The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-07-01
FIGHT FANS DIVIDE
OVER CONDITION Of
CHAMP ION WILLARD
SOME HOLD HE is Al, OTHERS
THAT HE'S FAR BELOW FOKM
WHEN HE NET JOHNSON

Toledo, Ohio, June 30.-for rear Vi
an injury to his hands ON the eve Oh
his heavyweight championship contest
with Jess Willard, Jack Dempsey To-
day was instructed to eliminate All
heavy hitting from his training bouts
The instructions were issued at the
reouest of Tex Rickard, promoter OF
the match.
Sunday saw the last hard WORKOUT
for Dempsey From now on the cHal
lenger will ease off ON his training
This is Il necessity rather thah
choice, so far as the salt Lake heavy
weight is concerned, for he is so inc
physically that there is no more thah
a remote danger of his gong slale'
In fact, many close observers lean 10
the opinion that Dempsey reachei th'
peak of condition some days ago, ana
only the most skillful handling W!ll
permit him to retain the form whicA
has made him the marvel of all those
who have had an opportunity to eNaln'
inc him.
This afternoon Dempsey plans 10
box four rounds in which nothing put
light work will be attempted. 1t Is Tie
idea of Trainer Jimmy DeForresf 10
give his charge just enough work 10
keep him supple and maintain ms
Judgment of distance. In addition TO
the boxing, he will change his morn
ing road walk to a fast road walk.
Willard Keeps Up Speed
Willard expects to keep up his pres
ent speed of training for twu days
more. unless a spell Of hot weather
causes him to change his mind. The
cool breeze of the week end put feel
ing of snap into the champion and led
him to decide to work steadily until
Wednesday at least. The title-holder
long since dropped all forms of road
work with the explanation that
he did not think ii befitted man OF
his tremendous bulk. II know that
many close followers of boxing do not
agree with me on this point said WE
lard, but | am convinced in my case
at least. ! feel better without running
on the road. In the past l tried out
this plan and came back to quarters
so PLAYED out that | had no pep Tor
the rest of the day. ! know that you
will kill a big truck horse with the
same trick. l feel sure that 1 can
and have developed al the leg and wind
endurance | need with my shadow
boxing, gymnasium and other routine
work | may be wrong, of course
and if | am | will have to pay the
bill. btu / am not worrying OIL that
point.
Nevertheless, the controversy regard
ing Willard's training system and his
condition continued 10 range among
the physical culture sharps, who are
aligned in widely separate camps
Those who think that he should have
done more work admit that he is in
better shape than when he met Frank
Moran in New York, btu claim that
he is woefully short of the condition
reached when he defeated Jack john
son in Havana. Willard contends that
he has been training for more than
three months and his weight shows
this, for he tips the scales at PA to-
day in place of 20 when he defeated
Moran. He expects to enter the ring
on Friday at about GAG. This will
be ABOUT ltliet ptlpN MS NtAS A4h
when he won the championship.
jess Not Using Brine
willard claimed that his dieting and
not the work has reduced his weight.
and furthermore that he does not need
to be as fine to so over the 10 rounds
as when he had the possibility OF a.
bout staring him in the face. Some
OF his more enthusiastic admirers
claim that his condition clearly indi-
Gates that he has been doing secret
training in addition to his public
workout, but Willard denies this old
trick of pugilism. The champion Is
not using brine or any other prepara-
ton to tougher his skin, but Demp-
sey is following this old system and
is picking his face for the contest,
as did Fitzsimmons. Jeffries and other
earlier-day champions.
Apparently more attention is paid
to the preparation of Dempsey's food
than is the case in the title holder
camp. While the chefs of both train
ing quarters prepare menus of the
most simple foods, greater care is eVi-
denced before Dempsey is broiled over
a wood fire in order TO scar the juices
in and before it is served, wrapped
and sopped i'm cloth, in order that
every particle of grease and fat may
be eliminated. Neither Willard nor