The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-13
Britton Pays Tribute To
Wonderful Showing Of
Veteran Jess Willard

. w hen Jess was using this against
Johnson, he got immediate action. He
did not seem to be able to connect
with his left jab, or straight right
be began pumping uppercuts. John
son was in trouble.
1t was in the fifth round that Jess
began using his uppercut. He did not
lock very good in the first three
rounds. Young Johnson was swarm
ing around him and jess was con-
| tent to maintain the defensive.
know how difficult it is to really get
warmed up" after you have passed
the age of 50, but 1T was not until
after the fourth round was we'll on
its way that Jess began to show the
glow that indicated his heart and
| lungs were responding to the strain
put upon them, and functioning in
keeping with the pace of a ring com
bat.
| In the eighth round Jess was after
Johnson hard He was whipping in
his right upptrcut and had his youth
| ful opponent in distress. But the
former champion seemed to tire. and
could not follow up his advantage.
That is what ] mean when l say
Jess fought in "flashe His final
flash" in the eleventh round was
sufficient. 1t put the youthful john
son SPRAYING on the canvas I'M
able to respond to the bell for the
twelfth round. Willard fought a
careful intelligent fight, so, despite
the fact that he did not appear as the
aster in ali of the rounds. there is
nothing to be said to detract from
the wonder of his victory.
| l dc not think Jess should be cred
tied with knockdown in the ninth
| round. Johnson slipped just as Will
lard hit him a light blow on the neck,
and the California boy went down. 1T
was not a punch, however, that would
knock man down.
Jess Took EN- On Jaw.
The tenth round had a remarkable
incident. You can interpret it as you
| like. Johnson and willard were near
a corner of the ring, and on the side
on which ! was sitting, when Floyd
cracked a right to Wizards jaw. He
| followed it with a left. Then Jess
| seemed to just stand there. his jaw
entirely unprotected, While Johnson
! threw left and rights at it for all
| he was worth. He must have hit Will
lard dozen times without any re-
| turn. Either Johnson's blows were
very light-in other words. he lacked
the punch-or Willard displayed a
| remarkable ability to take punish
ment. You can take your choice.
The knockout of Johnson was as
clean as could be asked. Jess first
; dropped Johnson on the far side of
| the ring from where | was sitting,
| with an upper-cut. and for the limit
| count. Johnson was In bad shape.
| He struggled into clinch. He
looked to me as though he was vir-
tually out on his feet as the two
swayed over to our side of the ring.
He was slipping to one side, out o..
| the clinch. when Jess shot up a ter
rifle right to the chin Johnson's
| feet seemed to leave the floor COM
pletely. He dropped as though shot.
Johnson landed full on his face or
the floor of the ring Just as he
thumped to the floor the bell rang.
| 0 O o
\ Floyd Was Done.
More than $4,000 persons leaped to
| their feet, screaming and shouting
| They were uncertain whether 1t was
Knockout There was no doubt il,
| my mind. Even as the bell changed
! the game Johnson stirred. He en-,
deavored to rise. AS he lifted him.
self up on his gloved hands. his face
was turned directly toward me. His