The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-29
BIG MEN READY
TO FIGHT FOR
WORLDS CROWN
Willard VIII Enter Ring
for First Time Since
March, 1916.
FACES A SEVERE TASK
Champion Too Big and Power
full for Dempsey, Says
Daniel.
FACES A SEVERE TASK
ny DANIEL.


All America is making ready for the
fray. Again after four years free Of
serious contention for the crown the
title made famous by such GtalwartS as
John L. Sullivan, Jim Corbett. Bob
Fftzsmmons and Jim Jeffries will be In
dispute in this city on July 4, and 10000
persons are getting ready to look on.
Wis a far cry from the old days,
this million dollar battle in which Jess
Willard, the champion. will face Jack
Dempsey for not more than twelve
rounds to a referees decision in the
huge arena on the shores of Maumee
Bay at Q o'clock in the afternoon on In
dependence Day. What a transforma-
ton from the days OF ancient Rome.
when the wild. blood thirsty mobs in the
coliseum watched the wearers of the
cestus do each other to death. and only
the bowls OF appreciation as the victor's
share,
What a change even from the last
previous heavyweight championship bat
tie In this country, between Jeffries and
Jack johnson. at Reno. New, on July
4, 1910! On that occasion the gate re-
ceipts were S270,775 and the fighters
share $121,000. At that time II was
thought that the last word In pugilistic
promotion had been uttered and that q
financial record had been set for years
and years.
Now comes that same promoter OF
Reno-Tex Rickard-with a guarantee
OF 100000 to Willard. s27.50O to
Dempsey and the prospect OF a gate of
100000. When Richard last winter
made these guarantees he was hailed
by some as daring man with chance
for success and by many as a foolhardy
promoter doomed to failure. He had no
place to stage his fight and It looked as
II he might be baked.
Richards Success Assured.
But to-day men take his success as a
matter Of course. Already he has $780,
600 in cash for seat reservations. A
huge octagonal arena Is rising rapidly
where only a few weeks ago had been
a waste. The Governor of Ohio has
risen IN defence of the contest against
the futile reformers. Things look fine
and dandy for Richard, and the scof,ers
of other days come up with an Il told
you So"
Richards success Is assured, but what
about Willard and Dempsey? VIII the
huge champion withstand the challenger
in twelve rounds, or will the aggressive,
rushing son Of the feud country Of the
Tennessee Mountains topple the king
from his throne? This question has been
making all classes Of men and even
women talk these many months. Will
Willard come back?
Let us snalyze the situation. Willard
will go into the ring after a layoff OF
three years, for his last previous en-
gagement was the ten round no decision
bout with Frank Moran In Madison
Square Garden in New York on the hight
of March rs. 1915. 1t will be remem-
bcred that Willard had no trouble WIN
ming but that Moran was able to last
the limit 1t was only about a year
before. on April s. 1915. that Willard, a
big, raw COW puncher from Kansas, had
surprised the world by knocking out
johnson in sun baked ring in Ha-
vana and regaining for the whites the
title which had been disgraced and be-
smi7ched by the moral looseness Of the
black Champion.
Those Three Years.
After three years Of solid comfort,
during which he grew wealthy through
wise investments: after three years dur
ing which he took on a great deal of
weight snd got soft and fiabby, the
champion again has girded his loins and
declares that he is better than ever
After three years during which he made
no attempt to keep in fighting trim
Willard will face an antagonist who
spent those three years in rising from
to the rank Of the lone contender for the
title. 1t was only three years ago that
Dempsey was hopping freight trains
picking up his meals where and when
he could get them and glad to take or
anybody for a $50 bill.
Those three years have seen Willard
grow three years older and reach ar
age at which the average fighter is passe
Willard has reached the age OF 81, al
n, Oh. All 10,
tirement But We must remember thai
Willard did not begin his ring career
until he was 20.
Those same three years saw Dempsey
attain the fullness OF manhood and thu
height OF his strength and aggressive
ness 1t was only few days ago, or
June "a. that Dempsey celebrated hii
twenty fourth birthday.
Judging the aforementioned fact,
merely from the surface, we will confess
that the stage appears TO be set for 8
defeat for Willard. But a closer analy
sis OF the situation will bear US out IL
our contention that Willard will viii
and that the champion will remain cham
plon-
why willard VIII Win.
We base our declaration in favor o
Willard to a great extent on the fac
that Willard is no average specimen
even disregarding his huge frame. Ply
sicians who examined the champion no
many days ago declared that a man lik,
Willard was born only once In year
and years One OF the physicians wen
30 far Is to state that a man like tn,
champion was born only once in a hun
dred years
Willard at 81 has the physical excel
lence OF big, healthy brute of about Q
or 2S. His blood pressure is only 1924
That OF the normal youth OF 20. HI
pulse Is only SO. His insides are a
eound as those OF a brand new mogu
locomotive. He has been living In ease
but he has been living a good, cleal
life, without intemperance OF any kim
and without worry. He may look a it'll
soft on the outside, but we think he vii
be hard enough TO withstand the hardes
knocksDempsey will be able TO music,
Willard has trained himself for
twelve round bout-a thirty-six minut
encounter to a decision-but he has nc
allowed himself 10 develop his speet
which at best would be second to Demr
sey's at the expense OF his stamin;
The champion has been criticised a grea
deal for his failure to do more roa
work. but he declares that he has al
tanned the top OF the speed he had hon.
TO reach for the fight and that he
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