The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-13

take punishment or stand the gaff," as
the ringside sharps would put II.
Fourth. watch the men closely in train
ing quarters to- ascertain II they are in
condition to answer the bell. Especial
attention should be paid to the condi-
ton Of the wind and II the muscles are
flexible.
Methods Followed by Writer.
Having complied with this formula there
should be no difficulty in selecting the
man who is quite apt to win the battle.
1t was after applying these tests to
Willard and Dempsey that the writer
named Dempsey as the probable win
ner.
Having studied the early contests of
the Kansan and found nothing note
worthy. the writer then turned the mem
tai searchlight on the bouts In which he
had seen the giant In these encounters
Willard exhibited great height, amazing
weight. wonderful strength, astonishing
showness. fair ability as a boxer. extraor-
binary reach. an almost total absence Of
effective hitting. but with the power to
stave OF and keep at bay the mediocre
class OF opponents he met in the ring.
But in all his ESQ pounds of bone and
muscle there was not half an ounce of
sggressiveness.
In fact Willard was utterly without
the fighting spirit so necessary In a sue
cessful pugilist
1t was the discovery that Willard was
lacking in the three absolute essentials
! TO conquests in the roped square-com-
bativeness. aggressiveness and hitting
that caused the writer to unies!tatngly
select Dempsey as the likely winner OF
the Toledo bout.
Dempsey . Destructive Hitter.
Dempsey in his bouts at which the
writer was a spectator had shown that
he possessed in a strong degree the
qualities that Willard lacked. The chal-
lenger was a destructive hitter. had
amazing speed, was combative and ag-
gressive and had youth and strength
In addition. he boxed with considerable
skill.
In arriving at the conclusion the
writer had practically the easiest task
ever undertaken in a similar problem.
Another selection that was not diff
cult was Corbett to beat Sullivan. the
! champion at that time being in much
poorer physical condition than Willard
| On the other hand Corbett was a much
! lighter hitter than Dempsey. The opin-
| ion in that case was based entirely or
the belief that sullivan never would hlt
| Corbett and that Sullivan would be worn
down to defeat So It turned out.
The rbett-FitZsimmons bout was a
puzzle. 1t was known that Fitz WAS a
dangerous hitter and a strategist ant
| full Of vitality, but Corbetts weird box
! ing skill and speed seemed an offset
However, It was known that Corbett
was not rugged and It was figured thai
] a l.
settle the battle in his favor. The writer
picked FitE In the belief that he would
| be able to stand up under Corbetts jab:
until such time as he could get in a de-
cisive blow. So it turned out.
Missed n Fitz-Jerries Bout.
In selecting Fits to beat Jeffries the
| writer did 80 in the belief that the
champion. O veteran and able ringster
with a heavy punch, could beat mar
who practically was a novice. Fitz die
not win, and probably could not have
been victor even II In sitting on the rims
floor after getting a heavy left in tht
mouth in the second he had not injured
his spine. This prevented his sitting
down in his corner for the remainder Of
I the contest.
Jefrries was selected to defeat Fitz ir
the second battle and also TO beat Cor
bett In both OF their contests. Jeffrie;
had shown he had an iron jaw and coulc
not be hurt.
But when Jeffries came out of retire
ment and In poor condition faced John
son the writer picked the negro as 4
sure winner. having previously selected
him TO beat Tommy Bruins. Owing L
the cloud of suspicion hanging over thu
| Willard johnson AFFAIR the writer de
clined to make a selection, but was no
surprised when Willard was declared e
| have won.