Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-10

The doubt that existed for three
years whether Fred Fulton ever did
actually drop Jess Willard in an eN-
hibition at Rochester, Mimi. March
IA, 1915, is cleared away by the big
boxer himself. who row says he can
easily produce half dozen afidavits
to prove that the worlds champion
was knocked down in that exhibition.
Fulton. incensed at the many re-
ports that have circulated turnout
the country about his encounter with
big Jess and the much debated knock
down, took the opportunity recently to
air his mind On the matter. This Is
Fulton's story:
Willard Refused Bout.
IT was working in Rochester,
Mimi, at the time Miller's 101 Ranch
Wild West show blew into town. with
Jess Willard as the leading feature.
Willard was not meeting all corners;
nevertheless, I decided that I would
box him. had had several fights, but
was still green. In fact, had been
knocked out by Al Palzer the previous
year. ] was % years old. My Roches-
ter friends thought was pretty good.
So did q.
~ called on Willard and asked
him to let me go on in his regular
sparring show. He refused abrupt
ly. He had sparring partners paid
to do that, he said, and did not
have to pay outsiders to meet him.
II didn't quit, however. I got some
Of my Rochester friends to see Tom
Jones, who was then travelling with
Willard as his manager. They pre-
vailed on Jones to put me on against
Willard.
That made Jess awfully sore at
me. He thought I had gone over
his head to get the bout, and
imagine from the way he looked at me
when I climbed into the ring that he
meant to take it out on me.
Scheduled As Exhibition Go.
II was nervous when I sat down
on that stool. The ring was pitched
in the middle of the main tent and
thousands Of persons, most Of
whom knew me, were present.
didn't even nave a second in my
corner, while Willard had Walter
Monahan behind him. Tom Jones,
Wizards manager, was the referee.
so the cards We're effectually stacked
against me had anything developed
1.-The bout was scheduled as an
exhibition, of course and was de-
signed to show off Willard. But
from the minute that he reached
out and touched my glove, in the
center Of the ring. I knew storm
was coming and that he would try
to knock me out.
II stepped into him slowly, for
wasn't taking any chances. He spar
red and then began to shoot out his
left-with steam in it. He crowded me
pretty hard and smashed me some
heavy blows in the mouth, and the
crowd became excited when he cut my
lip and drew blood. It was more than
they expected.
Fulton Had Real Scrap.
I'm the second round I saw had
real fight on my hands and waded
in. I think I held my own with him.
In the third I went to him. Willard
has habit Of leaning back out Of
reach of face blows. When I led with
my left he leaped back so far that he
had to step back to recover. But I
was on top Of him in a hurry and
threw over my right hand. He toppled
back like q big spruce tree, landing in
sitting position with resembling
plump.
you should have heard the crowd
the tent seemed about to rip from
the roar that went up. Willard was
shaken up, but not badly hurt. He
was on his feet in couple of seconds,
fighting mad. was excited over the
knockdown and fought him hard thru
that round and the next. My friends
told me I had the better of it at the
end, and certainly he had not hurt me.
"Of course I was proud Of my
showing, but somehow nothing was
ever sent out about it. Z had no
manager Several weeks later went
under the management Of Mike Col
Inns and I told him about knocking
down Willard.
"'Quit your kidding Mike said.
II told him to ask eye witnesses.
He die. and obtained half dozen
affidavits from Rochester business
men who saw the bout"