Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-05-23
Baker Makes Good
In Fight Game

During the past week Jess Baker,
local boy who is in the fight game
and who is known to fight fans as
Young Jess Willard, arrived for a
visit with his parents here, Mr.. and
Mrs. Bob Baker, and to take a vaca-
ton of several weeks The vacation,
however, would not be considered as
such by most young men but it is
In accordance with orders from his
trainers, who have instructed Jess to
spend lot of time this summer out in
the sunshine and at hard labor. Their
choice of occupations was work in a
logging crew swinging an axe, but fail
ing to land a job there Young Jess
went to work the first of the week
on the steel gang of the j. Neils
Lumber company railroad.
Jess had a fight last Thursday at
Kellogg, Ida, with Big Bill Nearing,
admitted to be one of the toughest
propositions on the west coast. Near
ing won the decision but failed to
knockout Baker, in 10-round bout.
Jess had suffered flu attack few
ton for the Kellogg fight. At that,
judges awarded him the first six
rounds, states his father, Bob Baker,
who attended the fight. firing at the
end of the six rounds, Jess fought
purely a defensive battle thereafter,
and Big Bill was unable to damage
him to any extent. 1t is the first
fight Young Jess has lost this win
ter.
While at Kellogg Bob Baker met
Tom Medic Of Portland, Jess condi-
toner and one of the men who is
handling him. Medic told Baker that
his son, Young Jess, is big and strong,
very fast for heavyweight, likes the
game, follows instructions faithfully
and is easy to handle. He comes from
big, healthy stock and has every re-
quirement OF fighter, stated Medic.
When in tip-top condition he will
weigh 215 pounds, has X. O. in each
hand and is very apt to make cham
pion. Medic said he was not disap-
pointed in losing to Nearing; that Jess
was not in condition because of re-
cent illness, while Nearing is1a veter-
an of 10 or IL years experience Med
lie also told Baker that he is not
wholly satisfied with climatic condi-
tions at Portland and that he may
come to Libby, buy two to four
acre site and establish training
camp for his fighters. He is impressed
with the sunshine and high air OF
this section.
Libby fans will read with interest
articles in Kellogg papers published
the day prior to the fight. One such
article read:
young Jess Willard, husky look
ing giant from Portland, arrived here
last night ready for his attempt to
topple the heavyweight title crown
from off Bill Meanings brow. He
looks a great deal like. his namesake,
famous old Jess Willard, the cow
puncher of years gone by and he Is
reported to have just about as much
power behind his blows as the once
champion. At any rate the Webfooter
is here to continue his march to-
ward the big boys in the east and
figures that victory over Nearing
will be a big step in the right direc-
ton. Young Jess will work out to-
night at the Y. gym at o'clock and
the local fans will have chance to
see how fast he really is.
Nearing is on hand, confident as
ever, and not at all worried about the
remarkable record his opponent has
set up in the past year. They all look
alike to Bill and he expresses no fear
as to the outcome. In fact Bill says
he will hurry the argument up a bit
and get it over with so he can think
about the next scrap. If Bill stops
Willard he win sure get a call from
Portland, long and loud, as the Rose
City crowd likes to look at winners.
Nearing works at the Y. tonight at
1880.
"Tom Medic, manager for Willard,
come up with his charge and will con-