The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-11
Wizards Reduced Weight
Does Not Insure Victory
By CROSS COUNTER.


Waited on baimy breeses from the
sunny slopes Of California come reas-
surfing assertions as to the physical con-
dition OF Jess willard. heavyweight
champion Of the world The tall Kansan.
according to the Whispering xephyrs
from the coast. IL not fat Neither 10
he loggy. In fact he closely resembles
the Willard who gained the verdict over
Jack johnson at Havana four years ago.
He Is said to be active In movement.
clear eyed. flexible OF muscle and tire
less.
Special stress 10 laid on the dec,ara
ton that the champion carries no super.
fluous fat. and photographs have been
submitted as evidence that ne IL In ex-
cellent condition, the Inference being
drawn that Willard being physically nt
must perforce win the battle from Demp-
sey.
This 10 q pleasing visw Of the situa-
ton from the standpoint Of the cham
p,on and his admirers but II IL not
sustained by the facts Of pugilistic his
tory.
Jefrries was outwardiy In good physi-
can condition when ne entered the ring
with johnson at Reno. but the former
tally and was easily beaten.
Tim Corbett trained carefully for six
months for his first bout with Jeffries
t Consy Island. and was lighter in
weight than ever before. Corbett looked
trained to the minute, and for twenty
ounds outpointsd Jef by 1000 20 o.
Suddenly Corbett's exhausted vitality
asserteA itself and he practically col
larsed OF his own efforts.
TisIe witAia HE Grasp.
Had ne possessed enough stamina to
have enabled him TO last twenty-five
rounds. he would have regained the
heavyweight championship. as Jeffries
did not lay q glove on Corbett tin the
latter became weakened through his own
endeavors. In his youth Corbett skipped
about with Peter jackson for sixty one
rounds and never drew q long breath.
Corbett also pummelled Sullivan for
twenty-one rounds without turning Q
hair.
Many similar cases arc on record. and
while the admirers Of Willard may argue
that the champion never has done any
thing calculated to injure his stamina,
yet his absence from tho ring for four
years would have the effect Of decreas-
ing by so per cent. his efficiency a. q
boxer.
The champion Internationally has lost
q large amount OF the speed he pos
sessed. and he never was particularly
noted for agility. II Is q well known
fact that trainers Of boxers are decld-
edly in favor Of q few genuine bouts
previous to crucial contest as a means
Of perfecting q boxers judgment Of
distance. No matter how many spar
ring partners q boxer may have, the
hitting is necessarily perfunctory, and
the eye and arms are not trained as to
distance.
II Il also Questionable II willard will
again possess the vitality that marked
him when he entered the ring for the
battle with johnson. ana the lack of
fightins form. speed and strength would
be q serious handicap to the champion
when opposed by . man like Dempsey.
The challenger 10 the speediest man
with hands and feet since Jim Corbett
was IN his prime he is the hardest hit
ter since Fitx was In tho knockout busi-
mesa. and he 10 as aggressive as Suili-
van in his early days This 10 a COM
bination that willard's bulk cannot
Withstand.
The suggestion has been made that II