
LIVE IN LUXURY
CONTINUED from Page one.J

CONTINUED from Page One.J
the best part of last night in allotting
and distributing tickets. No less than
one thousand complimentary seats
will be given out. Out of more than
20 press representatives who will be
about the ring, more than 80 are from
decided today, is to be about nineteen
feet inside the ropes, with a two foot
extension outside. Threatening wealth
er today against interfered in a meas
ure with the training work Of the two
men. Heavy rains last night left the
roads wet and slippery and as a re-
suit the early morning work. was short
and slow. -,jfoI5
The, Final Arrangements.
The promoters are rapidly complet-
ing the final arrangements. With the
expected :. arrival Of Referee Jack
Welsh, all directly concerned in the
contest will beBon hand. Including
principals and officials there will be
20 persons in and about the ring dur
ing the battle. This number will be
made up of the two pugilists, the two
referees, timekeeperS, the eight Sec
onds. the four physicians, the stake
holder and announcer.
The first rains Of the season are ex-
pected about April 5, the day of the
fight. The promoters are planning to
avoid any disastrous delay by the erec-
ton of temporary protection over
the ring. Provisions have been made
for four pests, one at each corner of
framework with a tarpaulin canopy
ready to be stretched over the fighters
if necessity arises. This would give
protection to the men and the floor
only. If it rains, all the spectators,
including Cuban government officials,
wealthy American sportsmen and
American tourists, must watch the
light from unsheltered positions.
Change From Old Days.
Veteran sports in Havana today are
marvelling at the great changes in the
conduct of prize fighting since the
days of the early championship con-
tests. Everything is now planned in
advance and the program moves as
smoothly as any modern business en-
terpr1se. For example Wizards camp
is in the most expensive hotel in Ha-
vana, where he has a large suite of
rooms, with windows and a balcony
overlooking a broad boulevard.
willard eats his meals in palm
garden among the other guests. His
average dinner includes soup, chicken,
salad, preserved fruit, cake and dis
stilled water.
on the same shore road. He has
rented a large private apartment
breezy and with a good view, beauti-
FULLY furnished and with service sup
piled. His meals are prepared by the
Cuban cook, except when the cham
pion desires to do this himself
Johnson takes great pride in his
culinary ability, and claims to be al
ST.
Johnson's average bill of fare for
breakfast, for example, is as follows:
Fruit, cereals, bacon and eggs, chops,
biscuits, jam and bottled water
johnson Confident.
johnson when questioned about
himself today said:
81 am in condition to fight the
greatest battle of my life. 1 want all
my friends to bet on me and 1 am
telling them to do so. L will win be-
fore the fight goes twenty rounds |
probably before it goes thirteen
willard now weighs 23S ounds and |
today will commence tapering off in !
his work He will do his last boxing
Saturday and last road work on Sum
day.
A majority of the fight experts |
down here seem to agree with Will |
lard's supporters that the cowboy will |
win. Willard himself is Supremacy |
confident Despite this they refuse |
to bet their money at odds of less than |
5 to 2.
Unless the odds drop to to it |
looks to a man up a tree as if there |
was going to be very little real money |
wagered on this fight, in fact, less |
than has been bet on any heavyweight |
championship battle in history.
Williard's supporters claim that the |
big cowboys youth, superior height |
weight and reach will offset Johnson's |
of experience and superior /
boxing ability. They point with pride |
to WIZARDS punch, which they say |
is the most powerful in the world, |
and say that their man will eat up |
j ohnson's wallops, no matter how ter |
rifle they may be.
Johnson's supporters assert in loud |
tones that the negro'S greater expert |
ence, masterful boxing agility, ring |
generalship and powerful punches will