New-York tribune., 1919-06-04

For the most part, the workout
pion stopped many a punch as it '
high good humor all the time he wa
close to where the arena is being bui
The Willard smile is q new develop
ment. He wore it all afternoon. 1t
is in no way reminiscent of the "golden
smile" of Jack Johnson. 1t is more
like a grin of confidence. 1t is brand
new expression for Willard. The last
time I saw him he was a very serious
and most worried athlete. The cham
pionship was constant annoyance to
him. With the mental improvement
Willard seems to have attained a
physical Improvement too.
Somewhere and somehow Willard
must have kept up his boxing work.
In those three burlesque rounds to-day
he showed more knowledge Of the
game than he showed when he was
getting ready for the Moran fight. In
his fooling around with LAWN he did
not use that straight left to any ex-
tent He shot over right cross that
looked very healthy if he had put be-
hind 1t all the power he had.
Little Chance for Jack
Also he showed a new blow to the
fight game, a curling left that crops
around the neck of man coming close
in and lands at the base of the brain
He tapped LAWN with this blow a few
times to-day, without the steam, of
course, or he would have needed
new sparring partner. I am wonder
ing if he might be planning this blow
for Dempsey.
If | am any judge of condition, Jess
Willard is about ready to step into
the ring tomorrow. If Jack Dempsey
can beat him he will not be the con-
queror of any hollow shell of man.
He will beat Willard at his best. And
looking at that exaggerated human
being who danced about that ring to-
day it is pretty hard to see where
Dempsey could have a chance.
After this the big fellow will work
a lot harder. Walter Monahan ar
rived to-day, and Jack Hemple, Will
lard's old sparring partner is here
already. Hemple is just out of the
Marine Corps and Monahan has been
furloughed from the army for forty
days.
Needs Sparring Mates.
From now on the Casino, where
Willard is training, will be d busy
place. The champion has scheduled
plenty of work for himself. He is
Kit hampered by the shortage of spar
ring partners, but his manager Roy
Archer. declares he will have some
heavyweights on the way here.
Willard is fairly easy on his spar
ring partners He was particularly
gentle with LAWN. If he had put any
of his real power behind some Of those
punches that he shot to LAWNS head
this afternoon, Mr.. LAWN would be
a very sick young man.
With all of his 259 pounds, the
champion stepped about that ring
with the agility of lightweight. Be-
fore he started sparring he yanked
set OF exercising pulleys loose from
their fastenings. He seemed to enjoy
every bit of his work, which is an
other new development for Willard
He seemed to hate the work of train
ing when he was working for the
Moran fight.
Of one thing, I am certain, after
watching this afternoons workout,
Willard will be heavy favorite in
the betting on the day Of the fight.
A lot of enthusiasts for Dempsey
weakened considerably when they saw
Willard to-day.
Shows Ability to Block
It Is not case Of "Can he come
. back?" with Willard. This man has
not been very far from the ring during
his retirement. He has been training
quietly since February last, and has
= been thinking boxing all the while.
This was apparent when he spared
with LAWN. He showed some new
e. punches and an ability to block that
was considerably reminiscent of John
son.
Anything that LAWN might have to
cay concerning Willard is not to be
taken very seriously, but a few re-
= marks are sent for what they may be
worth
willard is wonderful boxer" de-
clared Mr.. LAWN as ne mopped some
OF the crimson from his bruised lips.
He can stand right there and wave
away punches the way Cans used to
do. He seems to know where they are
aimed 70 land before they start. I'd
hate to be in the ring with him if he
was really sore at me. You can't do
anything with him. An ordinary man
Of only six feet or so is just helpless
against him"
~ guess that must have seemed
pretty grouchy when I came to New
York for that Moran fight" said Will
lard.
70 Worried Over Moran Bout
Well, there were lot Of reagons.
In the first place l was worried about
my condition then. I was fat and I
knew II. II Was in the winter time,
If you remember, and | couldn't work
IL of.
Il had lot Of other worries. too at
that time but the chief worry was
aoout my condition. 1t wag not because
| thought Moran had any great chance
Of beating me, but like to be at my
best when I am fighting.
Really, was not in good shape for
that fight. am much better today.
feel 1t. ! have lost the old worries
and this sort Of weather suits me. It's
good weather for baseball and boxing.
] can lose little weight here when /
start 10 work out, and I haven't no
: much weight 20 losc at that / don't.
4 g.. FxtI