New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-04
Johnny Ertle Wins Favor
at JeSS'S Training Camp
Gives Real Boxing Exhibition
After big Fellow" Has
Finished His Usual
Daily Stint.
By HAYWOOD BROUN.

II hewpie Ertle had been born in
Brobdingnag instead of Liliput, jess
Willard would not be the champion Of
the world
Kewpie crawled through the rope.
at the Pioneer Sporting Club yesterday
afternoon just after big Jess had gone
through six ponderous rounds Of train
ing. Il had Deen announced thst vii
lard would box with the little fellow
lust for the fun Of the thing, but jess
j. jealous champion, and he iarried
only long enough 10 hear the announcer
present The biggest champion and the
smallest one"
Willard did not pause u shake and
with Kewpie or pat him on the head,
but hurried away, ignoring his pres
ence Ertle thereupon went three
slambang rounds with his sparrlng
partner, one Red Cap Wilson, who
wore ear muffs and needed them. Nat
urally. the little men hit. block am
side step much more rapidly than the
biz fellows.
The contrast presented yesterday vas
so startling that one could not heip
but wonder just why the meeting o.
Moran and Willard should attract 50
much more attention than, let Us say,
the bout next week between johnny
Dundee and Benny Leonard
Just whv is il that the most in
portant fighter has come 10 be the Big
gest man? Not even as skilful tight
err as jim Corbett could begin 10 box
in the clever manner of some OF tho
smaller men. And Jess, of course, is
not Corbett. Although willard IS
deservedly the champion Of the world,
in his present form he is not an at
tractive boxer. He has good left, II
is true, but even in sparring bouts he
insists on making the other man come
TO him.
Possibly Jess is not so numbering as
ore might gather at the first impress
sion. 1t may be that his vast, out
spoken breathing contributes largely
20 impressing the spectator with pain
fui sense of witnessing artlsansnip
rather than artistry. The fact OF the
matter is that Jess appears 10 be a
gentleman OF large stomach and snort
breath. II the Willard of to-day. Is
truly the best of the heayyweights, then
boxing is a sport in which Drawn out
weighs every other consideration.
It was ladies' day a. the Pioneer
Sporting Club Yesterday. but there was
no great rush TO usurp the place OF the
men, who almost filed the clubhouse.
Jess began by pulling the chest weight ,
and a couple Of fair fans applsuded
wildly. although his work with the
weights is notable neither in technique
nor feeling.
Jack Hemple was the first Of the
sparrng partners 20 box with Willard.
temples weigh was announced as 2lO.
lie looked much lighter. Hemple had
no great trouble in landing on Jess.
who was content to let some blows slip
by his guard.
After two rounds Bob Williams sue
ceeded Hemple and iiddled with the
champion cautiously. Robert received
one right-hand punch which left him
dizzy. Jess Immediately let down and
allowed his sparring partner to set his
head clear.
Walter Monahan was WillarG's oppo-
nent in tho last bout, and the men went
at each other with good deal o. Zest.
This was the only time during the Al
ternoon when big Jess seemed 70 be en-
joying himself. Monahan is too s. all
TO reach the head of the champion, and
he kept rushing in and leaping upward
with each blow in order 10 set solid
smash home. For moment or so Jess
and his partner snapped punches, and
the rally ended with Jess smiling and
sweating broadly.
After throwing tho medicine ball and
annoying his abdomen with bending ex-
ercises Willard wrestled little with
Stranger Lewis. The wrestler made
no attempt to pitch the boxer of his
feet. bu, merely pushed him around
the ring in a head to head grapple.
jess wears an American flag about
his wsis, when he boxes. lie seems 20
have overlooked the fact that the flag
DOES not give the protection which II
once afforded.
Eddie Camp will meet K. o. Eggers
in the star bout at the Paramount Club
in The Bronx, tonight.
Billy Gibson says he will let Harry
Pollok have $4,000 side bet if only
Kenny Leonard cen have d crack al
Freddy Welsh.