Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-22
|HE|GHT and WEIGHT
|oF LATE CHAMPIONS

W Adu6 Vuu6Suvuu BOlvV
New York. March 1.-THE POSSIBLE
ity that Jess Willard and Fred Fulton
may meet in the ring during the pres
emit year, in . battle for the Worlds
heavyweight championship. calls atten-
ton anew to these extraordinary ex-
ponents Of modern pugilism. Big men
have been by NO means uncommon In
the ring during past decades but never
In the history Of fisticuns have two
boxers of the height and reach of Will !
lard and Fulton faced in the squared
circle.
The present titleholder is the biggest.
man who ever won prominence through
his ability to outpunch an opponent
but, in this respect. he has very little
advantage over his prospective COM
petitor. In the mater of height Will
lard is just about one inch taller than
the former plasterer who halls from
Rochester. MINI. Previous to the adj
vent Of these Golaths Jim Jeffries.
standing feet IL inches, was the tall
est man who ever held the heavy
weight championship. Jim Corbett and
Jack johnson both grew into the six
| foot or better class while two OF the
greatest heavies the prize ring ever
observation-disclosures and John l.. Sulii-
van--were under six feet in height.
/ It is not alone In height that Fulton
and Willard stand apart when COM
pared with the former champions in
! this class. They are also heavier and
, have longer reaches ard in all proba-
bility in the heat of action pack a more
crushing blow. although this is purely q
matter of opinion because there is no
way of comparing their punching
power viii that of those who have gone
| before.
! Willard in his battle with Johnson ct
Havana, in 1915. entered the ring
weighing about $50 pounds. Fulton
has given his normal fighting weight at
about 2o5 pounds. If the pair meet for
the championship it is likely that the
titleholder will not train much below
$50 pounds, while his challenger will
carry more than the usual amount Of
flesh, in view of the long battle that Is
generally predicted before a winner is
evolved from the flying fists OF the
combatants. With the possible excep-
ton Of Johnsons weight against Will
lard the pair would be the heaviest
who ever fought for the title. Johnson
tipped the scales at trife over 230
pounds at Havana, which was twenty
pounds more than he weighed when he
won from Jeffries in 1910. No other
heavyweight in his prime, excepting
Jeffries, ever weighed over 200 pounds
while at his best
! Awe-inspiring as Is the size Of Will
lard or Fulton they appear to be very
evenly matched in general physical
makeup The champion is an inch
taller and weighs some twenty pounds
more. In reach. an important asset Of
the boxer, they are about equal. Will
iard is larger through the body but
Fulton has the greater expansion. In
the various measurements of arms and
legs Willard is trif1c larger but Fulton
IS the sinewy type of athlete who pos
sesses great power without the ac-
companying bullying mucles. Youth ia
also on his side for he is at lea st eight
years younger than the titlehoIder.
The physical statistics of these two
heavyweights, together with a com
pliation showing the height and weight
OF FORMER champions, are appended.
row the Heavy7weiohfe Horn,,>