Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-23
NO LURE IN TRENCHES
FOR BOXING CHAMPIONS
Many Have Accepted Positions as
Instructors, But None Has
Shouldered Gun.

Jess Wizards recent offer to meet
any boxer in the world in a bout for
the benefit of the Red Cross aroused
fight fans all over the country. They
showered praise on the champion for
would serve to make him popular. some
thing he never has been. until they
learned that he had attached strings to
the offer. specifying that the bout
should be for only ten rounds and
should have no bearing on the cham
pionship, which would practically kill
it as an attraction. Speaking of prize
fighters who have SO far succeeded in
lodging service in the trenches writer
for the Spokesman Review of Spokane,
| Wash, says:
| rs the professional prize fighter a
coward? This interesting question has
| been raised by statistical gentleman
who has asked the War Department for
list of all the boxerS-if any-who
have proffered their services for actual
duty in the trenches as compared to the
number who have scrambled for safe
and sane appointments as boxing in
structors' in the various training camps
And an examination of the data
shows that not single holder of a
world boxing championship. from the
heavyweight to the smallest of all the
divisions. has shown the slightest in
clination to shoulder gun and do his
Dit Tor Uncle Sam. But all of them
with the exception of Jess Willard, the
heavyweight champion, who has shown
absolutely no interest in the war ex-
cept to lease his circus to the govern
ment at a fat profit to himseif-are
anxious to teach other boys how to
fight the kaiser
government called for volunteers for
actual service against the Germans. So
Iar as available statistics GO few pro-
Iessionai boxers answered the call.
aere and there a professional fighting
man got into the naval training sta
tions. particularly after 1t became evil
dent that they were to be caught in the
ora1t But as general proposition the
boxers stood aloof, showing little inter-
est in the finish bout with the Teutons
| Then the government let A. he
known that boxing would be taken up
IN the training camps and called for
instructors. The response on the mart
o. the boxing fraternity was instan-
.aneous and enthusiastic Would they
teach the boys how to fight? They SURE
would II was stampede
Benny Leonard, lightweight cham
pion OF the world, was in the van. He
In the uniform of the United States
army. Is Benny going abroad to fight
for his country? He is not He is going
70 stay around Camp Upton and tell
ene others how to do it. Sure he is
| Is Johnny KiIbane, feather-w eli, yg,t
champion of the world. en- route to
France to help Pershing hound the
runs? wen, not exactly. Johnny Is
safe at Camp sherman If bows who
really want to meet the Germans face
70 race are in need of any expert In
struction as to how to conduct them
selves when they get the introductions.
Johnny is going to stick around here
/ AS for Jess Willard, heayywejott
champion of the universe, that distin-
suished husky hasn't even offered his
services as an instructor. When war
was first declared Willard sent a tele-
gram to President Wilson, saying, 4
am ready. Evidently Jess expected the
PRESIDENT to take the first train for
chicago and personally conduct Jess
TO the war At any rate. Jess has rent
ed his circus horses to the government
Tor the winter which is the extent OF
his military operations"