The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-04-18
Corbett's Daily Letter
On Great Sport Topics
n JAMEs J. CoRBETT

means that almost any man. who lives
carefully, can carry his physical powers
far into middle life.
Willard, through his own admission OF
an age 10 years greater than the records
show. has made himself one of the most
remarkable figures the sporting world
ever has known. M E@
The general belief has been that a man
who expects to become a topnotcher
among the boxers must begin his fistic
schooling in his teens-or very soon after
ward. The thought that man could
take up boxing beyond 80 and rise to
the championship never had been con
ceived. 1t was considered absurd. Yet
Willard has accomplished that very i'm
possible" feat.
, The giant Kansas began his boxing ca
reer in 1911-at time when he was about
80 years of age. Before that time he
never had a boxing glove on his hand.
The idea of becoming a pugilistic war;
rior never had occurred to him. But
when Jack johnson whipped Jim Jeffries
in 1910 and the hunt for white hope"
began, boxing enthusiast saw Willard.
The huge frame of the cowboy and his
far-famed strength made the enthusiast
| lcci THAT IL ally man cOulu QelurOu0
Johnson. that man was Jess Willard.
Willard was approached on the subject
Of becoming a boxer, thought little of
the idea first, but changed his mind
and in 1911 he started on the career
which four years later made him the
king Of pugilism.
Bob Fitzsimmons held the record up to
Wizards time. Bob, who was born in
h i,cf
about "a years old at that time. John l..
Sullivan, born in 1858, won the cham
pionship in 1882. and held it until he was
"a years old became champion at 70
and was beaten by Fitz five years later.
Jim Jeffries annexed the crown when he
was "A and retired at 30. At So Jeff at
tempted come back''--but failed.
Just how old Jack Johnson was at the
time he gained the technical champion
ship be defeating Tommy Burns in 1908,
is mystery. The records give john
sons birth date as March 81, 1873, and
he won from Burns on Christmas day,
1905 That would make Johnson 80, but
the negro frequently declared that no one
had the authentic date of his birth. and
that he really believed it was 1875 and
not 1878 That being true, Johnson was
SO when he won from Burns. s. when he
triumphed over Jeffries and about 10
when Willard Aefeated him in Reno.
Ring history shows that most heavies
do not reach their real prime until be-
tween Is and 80 and that they can put
up some great fights up to the age OF
35 But in the smaller divisions con
dition exactly opposite exists. The little
fellows are at their best between - and
Is and begin to slip rapidly afterward.
AL q or SO, when the heavies are still
going great. the little men are about
through.
Benny Leonard won his Championship
at p, while. Johnny Bilbane was q at
the time he defeated Abe Attell. Pete
Herman, the bantam champ. leaped to
the top at 20. while Jimmy Wilde. the
British flyweight, is only about q. Prac-
tically all the stellar performers in the
light diVisions today are under Is. Only
II rare rev battlers beyond that age are
still prominent among the flyweights.
bantams. feathers Or lightweights.
Terry McGovern va ~ when he be-