Evening journal., 1919-02-17
DEMPSEY'S RECORD
EXCELS WILLARD'S
Champions Repu t a ii o n
Based on H.s Victory Over
Jack Johnson
REPUTATION BASED
ON ONLY ONE BOUT

belief held in certain quarters that the
giant kansan never has shown his real
form and that he possesses latent pow
ers never disclosed 10 the public.
10 is difficult TO picture a man tow
ering six feet six inches TAN. weighing
230 pounds, who has great arms ex-
tended three feet six inches from the
shoulder and with trunk and legs in
proportion, suffering defeat In a ply
sical contest with a smaller man.
Dempsey viii weigh 1870 pounds at the
most when he steps into the ring, and
his height Is six feet. 1t seems incred-
ible that Dempsey can conoede fifty
pounds in weight, six inches in height
and ten inches In reach TO Willard and
siin have chance TO defeat the cham
pion.
True. Dempsey has conceded weight
and height 10 Fulton and Morris. but
at once there arises the claim that Full
ton and Morris are not In the same
class as Willard so FAR as boxing,
strength and hitting are concerned.
At the same time Fulton's record up
10 the time he met Dempsey was bet
ter than that OF Willard, and II is a
well known fact that the champion had
an aversion again 20 meet Morris in the
ring.
While the observers OF things pugil-
stice may be deeply impressed with
The great size OF the champion. there
Is but one way in which to reach an
accurate estimate OF his real ability as
a ringster. and that is TO dissect his
ring career.
Willsrd's ring reputation rests large
~ on his recorded victory over Jack
johnson at Havana in 26 rounds II
that battle was on its merits IL was a
good performance on the part OF the
Kanssn, for Johnson was the best
heavyweight OF his time.
However, the circumstances attend
ing the match and bout are so clouded
with suspicion that it Is wellnigh i'm
possible TO accept the result as a true
test Of the pugilistic abilities OF the
men. Authentic details Of the match
set forth that Johnson, who was a fu-
gitive from justice from the United
States, and with no place in the world
where he could make a penny In the
ring. was guaranteed $4,000 win, lose
or draw. Willard did not receive a
cent for his work in the ring The as
sertion has been made that Johnson
sold his title for $4,000.
The singular position Of Johnson af-
ter the alleged knockout in the 26th
round, az disclosed by a photograph
OF the scene. has served to strengthen
the belief that the contest was not
fought on its merits. In the photo
johnson Is shown on his back on the
ring floor, his left glove shading his
eyes from the sun, and both knees in
an elevated position. the soles OF his
feet being flat on the canvas.
u was indeed a peculiar position for
a knocked out man TO take, for the
boxer who gets a knockout punch US
ually falls in a limp condition.
The fact that Johns0n's wife left the
arena Just before the knockout and
waved a handkerchief 90 the black
pugilistic is declared TO have been a |
signal 20 the fighter that she had re- I
ceived all of the $4,000. It Is assert !
ed that the promoters had great deal I
Of trouble in getting the money which 1
had been promised to Johnson and that
he declined to go through with the /
bargain until assured that his wife had
the money.
For these reason it is difficult to
credit Willard with a genuine victory I
over Johnson.
Unless the johnson fight is retained /
in willard's record as an honestly won /
battle his ring performance dwindle
10 a mediocre standard. Aside from
Johnson. Willard Is not officially cred
tied with a victory over a heavyweight .
OF the first rank The best men that ,
Willard shaded were Frank Moran and (
Luther McCarty, and the best men he !
ever stopped were Soldier Kearns and {,
George Rodel.
Gunboat Smith received the referees
decision on points over Willard in a
20 round bout at San Francisco on May
20 1913. and Tom Mcmahon Of Pitts
burg received the referees decision on
points over Willard at the end OF a ~
round bout at Youngstown. O., March
27 1914. Both of these men at the
time Of their victories over Willard
were IN the second division Of the
class.
The belief that Willard is a sleeping
giant who II aroused, would inflict
terrific punishment on an adversary /
Is based on the fact that a man once
died after a bout with the Kansan. The
victim was John Young, generally /
known as Bull" Young. Willard and 4
Young had two meetings In the ring.
the first taking place at Fort Wayne,
Ind. on May %, 1912. Young being A
knocked out IN the sixth round.
Because Of this fatality, Willard has
been pointed TO as dangerous hitter
Ile has accentuated the belief by de-
,lsring that he really was afraid TO hit
NTH all his force. Sullivan, Fitzslm-
mons. Jeffries and Johnson never hesi-
,ated TO hit with all possible force, and
10 fatalities marked their ring con-
esis. Con Rlordan. sparring partner
II Fitz in stage work. died after strik-
NC his head on the floor during a
ively bout with the Cornishman, but
his was an accident.
The knockout records OF the quartet
hove named are far superior TO that :
II Willard
Possibly Willard has carefully con-
ealed his real ability from the public.
,ut unless he has done so he stands
evealed as a slow, backward ringster,
ackIng aggression, and without a
lunch Of any special force. In addi-
ion, his age. which must be nearly 40, Z
oupled with his long ldleness, all are [
eainst him. IL
Opposed TO the champion VIII be a ,
ian aged "a, in the flower of vigorous {