Evening journal., 1919-04-07
WILLS KNOCKS AT
CHAMPIONSHIPDOOR
Consents to oEnamel His Face
if Dempsey or Willard
Says So
NEGRO BOXER
DEFEATED LANGFORD

While waiting for tho song 10 sum-
mon Jess Willard and Jack Dempsey
TO the center Of tho ring, let US mo-
mcntorily turn an inquiring glance in
the direction OF Harry wills, who in
rcpose looks like a gladiator chisseled
from anthracite. Wills is in fun at
tire for combat. but has not yet been
apprised as 10 the location Of the ring
or tho identity Of his opponent.
True he dreams at times OF shaking
hands with Jess or Jack preparatory
10 a contest for the title but he awakes
as the picture Vanishes into thin air.
There is a question as 10 whether
Lle winner Of the Willard-Dempscy
bout On July 4 should in all fairness
engage in a passage at arms and fls.s
with the black knight OF the roped
square. Unquestionably the victor in
the Independence Day dispute will
hdughtily decline 90 meet Wills Ow-
ins 20 the dark complexion, and with
out reference TO his pugllisiic ability.
When this branch Of the subject was
brought TO the attention OF wills he
FASTENED 10 assure Messrs. Dempsey
and Willard that there was not the
slightest chance OF his color rubbing
on.
I'm a fast black" he asserted. "ond
on my honor as a colored genil.man
promise not 20 hit any white man with
anything except the brown gloves that
V:ll cover my hands. Isn't that fair
enoueh? II that doesn't suit the gen.
t,emsn I will use q little white enam-
el on my features Anything TO please
them"
wills said he know that the white
boxers had drawn tho color line
against him, and he rather expected
it. But he was panied 10 admit That
boxers OF his own race mad Ostracizcd
his pugilstically.
A brief inspection Of the physical
and boxing qualities Of wills tends 81
convince the spectator that there IS
method Of the refusal OF either white
or black heayies 10 meet the ebony
skinned giant.
lie stands feet inches IN his fight
Ing shoes, weighs 220 pounds in con-
diti0n for battle and has a reach like
Willard's. lie is a splendid specimen
OF athletic perfection, clean limbcd,
with long flexible muscles and catlike
speed in his movements.
As a hoxer no heavyweight past or
present has shown more skin or sci
ence than has Wills. and the precision
and force OF his punch has been dem
Onstrated by his quick defeat OF sew
cral boxers who consented 10 meet him
other than socially.
Two years ago, before Langford had
detcrlorated 60 a noticeable extent. he
stopped Wills in the nineteenth round
OF a terrific battle. 5dt last year Wills
knocked out Laneford twice, once in
six rounds and once in seven, stopped
sam McNcy I'm five rounds and JEFF
Clarke i'm five rounds.
While an OF the victims have pass
ed their prime. they were the best
that wills could lure into the ring.
Immediately after these perform
ances by Wills. willard and Dempsey
with emphasis their re-
pugnance 10 meeting a Negro in the
squared circle, and there the case
stands. However, Wills IS but q
years Of age, and he has hopes 0f get
ting on a battle for The championship
before ne becomes an octogenarian
IL Mr.. Jack Dempsey became tempo
rarily color blind and signed articles
for a battle with Wills the resultant
combat would be the most exciting
that ever took place I'm a hcavywclght { |
match. 70 would be DempseY's speed
and crashing punches against the box
ing legerdemain OF The Negro. Dcmp- |
sey might win, but he would know he
had been in a slight disturbance.