Omaha daily bee., 1919-03-31
JESS W|LLARD'S
CONDITION WILL
SURPRISE FANS
Champion Has Studied Train
Ing Systems Of Old Mas !
tiers Of Ring and Selected !
the Best Methods.
BY kid" GRAVES.

Inc ponderouS yess
heavyweight. champion OF the world
is not lacking in knowledge OF rms
requirements in these days a. ne
was before the great Havana battle
in which he won the crown from
Jack johnson. Before the arrange
ments for the big scrap were made,
less knew little of real boxing and
still less OF training methods, put
had a few brains and he knew tnat
to win he must learn more OF boxing
and conditioning systems. Clever
sparring partners and trainers were
hired and resulted in Willard being
he best conditioned scrapper OF inc
tive when he and the negro met ana
he also proved the cleverer.
Studied Training Systems.
While everyone thought that the
big fellow was allowing himself TO-
20 to seed, he was learning stu
more of training methods. u
wasn't advertised, but Willard STUD
led the systems of all the ola time
gladiators and picked out the good
points of each. He only trained 2
short time ror his bout with Frank
Moran at Madison Square Garden,
in New York, bu. even in that snort
time he was able to enter the ring
in surprisingly good shape and gave
Moran a .rcuncing that ne never
will forget. He hasn't fought since
and has gathered pounds OF super,
fluous meat, but you can wager all
vour bank book is worth that Jess
has not forgotten the lessons ne
studied about condition and the
manner of getting right.
The willy scrapper picked ou'
Jim Jeffrics' plan OF going INTO
training BY dieting first. lie started
to diet himself some time ago IN
preparation for the hard training
grind for the Dempsey scrap. ne
will continue to do so until ne gets
his stomach in proper shape to
stand the hard knocks of the heav-
Ter work. Besides his dieting, Jess
has started little light gymnasium
work, just enough to properly
digest his food and keep the mus
Giles loosened up so that they wont
stiffen when the great strain Is put
on them later on. He started with
short runs and rope skipping and
a little shadow boxing with light
weights in his hands. After he had
kept this up for time, he picked
on Jim Corbett's old stunt of SLANT
ming a light punching bag to de-
ve1op speed in punching and quick
ness of eye.
Will Increase Work Gradually.
All this work is in the nature of
light exercise and he has already
reduced his weight considerably.
The big champion will probably
extend his road trips as he gets
going better and little later will
start with the sand bag and heavy
punching bag. A week or so with
this sort of work and he'll be ready
for sparring partners to whale
around. By the time he gets the
sparring partners his stomach will
be in shape to stand wallop III
the body and the more strenuous
exercises to strengthen the body
muscles. Each day the work will
be increased until at last he will
be going at full steam and the
pugilistic world will be surprised
at the condition that "Flabby Jess"
has acquired. when he steps into
the ring for the scrap with Demp-
sey.
Many sport fans have suggested
that the long lay-of has weakened
Willard to such an extent that he
cannot ever hope to reach his best
condition. What has he done that
gives people such ideas? He was
never great one to dissipatc, he is
home-loving man and has had no
occasion to run around a great deal.
Travelling with his circus really kept
him in fair shape, for he had to
work some to keep the circus bust
ness alive. He boxed twice daily
in the show, and If the stories are
true, helped the Canvas backs"
when the shove had to move.
Oh, no, Dempsey won't be the
better conditioned man when they
meet next Fourth of July. Jess
Willard will be in as good shape for
the mill as the challenger. A num-
Der of people believe that he won't
have to be in as good shape as Depm-
sey to win. His huge bulk and ire
mendous hitting power will offset
great share of Jacks condition ad-
vantage, if he should have any in
that respect. At any rate, Jack
Sicily of the Yonkers Herald is
not the only sport writer that will
string along with the champion.