Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-05
WILLARD GETS
ROUGH" WITH
SPARRINC MATE
Champ Shoots a ChOpping Right
Which Catches MOnahan Be-
hind the Ear.
LATTER IS BADLY DAZED
Jess Shadow Boxes in Ring as
Sparring Mate Receivers
Dempsey Swims IN Bay.


workout into a sensational per-
Torrance at Jess Wizards Casino
training quarters this afternoon.
Willard shot a Chopping right
which landed directly under Walt
er Monahan' left ear. and less than
a second later MOnahan's head hit
the floor of the ring with a re-
sounding crash.
This unexpected exhibition of
punching by the champion was
pulled in the first round of his bout
with MOnahan, who only yesterday
arrived from the east on furlOugh
from the army. Walter had put on
the gloves for the first time with
Willard. 1t was a most unhappy re-
ception for Monahan, who really
hasn't recovered his boxing eye
after serving in the army.
Calls it Warming Up.
Willard had boxed one interest
ing round with his other sparr1ng
partner, Jack Hemple. Jack gave
the champion just the sort of work
to warm him up for a more siren
uous session against Monahan. The
way the scorching sun beat down
on the ring would make it seem
that warming up might not be an
appropriate phrase, but in this IN
stance it is, for Willard is simply
eating up" the heat
MOnahan started off with great
promise of making it an interesting
session. He reached big Jess face
frequently with his left, but Viii
lard took the walIOps with a smile
and returned a few punches him
self. Jess simply seems to dote on
smiling these days.
Then suddenly they hooked up in
a mixup at close quarters in the
center of the ring. Walter poked a
couple of lusty jabs to Willard S
nose, Jess making no effort TO
block the blows. But a moment
later Monahan let go with a hard
right swing. The punch landed
suuarely on the chin of the cham
pion, and with the speed of a
lightning flash the smile faded from
Wizards face
Monahan slipped in another pair
of jabs, then came the sensational
knockout. In close, Willard chopped
his right to Monahan's neck with
terrific force, although the punch
Travelled no more than six inches.
Monahan's hands dropped, his body
stiffened, and he crumpled to the
canvas.
All Right in Five Minutes.
A dozen ringsiders, including
Wizards business manager, Ray
Archer, jumped into the ring, and
with the champions assistance,
they helped MOnahan to his feet, in
the meantime dousing his head
with water to revive him. Walter
felt silly all over. His legs were so
wobbly he had to be helped to the
ropes, where he was given support
until he regaiued the normal use of
his own props.
A five minute rest brought Walter
around to a condition which per-
mitted him to box one more round
with Willard, but Jess was forced
to go easy with him and pull his
punches.
A crowd of probably 500 fans saw
the exciting workout Some of them
thought it was a prearranged affair
to draw them to later workouts, as
an admission fee of % cents was
charged today for the first time. But
if that knockout wasn't on the
square. then no wrestling match
ever was framed
Invites Fan Into Ring.
While Monahan was undergoing
the revival process the champion
danced around the ring and shadow
boxed to keep in action But he
stopped at one side of the ring
When one of the ringsiders started
to kid him. This fellow yelled at
Jess:
BE- say. that was a funny knock
out"
You think it funny, do youc"
was Wizards quick retort. We'll,
if you think it funny, you can Just
jump into this ring and I'll show
you how funny it was. That fellow
has to make a living some way, and
he was helping to earn it today.
Don't try to kid anybody around
here?"
Walter Also Sorry.
Willard meant it, too. 1t was the
first time he has exhibited any 1r-
ritation. He has taken some kid
ding good naturally and with a
smile, but he couldn't stand for this
alleged ringside humor, and no one
blamed him for steaming up. <ie
said after the workout he was sorry
he upset Monahan. So was Walter.
The champion has definitely de-
cided that his Tetinue of sparr1ng
partners will number three. They
will be Monahan, Hemple, and an
other man yet to be found. Big Eel
lows are hard to find, Willard has
discovered. There are six sparrlng
partners in Jack Dempsey's camp.
There are respects in which the
work of a sparring partner in VIII
Iard's camp differs from that of one
in the Dempsey encourage. The
champion guides his assistants in
the workouts, telling them to speed
and slow up as he desires, and he
regulates his own gait. Not so at
the Maumee Bay camp. No man
helping Jack to condition. is told by
Dempsey how to box Jimmy De
Forest, chief .trafner,s looks after
that end of the business, and
James reQuireslfew words in giving
his instructions, which may be con-