The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-16
WILLARD REALLY
 WANTS TO FIGHT
Heavyweight King Silent When Dempsey's Name
 Is Mentioned.

Our dearly beloved heavyweight champion of the world, Jess Willard, is running true to form. When the holocaust across the pond was at its fiercest Jess was a staunch adherent of peace. Now that the Peace Con ference is getting under way Jess is for fight.
 Of course, Jess is not much differ ent from the average pugilist who couldn't see the big scrap, as there was no purse in sight. Again, Will lard is a family man. He can't be stigmahzed as stacker, like many of his ring companions. His main fault was hanging back when he could have been of some real ser vice.
 When Jess will shove his bulky form through the ropes Is unknown --the principal thing is that he's will ing to resume his ring activities We'll say the activities have not been active, for the champ has fought only two battles In over three years. Ills real battle was with Jack Johnson. His other performance, with Frank Moran, was simply pleasant event which netted him oodles of change. Opponent Not Selected. 1 The identity of Willard's next op- ponent Is also a mystery. The re- oluse is coy on that subject. When Jack Dempsey was mentioned as his logical opponent the shaft found no resting place. Jess was mum on the subject. The maI1 point is that he has at last condescended to consider a light and now will await further developments.
 Several offers are floating through space, but to none has the champion given the slightest sign of accept ance. When he is ready he will have a whole lot to say about the matter.
 All he says regarding the prospec- tive affair is he will need plenty of time to whip himself into shape. This laying off of years doesn't help bat of Willard. 'Twould be a miracle If he could come back to the form he displayed when he whipped John son. This Jess knows better than anybody, and that is the reason he will insist upon a long training pe- rlod.
 VIII Fight When Ready
 When he was asked as to how much time he would require to gel in good fighting condition, Jess re- piled thusly: "I don't know. It may be a month or six months, but before enter the ring I am going to be fit"
 Many good judges claim it would be impossible for Jess to regain enough of his former prowess to stand off Dempsey or Fred Fulton. Out side opinion will cut no figure with Jess. When he enters the ring he will be satisfied with his chances.
 The declaration of Willard may mean he intends to make another at. tempt to stage the match himself Twas only a short time ago that he had his friend, Colonel Miller, hust. ling around the country seeking of. fers for a match. History tells us that the hustling was a "fliv," ant resulted in the champion setting him self back twenty-five hundred "iror men" Times have changed since and possibly Willard feels he will b, more successful this time. Maybe yes; maybe no.
 May Boost His Circus
 
 Willard may be figuring that the cir GUS season looks promising. For twt years his gorgeous aggregation o wild animals, Indians, cowboys ant clowns has been on the shelf. Witt little brushing up the show cal again return to the road
 'Twould never do for the star to b known as a retired champion, for tha would never induce the yokels to she1 out at the box office. With a fight i prospect, a lot of ballyhooing woul help to coax the coy dollar from 1t hiding place.
 Taking 1t all in all, 1t strikes on that Willard has to do one thing o the other. And the only thing to q Is to take on some aspirant If Jes gets in halfway fair condition h won't have to worry over his circu. No really dangerous opponent is i the offing, providing Willard Is nc too far down the toboggan. And flight will bring him another wad C