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. I ——— --Sport World With James J. Corbett(Copyright 1913, by King Features SyndicateInc.)The distance which Jess Willard and Jack Dempsey will be asked to travel will* have a moat Important bearing on the outcome of thetr titular clash.The Iengih of the bout Js something still unsettled. Both fighters have agreed to battle over any route that Tex Packard may decide. Rickard’s choice depends altogether upon where he decides to stage the contest He may put it on in New Jersey—an eighr-round state—or in a ten or twelve round com* ^raonwealth. Or he may determine upon some western spot, where he can send the boys along for 2fi or 25 rounds—or, perhaps, to a finish.The contest brings together a giant of powerful physique but old as athletes are reckoned—and a ripping, tearing youth who never has known the word weary as applied to ring endeavors.Which would be favored by a short light, and which by a long one? Ring experts have puzzled over the questions and there is about a 50-50 opinion at tills time.‘•Willard Is good at ten rounds—and good over a longer distance, averts ono faction, favorable to big Jess. “He demonstrated In his Havana battle that he could travel 26 rounds with a. world’s champiou, and then dethrone him. Bess than a.year later he showed that when limited to only 10 rounds he could move fast enough, and fight hard enough to crush out all of Frank Moran's championship ambilions.“Willard has been blessed by nature with marvelous endurance powers. His flght with Johnson Showed that the longer the distance 'the better he appeared. For the first 20 rounds of that contest Willard never opened up with x real attack. He lay back for CO minutes. waiting for Johnson to become punch weary. Jess figured that he was hurt proof and he demonstrated it. For 20 rounds Johnson thundered the head and body of Je?s, but they never made him wince.Against Demp3ey it is quite likely that Willard will pursue the same plan as he did against Johnson if tlic fight Js to be a long one. Jess would have it on Jack by 60 pounds or more, and by frequent leaning lacUcs ho could lire Dempsey without much trouble. But if it was a short fight. Jess undoubtedly would go out and slug with Dempsey as he did with Moran, confident that Jack would get the worst of It in a toe-lo-toe battle.“Whether the contest is short or long, Willard has the advantage largely because of his grater size and greater natural endurance.Jm rebuttal, the Dempsey folks assert: ,“If it’s a sliort outpoint Willard by a mile, if he doesn't knock him out. Jack is so fast that Jess won't be able to see him for ten rounds. And. meanwhile. Jack will be sending Iwrae soinu ripping lofts and rights.“If It's a long fight, Dempsey will be a cinch. Jack has rhe aggressiveness and tile endurance powers that are associated only with youth. The whole history of athletics show that a rnun of Dempsey's age cau endure hardship and struggling for a longer time and appear fresher than can a man who, like WlUard. has passed far beyond the 30 year mark.“Dempsey never has traveled farther than 10 rounds largely because he never has let the fight go beyond that distance. Dempsey, since the time that he became a real pugilistic star, has had but one thought In mind, to finish his opponents In the quickest time possible. His last 25 fights have not averaged much more than three rounds. Prior to That time Dempsey mingled in a number of 10 rounders and in each and every one ho finished looking as fresh and juj strong and as full of light us when he started.“Those who insist that Willard is a distance fighter are in error. In all his career Willard has fought but three so-called distance fights—and li© lost two of them. Gunboat Smllh whipped him thoroughly in ?o rounds in San Francisco. At the finish Smith was in fine condition and Willard was battered to :i sorry looking spectacle. Willard went 12 rounds with Tom McMahon, and the third ruler won lho decision from Willard even though Jese outweighed him 40 pounds, and had It on him by a half toot in height and reach.Willard's fi:ht with Johnson went 26 rounds. Bui that doesn't reflect glory on Willard, Rather, it/ Is surprising lhat he didn't finish the aged and dissipated negro 4n less than half lhat time. ‘Willard didn't beat Johnson. 3t was age and lack of condition that whipped the dusky champion. For 20 rounds Johnson hit Willard when and where he willed. Jess looked like the worst juke lhat ever .stepped into the ring for the first 20 rounds.“It is true that Willard took every- * thing lhat Johnson had during the first i hour of fighting. But the only thing that: Johnson had was a lot of punches Hurt » wouldn't have done much more than! flatten a cream puff. The negro went , into that, contest far over weight and i u thousand kilometers removed from hIf Reno condition. He would have been . an easy proposition for almost any fight-1 er to stow away.“Willard faces a foe entirely differ- j ent in Jack Dempsey. He’s a bruising, ! mauling battler, with tremendous power j in either hand anil the man who ly j knocking out. Fulton. Morris, Felkcy. 1 Smith and nearly two score oers. has demonstrated that he has no equal in4he 'kill em dead' ranks. In a louy fight. Dempsey will | fight, or a short one. the youthful JackDempsey will put It all over the venerable Mr. Willard.There you have both sides of the controversy.Whit's your verdict? i
Newspaper Details
Fort Wayne News and Sentinel
Fort Wayne, Indiana, US
Tue, Feb 25, 1919
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
John H.
IL, USA 16 Apr 2018
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