Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-04-05
Jack, Wern Down, Casts
His Lamps at His Wife
and Then Drops.
TERRIFIC BLOW TO Jaw
KanSan Does Not Display Real
Glass Until Battle Has Gone
Several Rounds.

Havana, Cuba, April SACK John
son lost the worlds heavyweight ring
championship to Jess Willard this aft
ernoon in the 26th round.
Johnson is to receive $4,000, with
81, 900 extra for training expenses, and
a percentage of the picture privileges
Willard is TO receive 25 per cent of the
receipts, after all expenses are paid
and percentage OF the picture privi-
Ieses.
Havana, April although the
battle of the giants for the worlds
championship was not scheduled to be-
gin until 1880 in the afternoon the
early hours of the forenoon saw thous-
ands on their way to Marianao race
course where the Johnson-Willard
fight was staged. They went 10y auto
mobile, trolley and every available We
hicle The electric lines were unable
to handle the crowds and many walked
10 miles. Before the fighters stepped
in the ring the stands were black with
spectators President Menocal and
his cabinet, the congress of Cuba, for
eign ministers and hundreds of women
were IN the audience. Tickets amount
ing to $4,000 had been sold in ad-
vance. but So seats were sold at the
tUrnstiles.
Willard hackers were certain their
man would win if the fight went over
10 rounds Il am fit" said Willard
to friends 81 am down to my proper
ring weight of 245. expect the fight
TO run - rounds at least Then the
strain viii tell on Johnson and III push
him 10 the limit"
I'll be right there all the way"
laughed Johnson this morning 'T
know I have reached my best condi-
tion. I'll get Willard with ca series of
blows that will put him under before
many rounds have been of. just
love the championship and l am not
going TO lose it,
Johnson the Favorite.
Forty-five rounds was the scheduled
length of the fight. but few of thu
thousands who gathered at the seems
entertained even a passing belief that
it would 90 that long.
johnson was the favorite with odds
There will be no technical cham
pion if ] can help it." said Referee
Welsh The winner viii have to earn
his laureIs fairly"
Early estimates placed the atten-
dance at 1900. They came from
everywhere. Willard is 10 years young
er than Johnson and outweighs the
champion more than twenty pounds
and tops him five and a half inches,
being six feet six. Not within the his
tory of the prize ring had two such
giants been brought together before.
When the sun rose it was behind
solid bank of clouds. but as the day
advanced blue paths of sky appeared,
beginning a hope for fine weather.
At II O'Clock the sun and clouds
were still fighting for supremacy. Gu
ban troops began to reach the track
at 1880. From two platforms NOV
ing picture machines were focused on
the ring There was great excitement
at II o'clock when it was discovered
there was no bell on hand to start and
stop the rounds. Messengers were
sent to Havana to purchase a gong.
Seats sold from 50 to s25. The race
track is surrounded with green nils
and towering palms.
Ring Crude Affair.
The ring was finished shortly before
noon It is the crudest. although
strongest, ever erected for a cham
pionship fight
No big betting was reported. Be
fore the ring was completed the big
gong arrived. At 1920 it appeared
the fight might not start until
o'clock.
Johnscn's wife was present. The
sun was shining brightly at 1910.
The attendance was estimated at 15.-
600. At I'LL Johnson crawled through
ihe ropes. He was applauded by Gu
bans. Willard entered the ring at
1.2o. The crowd went wild when
Willard appeared
Willard was seconded by Manager
Jones. Tex O'Rourke, Jim Savage and
Walter Mohan Behind Johnson were
Tom Flanagan, George Munroe, Sam
Mcyey, both Armstrong, Dave Mills
and Colin Bell. Willard weighed 238
and Johnson 225. Time was called at