Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-30
GETS IN A HURRY
Wants to Have Independence Day
Set as the Date for Going Into
Ring with Jess Willard.
SAID TO LACK EXPERIENCE

NEW YORK, May es.-Jim Coftey seems
10 be In a great hurry to make that match
with Champion Jess willard The big |
Irishman already has fired the opening .
guns Of a campaign that has for It's OBJ
ject a match with the champion TO be de- |
clded as early as July T. A guarantee OF
$4,000, for WIZARDS end goes with Cof-
feys challenge and no doubt he Is sincere.
but II In not altogether sure that his
judgment Is OF the best in Fastening
matters.
Beyond all question Coffey Is the most
promising challenger In sight at present
During the last few months his Improve
ment has been startling and his popularity
has grown to altogether unexpected pro-
portions. II IL just for that reason that
q Il going TO be very easy TO make
mistake that might ruin his whole career.
Beyond a doubt Coffey and Willard would
draw o record crowd II they met this
summer and Coffey's share would be no
inconsiderable sum. But II he really OK
poets 20 become champion he can af-
ford to wait until the time Is ripe before
making the attempt.
Everything 20 Gain.
Coffey has everything TO gain and
nothing 70 lose by taking his time. Both
he and willard are comparatively mex
perienced men, but Coffey has the better
strategicai position. Willard as champion
will be tied up with theatrical contracts
Ills Appearances In the rims viii neces-
sarily be few and far between Under
such conditions Il will be impossible for
him 20 get the amount of practice he re-
lquires. on the other hand there is
I nothing 20 prevent Coffey from fighting
/ every few weeks.
II is very obvious that II coffey Is to
beat willard he must have the preponder-
! ance OF skill on his ride. Willard has a
tremendous advantage in size. weight ami
strength and this can only be overcome
by superior generalship on the part OF the
smaller man. AS matters stand Coffey
Is far toe inexperienced TO have a rea-
sonable chance OF beating down the
powerful KRnsan. But In a year from
now Il may be altogether different. Time
VIII work for Coffoy and the odds against
him are boand 70 shorten the longer he
delays.
willard slow 60 Improve.
There Is nothing TO prevent Coffey
from becoming wonderfully clever
boxer. He IL improving more rapidly
thany any man IN the ring. On the ether
hand, willard II slow 10 improve and OF
account OF his great length OF reach h'
can never attain the same amount OF
speed that is possible for Coffey 10 &C
Quire.
Coffey is built for speed as well al
strength, but as yet he has not Learned
70 make the most OF his one big ad
vantage. speed Is just as valuable a.
: strength. but It takes art TO make
J count.
II coffey u wise he will wait until h
reaches the stage where improvement
ceases Then It will be time for him u
strike. Apparently that time Is som
. distance away. but Coffey can afford {
. wait. He stu IN mere youth Will
: willard according ~ report, Is on tn
wrong side of 20. Willard denies this
asserting that he is only Is. Even 30 I'll
advantage Is with the Irishman.
No Cause for Alarm.
Apparently Coffey need not be alarme
regarding the possibility OF any one els
/, beating him TO the title. None of tn
other oontenders is likely TO prove at a
!. dangerous so far as Willard 10 concerned
, OF course. n coffey delays, meanwhile
: meeting all corners he may experience
setback. There are at least two men wh
. might be able TO outpoint him right nov
but In the long run that would nc
matter a great deal.
4 IL Coffey IL really OF championshi
I material he Is hound to triumph In th
4 end despite any slight check at IN
/. present time. That is why ne would d
4 we'll to take ON all contenders as fast q
4 they come. There Is only one road
2 the championship and that is by har
fighting and plenty OF IT,