The Washington herald., 1917-03-11
is Willard TRYING
To PROTECT TITLE?
However. if the Public Demands He
Will Fight Fulton Before November.

New York, March 10.-Jess Willard.
heavyweight champion, left a loop-hole
for himself when he recently signed a
| contract to exhibit with a circus again
this season. The loop-hole Is q clause In
the contract which permits him to break
it by giving three weeks notice.
Jess wasn't quite sure when he signed
up how the public would take to the idea
! of having its champion out of the ring
for another year. A few weeks ago there
didn't appear to be any man in sight
capable Of giving him a good battle for
the title. Then Fred Fulton, of Roches-
ter. Mimi. bobbed up and commenced
moving them down as fast as they faced
him. and Willard was compelled to sit
up and take notice. With one ear to the
ground, the champion realized that public
demand sooner or later might force him
to meet Fulton or be accused of fearing
him. But the demand had not reached
its apex and Willard hooked up with the
| circus.
Willard doesn't want to lose his title.
1t is the asset which has been coming
the money for him ever since he downed
Jack Johnson at Havana, and with the
title gone, WIllard's attraction at the box
office would end. He doesn't care enough
for fighting to keep on II he is shorn Of
his crown, his love for the game Is not
overwhelming. but as long as the title Is
a revenue producer he wants to hang
on to It.
Moreover. he doesn't want to lose
any Of his popularity-never too great
with the fight-loving public. So he knew
that II the demand that he meet Fulton
became insistent he must either give the
plasterer a chance at him or be called a
quitter, and make himself the target for
a lot Of unpleasant stun when he ex-
hibited with the circus. Hence the loop
hole In the contract.
II the public insists that Fulton get
chance before the circus closes next
November Willard will cancel his con-
tract and get down to hard training for
the Minnesotan.
If the demand is not noisy he will con-
tinue reaping the fat salary-said to be
500 a daY-which he can draw for ap-
pearing with the show. Willard, OF course,
is hoping Fulton won't be taken seriously,
and that II he is he will be humbled by
the mighty Jess.
Getting down to cases on this Fulton
Willard affair, there undoubtedly will be
a match between them some time. Full
ton is the only man who has a chance to
beat Willard now. Undoubtedly he can
trim any of the other challengers as
easily as he did Weinert and Cowler. At
present a ten-round no-decision affair is
about the only thing for Fulton and VIII
lard. The money which the champion
asks is possible in only one place, New
York, where the short bouts are in vogue.
Willard knows his worth. and his de-
mand. varlously estimated at $4,000 TO
s70,OOo for meeting Fulton in ten rounds
Is by no means exorbitant. They called
him a hold-up man when he asked-and
got-si7,5OO for boxing Frank Moran, yet
the house drew more than $4,000. A
match with Fulton would undoubtedly
prove an even greater magnet. So VII
lard's demand for a big purse is within
reason, and he cannot be blamed for not
rushing into a bout simply for the sake
of removing this Fulton.
So 1t behooves the fans to sit tight.
Some promoter with real cash is going
to see the light soon and the match will
be on. And there are those who would
not be surprised IL the champion went
to the floor for the count In less than
ten rounds II that terriblew wallop which
Fulton packs ever connects flush.