The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-19
SAYS MORAN HAS
LITTLE Chance
Former Heavyweight Cham
pion James J. Jefries Be-
lieves Willard Best.
NEVER HAS EXTENDED
By JAMES j. JEFFRIEs.

Special to The Washington Herald.
Los Angeles, Cal, March 1S.-Undues-
tionably Jess Willard is the best of all
the present-dav heavy weights Just how
the titlc-holdcr would shape up with
the oId-timers comes under the head Of
gucsswork.
For years 1 have heard ring followers
debate: Would Peter jackson in his
prime have beaten Jack johnson when
the latter was at his best" This qUes-
ton has never been satisfactorily
answered Il is next to impossible to
select a man from one period and say
what he could or could not do with the
boxers Of another time.
You may place me on record though,
as believing that Jess Willard has never
been extended. The sporting world can
not realize what a giant OF strength Jess
Is, for the simple reason that the cham
pion has never found himself with his
back to the wall His earlier record is
full Of easy, sIOw-GonS contests.
In the Havana fight I really believe
that Willard could have gone OIL for
another twenty rounds and still have
been in tirst-Class lighting condition.
That's what 1 think Of his stamina, and
this spells a world of praise for the
clean, temperate life that Willard fol-
lows
was a pretty rough citizen in my
championship days. OId-t timers will re
member that I went w and down the
line, giving every man a return fight,
and fights they all were. I believe the
short go with Munroo was the only real
easy bout I ever stepped into.
Just what kind OF bout the Jeffries
of yesterday and the Willard of today
would furnish is something that I don't
care to discuss. I had my day; Jess is
living his-good luck to him.
FitZsimmCns was one of tho hardest
hitters that ever cracked a rack of hu-
man ribs. Could the Willard of today
have withstood the terrible punishment
handed out by the COrnishman? There's
another nifty little problem for the ring
siders TO argue.
Corbett. notwithstanding our two hard
fought battles, is one of the best friends
have today. Jim's ClcYCrness Is spread
all over Queensberry history. When
Corbett was Corbett his uncannv clever
ness might have enabled him To make
a close run of it with Willard in short
limited round go. I say might because
l am perfectly frank and truthful in
debating these few words for The Wash
ington Herald. II d positive statement
was required Id start going in the OPP
pOStG direction.
Inc most remarkable feature of the
coming Willard Moran go. to ME at least,
is the astonishing amount Of money BE-
ing paid for tCn-rOund. nO-deciSion 20,
in which the challenger, Frank Moran
stands little chance to win tho title This
certainly will set tho old-timers to think
ing
Jess Willard, and 1 take every man
as I find him, strikes me as being the
ideal champion. He may not fight often
enough to suit some OF the fault finders,
but who is there for him to meet" Think
it over. Jess is Il giant in size, has i'm
proved " wonderfully in his boxing, can
take tho punishment and is honest
conscientious and clean minded
That's whole lot to say about one
young fellow.
Regards to my Washington friends