Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-23
WILLARD ANXIOUS
TO AID RED CROSS
Champion Eager to Meet Best
of His Glass in Order to
Help Win War.
is IN SPLENDID CONDITION
Manager of Jess Circus Tells
Of Plans and Ambitions
of His Boss.
fRv EDWARD w cOCHRANE.

(Ry EDWARD w. COCHRANE.)
That jess willard, heavyweight
champion OF the world, is sincere in
his offer to box any suitable opponent
ten rounds and give the entire pro-
ceeds to the Red Cross and that he be-
lieves that organizations fund will be
swelled by at least one-half n million
dollars and possibly a million as the
result OF such a contest is the state
ment of Ray o, Archer. business man
ager for the champions circus, VINO
was in Kansas city yesterday en- route
to Salina Kan, to spend the holidays.
lie had just left Willard in Chicago.
Mike Collins, who is manager of
Fearful Fred Fulton, the Minnesota
plasterer, has stated publicly that Will
lard is bluffing; that he is merely
making his offer 20 the Red Cross
because Fulton has decided to lay
claim to the heavyweight champion
ship. OF course no one takes Fultons
claim seriously and the public looks
upon Collins knock regarding Will
lard's efforts to aid the Red Cross IN
similar light. Collins is tna CGe
seeking cheap publicity and not VIII
lard. in the opinion OF Mr. Archer.
Anyone who has doubt of the
sincerity of Wizards offer need but
to talk to him ten minutes to be con-
WINGED that he means business" said
Mr.. Archer yesterday. Joss Is Vayy
enthusiastic about the proposition. lie
has had kilograms and letters from
chambers of commerce from almost
every important city in the United
states and lot of kilograms from pro-
moters who want to stage the contest.
Every Cent Ia Red Cross.
But Willard does not want any
promoter to have anything to do with
this bout. He feels that every dime
taken in should be donated to the Red
Cross. He will act as his own mana
ger and he will insist that his oppo-
nent or anyone else interested in the
bout shall give his services absolutely
free. lie is certain that an arena can
he obtained free and that the referee
and all other persons connected with
the bout will be willing to do what
they can for the Red Cross fund.
The champion has named the con-
dtons under which the bout is to be
held He is willing to let committee
of five sporting writers pick his op
ponent, The bout must be held in
Chicago New York or some other big
city, preferably Chicago, and must be
limited to ten rounds with no decision
and the title will not be at stake. He
believes the bout should take place in
the open air so that large crowd can
attend and all money, even that gained
from the motion pictures, must be
given to the Red Cross"
Some idea of the magnitude of this
venture can be gained from the fact
that the chamber of commerce of
Sacramento, Cal. offered to give Will
lard the public square as site for the
arena and build him an arena that
xvin la will
sent to the holding of the bout in
Sacramento. At IS a ticket this would
mean 100000. But for a worthy
cause like the Red cross, people would
be willing to pay all the way from So
to $50 a ticket which would mean a
total gate receipt of half a million
dollars or better. Willard wants the
government to permit the trarsporta-
ton of motion pictures of the contest
from one state to the other and the
total proceeds from the pictures to
also be given to the Red Cross. He
has communicated with congressman
regarding this and believes If il can
be done, the pictures alone will add
upwards OF half a million dollars to
the fund.
Big Donation From Champion.
The champion Is very desirous of
HaNihs tHls pout StdSeu III NhiCbSo,
said Manager Archer yesterday. "He
would like to give it in Charley Comls-
keys White Sox park, which will hold
crowd that will pay about half a
million dollars to the Red Cross fund.
He is sure Mr.. Comiskey will gladly
donate his park for such purpose.
The public must not overlook the
fact that Willard is donating at least
100000 to the fund by this offer, pro-
viding the bout is held and | am sure
1t will be-" continued Mr.. Archer.
Willard can make 100000 out of Il