New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-21
Heavyweight Champion Is
Waiting for Reason
able" Offer
By W. o. MCCLELLAN

Jes. Willard is really anxious TO have
his annual battle before the circus
starts again next spring. He Is fully
aware Of the fact that champion who
does not battle once in a while is not
nearly as interesting member Of a
circus as an elephant or a hippo
potamus.
Tom Jones, who does the talking
lots Of it--for the willard Curley-Jones
syndicate, announced al Chicago the
other day that Jess was willing to
consider the first reasonable offer. OF
course, the syndicate's notion Of what
constitutes reasonable offer may not
coincide with any promoters ideas on
the same subject.
No Definite Offer
"TeY Richard has made no definite
offer as vet" said Jones. when he
does We will accept IL. When ] say a
reasonable sum. mean enough TO make
Il worth while for Jess TO 20 into
training. A lot Of people think that we
are greedy, but | think they will be
surprised when they find out how rea-
sonable We really are
Jones announced that Willard had
already started TO do some light work
, toward getting into condition for a
boxing match. lie has a more promi-
nent bay window" than the one he
wore before he started to work for tho
Moran bout, and consequently the prob
. Il, 1r ell -,
harder one this time.
In the State of Wisconsin the boxing
commissioners are very strict in regard
20 the rule which prevents A second
from coaching IN the corners during
the progress OF bout. This is refined
torture to the New York fight mana
gers. II you do not believe it. ask James
J. Johnston, the Boy Bandit OF Madi-
son Square Garden.
James loves to converse during
bout The other night his pet light
weight. the wonderfully willing Well
ing was engaged in ten-round 20
with Richie Mitchell. the Western
champion. at Racine, Wis.
A Right on Chin
In the very frs, round Mitchell hap
pened TO catch yelling with a right
flush on the chin and yelling dropped.
Johnston arose TO give yelling
mouthful of advice. but just as he was
about 10 pour out the eloquence
husky Racine policeman jabbed him in
the ribs with q hardwood club. taking
all Of Jsmes's breath away.
eff you say just one word" the po-
/ liceman shouted. "out you go. Just
say one word. ! dare you to just even
murmur something
James gulped and turned purple in
the face They say that silence is pain
full sometimes. There never was ST.
lence quite so painful as that observed
by the boy bandit for the rest OF that
bout You see, II the manager should
happen TO break the rule Of silence, the
boxing commission not only had the
power OF srresting him for peace dis
turbance, but could confscate the
money coming 10 his fighter.
The local boxing commission has the
same rule, but il is never enforced
Perhaps the commission realized that
the enforcement Of silence upon tho
! New York managers would be regarded
in the light Of cruel and unusual pun
+ shment
/ During the same bout Richie
/ Mitchel's second tried TO put one over
on the unsuspecting bandit. They sta
/ toned a man in Yelling corner to
give wig-wsg signals as TO Wellngs
condition during the progress Of TIE
bout The bandit did not like the looks
/ of the stranger. but he feared to start
disturbance so far away from the
Bowery.
/ Suddenly James lifted the bucket
which was filled with ice water. Ne
did a fall that would make Charlie
I Chaplin green with envy, and a. James
4 fell he managed to wrap the bucket
around the strange gcn,lemsn's neck
and pour all OF It's contents over him.
/ 81 beg your pardon said James
4 serenely. That was very careless OF
me
The supposed spy" spluttered and
ran 10 the dressing room for more
Il =. L L L =