The sun., 1919-02-16
DEMPSEY'S RECORD
EXCELS WILLARD'S
Champions Reputation Based
on His Victory Over Jack
Johnson.
QUESTION BOUTS MERITS
Two Decisions in Favor Of SEQ
ond Raters Stand Against
Kansan.
QUESTION BOUTS MERITS
NJ GROSS COUNTER.

pion's physical bulk and to the belief
held m certain quarters that the giant
Kansan never has shown his real form
and that ne possesses latent powers
never disclosed to the public
1t 10 difficult to picture a man tower
ing six feet six inches tall. weighing
230 pounds, who has great arms extend
ing three feet six inches from the Shout
der and with trunk and legs In proper
ton, suffering defeat in a physical con-
test with q smaller man. Dempsey will
weigh 100 pounds at the most when he
steps into the ring. and his height Ia
six feet It seems incredible that Dsmp-
sey can concede fifty pounds in weight.
six inches In height and ten inches Ia
reach to Willard and still have chance
to defeat the champion.
True, Dempsey has conceded weight
and height TO Fulton and Morris. but
at once there arises the claim that Full
ton and Morris are not in the same class
as Willard SO far as boxing, strength
and hitting are concerned.
At the same time Fulton's record up
to tho time he met Dempsey was better
elhti SHat VI anu IL 80 hcu
known fact that the champion had an
aversion again to meet Morris In the
ring.
While the observers OF things pugIlis-
tic may be deeply impressed with the
great size OF the champion. there is but
one way In which to reach an accurate
estimate OF his real ability as n ringster,
and that is to dissect his ring career.
Reputa ton Based on One Boat,
willard's ring reputation rests largely
on his recorded victory over Jack john
son at Havana in twenty-six rounds,
II that battle WAS on Its merits It was
q good performance on the part Of the
Kansan, for johnson was the best heavy
weight Of his time.
However, the circumstances attending
the match and bout are so clouded with
suspicion that 1t Is wellnigh impossible
to accept the result as true test
of the pugilistic abilities of tho men.
Authentic details Of the match set forth
! that johnson. who was a fugitive from
justice from the United States, and with
no place IN the world where he could
make penny in the ring, WAS guar
! anteed $4,000 win, lose or draw. VII
lard did not receive a cent for his
work in the ring. The assertion has
been made that johnson sold his title
| for $4,000.
The singular position OF johnson after
the alleged knockout in the twenty-sixth
| round. as disclosed by a photograph Of
the scene, has served to strengthen tho
belief that the contest was not fought on
Its merits. In the photo johnson IL
| shown on his back on the ring floor. his
left glove shading, his eyes from the sun.
and both knees in an elevated POSI-
ton. the soles OF his feet being fiat on
| the canvas.
| It was indeed a peculiar position for
a knocked out man to take, for the
boxer who gets a knockout punch us
ually falls in a limp condition.
The fact that Johnson's wife LETT ths
| arena just before the knockout and
waved handkerchief to the black
pugilist Is declared to have been
signal to tho fighter that she had re-
ceived all OF the $4,000. It is asserted
that the promoters had a great deal %
trouble in getting the money which
| had been promised to johnson and that
bargain until assured that his wife had
! the money.
For these reasons II is dfflcuit 20
credit Willard with a genuine victory
over johnson.
Fought Few Topnotchers.
| Unless the johnson fight Is retained In
! Wizards record as an honestly won
battle his ring performances dwndle
10 q mediocre standard Aside FROM
johnson. Willard is not officially cred
tied with victory over a Navyweight
of the first rank. The best man tina.
Willard shaded were Frank Moran and
Luther McCarty, and the best man he
ever stopped were Soldier Kearns and
George Rodel.
Gunboat Smith received the referees
decision on points over Willard in a
20 round bout at San Francisco on MAY
20. 1913. and Tom Mcmahon Of Pitts
burg received the referees decision or
points over Willard at the end Of J..
round bout at Youngstown. Ohio. March
81. 1914. Both OF these men n thu
time Of their victories over Willard we're
In the second division OF the heavy
weight class.
Tho belief that Willard Is a s'eert-g
giant who II aroused would !nfiot
terrific punishment on an adversary
Is based on the fact that a man oncs
died after a bout with the Kansan, The
victim was John Young, general'
known as Bull" Young. willard and
Young had two meetings IN I've rinS'
the first taking place at Fort Navn-,
Ind, on May %. 1912, Young beng
knocked out IN the sixth round.
Ability Conceded.
Because Of this fatality willard NsS
been pointed 10 as a dangerous h'''et
He has accumulated the helte' Nv o.
l'ciRring ~ he really WIS afraid - nv
with all his force Snlhva'', -t'zS'''
mons, Jefrries and johnson ne'er nos
tated to hit with all possible fore ann
no fatalities marked their ring confess
Con Riordan. sparrlng partner ~ lTh
IN stage work, died after striking NJ
had on the floor during lively hou'
with the Corrishman. but this was an
accident
The knockout records 81 'ha quartz.
above named are far superior % 'A7'
OF willard.
Possibly Willard has ca-cfn''F coy,
cealed his real ability from n" nNhu''
but unless ne has done 80 hN NF''E W
vealed MS a slow, backward r''sS",
lacking nggr--eion, and without punL.
Of any special for,e. In addition 'E
age, which must DO nearly 20. 'oNi'.
with his long idleness, all are hs'''
him.
Opposed 70 the champion VIII ne
man aged "a, in the flower or \'E"'''o
Young manhood Thysical'y 3e ~ NV
ideal size FOR hoXe- ot mo "Nn'H
weight class, neither too 'IrG'. WIZ.
rrreurDoses lack ~ required aP'''F' '''
| too small 10 Withstand TIE rlSh'F 90. =
giant. with the aEgresSiN"n,Ss IL.
dis.rrhed hornets ugE' speed I,"
flash Of Tight, and ht'''G po"er "'
force and accuracy q . TIN. ndM'".'
nc ,oonS tho rpoSt Fo-rlida hle hE'T' ~