The Washington herald., 1919-06-10
WILLARD MAKES
HIT WITH FANS
Followers of Fighter Have
Forgotten Jess Failings
And Now Pull for Him.

Jess Willard has been hammered
lot since he won the heavy
weight championship FIVE years
ago-hammered by the fans and
not by opponents. But maybe that
was because Willard and the
American fight crowd never really
got acquainted
When he was matched with
Dempsey a good many of the fans
said: 81 hope Dempsey knocks
his block off,"
And as Dempsey arrived and be-
gan training and Willard delayed
coming they grew so bold as to
say: Dempsey will knock his
block off,"
Jess n Favorfte.
But that was before Jess was on
the ground. He came in with smile.
without a belly" and jumped into
training the second day. He showed
to a full house and he hammered
pdithCI5
The second day the fans were mass
ed about the ring a thousand strong.
They saw Jess knock out Walter
Mona CHAN.
And they began to sit up and take
notice. They found Willard in shape.
He was fast, blocked more cleveriy
than at any other period in his career,
and allowed his sparring partners to
hammer. him about the waist as they
pleased.
He won the fans over-at least part
way. And now they're talking Will
lard as much as Dempsey, and chances
are old precedents will still rule-the
champion will step into the ring July
a favorite in the betting.
Jess No spendthrift.
Jess Willard isn't going the route
of many fighters. A lot of them. you
know. save little and after their palmy
days are over. are forced to go to
work in the ranks of unskilled labor
to make a livelihood.
The champion already has quite q
stake. And. by the way. it is his
third stake. He didn't start fighting
until he was "A years old AID he al
ready was married and had children.
He had twice before made money in
the cattle business. but he'd lost all
of it and when they sought him out
as a white hope he was willing.
Since Jess became a fistic star he
has made lot of money. He hasn't
been able to keep it all because of
managerial troubles. But he's cut
away from that and now seems on
a fair way to success.
OIL Jess Hobby.
What are you worth. Jess?" he
was asked.
Il don't really know and won't un-
til thnt oil land in Texas proves"
he said.
But to give you an idea of what
he is worth, and also to put a damper
on enemy propagandists who have
spread stories TO the effect Jess had
done nothing FOR his country, be II
known he owns s35, 900 worth of lib
erty bonds and is buying more of
the Victory Loan series. To date he
has bought 5000 in the flfth issue.
Jess has some valuable leases in
the Ranger oil fields. II oil is
struck on his lands he'll be easy a
millionaire.
Circus Pays Well.
He made money in the circus busi-
ness. He made money in the ring
and on July he'll add another
S1O0. 900 to his bank roll. He's worth
several hundred thousand dollars.
Jess plans to hike for the oil fields
and concentrate there.
I've been letting my business run
itself here of late and I've got to
give it more attention" he said.
When Jess is busy with the pic
lures or training for the fight his
business manager. Roy Archer,
keeps an eye on things.
There will be no circus or vaude-
willie tours after the fight no matter
what the outcome. Jess is going to
jump right into business. His'am-
bition is to be a millionaire.