The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-04-05
WILLARD KNOCKED
OUT JOHNSON IN
18TH ROUND
White Hope Defeated GoIored
Champion at Havana
NEGRO AtWAYS CONFIDENT
Superior Staying Qualities of Young.
er Man Began to Tell AFTER
20 Rounds.
NEGRO AtWAYS CONFIDENT

Havana, April 5-Willard Knocked
out Johnson In the 26th round. Dur
ing the last two rounds the white man
was the aggressor and forced the
fighting
Round 1-Jonnson was confident
while the white man wore a worried
look. Johnson rushed the fighting,
clinched and in the breakaway John
son landed a heavy kidney blow.
Willard came back and there was a
minute of vigorous infghtlng. Will
lard landed left on the jaw and he
men exchanged lefts on the booy.
The round was even.
Round 2-Johnson laughed when
Willard missed a left TO the head but
the negro shortly lost his golden grin
when Willard shot a fierce left to the
body The negro began rushing his
opponent but Willard stood his ground
and blocked off the black man. VII
lard came through with a stiff lett To
the jaw and Johnson countered sharp
ly There was rapid exchange OF
blows in which Willard appeared TO
have the advantage. 1t was Willard s
round.
Round 3-The negro opened the
round by attempting to rush the
white man but was cleverly blocked.
Willard landed stiff left to tna body
and Johnson began TO show signs OF
caution but kept his golden smile.
The fighters went into clinch and
in the breakaway exchanged light
jabs Willard blocked another at
tempt at rushing aid landed a left on
Johnsons S head without much effect.
The men mixed in the center Of the
ring and Johnson sent a left 10 the
body Johnson rushed Willard to the
ropes Willard sent a left to the
body. Round even
Round 4-Johnson laughed when
the gong rang and Willard appeared
to be more confident. Johnson rush
ed the white man to the ropes and
landed two body blows. Round even.
round with the right to the body He
sneared at his opponent and remark.
ed Don't tell me what you're going to
do, Mr.. willard" Johnson drove his
left to the face. There was an eX-
change OF blows and Willard was
bleeding at the lips. The men clinch-
ed and Johnson rushed Willard to
the ropes The negro sent two light
blows to the face as the gong sound.
ed
Round 6--There was n rapid ex.
change of blows as the round opened
Johnson was twice blocked when he
attempted rushing tactics. Willard
was cool and sent a stiff left 20 the
jaw. Round even.
Round johnson began to play
for the White mans body but Willard
covered up. There was clinch and
Willard sent left TO the face. III
the exchange Willard apparently had
the better of the argument. Wizards
round.
Round S-Willard becomes the
aggressor. He sent in a stiff left that
rocked the champions head. John.
son rushed Willard to the ropes.
johnson began to show signs of wearl
ness. Willard's round.
Round 9-Johnson opened the
round with a rush but Willard stood
his ground and landed four let's 10
hn
Johnson became wary and cllnched.
Willard sent long left to the body
and a right to the jaw Wizards
Round 10-Willard sent left to the
jaw as the round opened Willard
began to grow cautious. Johnson
sent left to the body. There was
clinch in the middle of the ring but
no damage resulted. Round even
Round 11-Johnson was slow in
coming from his corner. He began
kidding the white man but his com.
ments could not be heard outside the
ring. Willard was apparently willing
to keep away and permit the black
man to tire himself out Near The
close of the round Willard sent two
lefts to the body with little lamage
Round even.
Round 12-Willard began rushing
with the opening of the round. John
son left hooked to the body and the
face but with little damage. Willard
fought back. There was mixup IN
the center OF the ring with an cx-
change of a dozen blows. Johnson
'ushed Willard to the ropes ane sent
1 left to the face Johnson's round.