South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-06
CLAIMS WILLARD
NEVER WAS CHAMP
He Held the Title But Was
Always a Counterfeit,
Says Local Man.
mY ONE OF THE GANGJ

past three years? II ever Mr.. Cen
eral Public had a fraud handed 70
them II certainly was delivered at.
wholesale during the willard Demp-
sey championship bout al Toledo.
July ith.
Not wishing 20 belittle the finished
and crafty exhibition given by the
present champion. Jack Dempsey
FOR II was "a glorious and exciting
sight TO behold 20 see splendid type
OF manhood. without an ounce OF SUI
perhuOus flesh on the exterior OF that
frame This permitted the challeng-
er 10 move about with perfect grace,
adroit and extremely clever
But the Willard party gave such a
crude and corrupt exhibition Of both
attack and defense 10 make one In
quire whether or not he ever earned
the right 20 be classed as champion.
Just think what the word champion
means IL means that ne has dem
onstrated his superiority in his line
among the best men in the world.
and, II a man has achieved that he
will never deteriOrate 10 such an eX-
tent, no matter n W long he has
been dormant that ne will al least
show a fash AZ some stage OF "A sub
sequeEt contest.
Bout Looked Bad
In any boxing contest. one OF the
contestants NAV receive a blow az
any time which may send him into
the land OF temporary insensibhity.
or in the paley Of the ring. be
knocked out However. during tine
II rrn
single blow of consequence landed
during the first minute of the bout.
which was confined 10 feinting ana
deceptive movements in OrGer TO feel
their way. At no time during this
preliminary work did Willard show
that he could be classed as "a leader
in either attack or defense.
Whether or not willard had MADE
any preliminary preparation or
training at all OF not does not mat
ter. Some little act OF some kind o.
another should demonstrate that ne
earned his crown as a champion dur
ing at least some period in the ses
sion. which never came to the sur
face. To the contrary. his actions In
the ring at all times. aside from MS
extraordinary size and bulk. ne ap-
peared as the crudest novice that
ever pulled on glove.
The fact that Willard was prac-
tically knocked out in the first round
does not mean that the bout was
framed for there have been many
important. yes even championship
contests. that have terminated in the
first period 10 has not been many
years ago that Terry McGOvern. who
was then in his prime and was
thought TO be invincible at that time.
was sent TO the land OF dreams with
a single punch in the first round. And
with IL went the featherweight cham
piOnship. other instances might be
cited but that Is not the purpose OF
this narrative.
did Willard Beat Johnson
II has not been many decades
since he came into possession OF the
worlds championship by defeating
Jack Johnson. the colOred man, in
26 rounds The sincerity OF that
contest was always questioned but
eventually the public accepted H.
Because OF constant and abusive dis
sipation during the reign OF the col
ored champion Il was accepted that
when he fought Willard he was only
a shadow OF his former self and n
was only the frame work OF the
giant that appeared I'm the ring TO
defend his title
what does IS rounds OF fighting
mean? IL requires three minutes for
each round. with minutes rest in
between. totalling 164 minutes or
one hour and forty-four minutes OF
the most strenuous kind of activities
= i'm 6ghting toys. Could a man. whose
vitality has been entirely destoyed
beca use of dissipation. adding 20
this the natural decline of ad-
VanCing years, move about
- foot ring under a blazing sun
for one hour and forty four min
utes. durinh all OF this time doing
punishment. besides warding of the
attack OF the other contestant II
seems TO us this would require
pretty good specimen OF manhood.
How many times has willard de-
Tended his title since he wrested the
championship from Jack johnson.
Just twice, one OF them being a ten
round bout and the other a six round
contest. IL Is true the big brute has
held on 10 his change and is repured
20 Zoe worth az least half million
dollars. which is more than any
previous champion can boast Of and
II credit to him. But that does no,
give him the right 20 prey upon the
public and engage In just one more
haul and stage a travesty in order
TO get H.
High Goal tO Aim At
A substantial business man Of To-
ledo remarked after the bout that he
had every reason 20 believe that
willard was in the Richard Flor
ney combination IN staging the re-
cent championship and that Willard
financed the proposition. which Is
not had stand 20 take when sum
ming up subsequent events Will
ard over his own signature. stated
repeatedly that ne woald be nrst
fighter 10 engage i'm a championship
Tight without manager.
Inscriptions and crafty as mos,
managers OF lighters and fight pro-
meters are. the thing was probably
TOO big 20 let any more Of them in on