JESS AN UNSOPHISTICATED CONQUEROR

Jess showed what an unsophisticated  ringster he was after the bout Almost any other pug who had won a victory over the recognized best white heavyweight of the time would have made to the bar room to play the ”Good Fellow” and drink in the flattery of a great fighter's parasited  to the accompaniment of tinkling champagne glasses. Not so Jess. I had expected to find him in the little café adjoining the Madison Square Garden arena. 

I shouldered my way in and looked around for the "good fellow" with the golden future. But Willard was no where along the rail, thought that probably he bad not yet finished dressing so I strolled on out the Madison avenue entrance, and who should I see but big Jess propping himself against one of the Garden pillars, surrounded by a gaping mob of ring fans and street urchins. 

Jess was silently looking off toward the twinkling lights of Madison Square. He was clad in a remarkably loose fitting, unkempt suit of clothes and sported a good old sombrero of the Kansas plains. After Jess figured he had amply provided for the crowd's curiosity he suddenly threaded his way-through .the press and made off down Broadway. I caught up with him and asked where he was going to celebrate the McCarty victory. 

"Guess I'll go to bed, Jack, there's nothing doing around town this hour if the night," Jess replied. It was then about a quarter to twelve—Just about the time I made up my mind that If Jess Willard ever became Champion he would never manufacture superficial popularity over the brass rail of a bar. 

Jess Cultivates The Knockout Habit

Jess now had a big name as a White Hope. He next tackled the rough and ready sailor White and upheld his reputation by flattening the seaman with a well directed right uppercut in the opening round. About this time an individual greatly resembling Tom Sharkey to looks and action was creating a furor by the manner in which he was disposing of tough opponents. This gentleman was Soldier Kearns, who was army champ and who also keeled over One Round Davis and the  “Hard Boiled” Andy Morris in a round each. 

Jess and the Soldier were matched and the wise acres whispered that a certain cow puncher congesting Broadway, would soon be roping cattle again down Oklahoma  way. Some of the reform element Even tried to halt the match on the grounds that it was nothing short of a crime to pit and innocent , overgrown cowboy against a man eating type like Kearns. But the match came to pass. 

WHAT HAPPENED TO ONE SOLDIER KEARNS

For the first few rounds Jess was very cautious. Kearns tore into the big fellow and made quite a showing despite Jess' big advantage in size.

It was about an even thing when the Two  squared off for the eighth round. Jess was content to lean far back out of range, while avoiding the burly dough-boy's haymakers and didn't make a great attempt to inflict damage on his foe. He smiled a lot and now and then poked Kearns a stiff jab or rapier-like uppercut by way of diversion. It looked as if it would go to the limit unless Jess ran into one of the soldier's wild swings which were frequently swishing through the air. 

The eighth was about half over when Kearns drove a terrific left to Willard’s Stomach. Jess beaming good nature was changed to a boiling fury with the wallop.The cow boy drew a long breath and shot a straight right to Kearns's jaw. It was one of the hardest raps I've ever seen delivered in or out of the ring Kearns's heels went high in the air and he landed in almost vertical position, with his head where his feet should be, on the other side of the ring. It was a clean knockout.

This bout proved conclusively that Willard was a genuine fighter when he felt like Unlimbering his ring artillery and pounding the enemy. 

WILLARD ENCOUNTERS ADVERSITY

Jess was now enjoying some degree of fame as a promising candidate for Jack Johnson's  honors. But he was soon to run afoul of the New York State Boxing Commission.  Early in 1913 he Journeyed  to his old stamping ground in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and polished off Fred Bauer and Jack Leon in five and four rounds  respectively. Previously he had been matched with One Round Davis for a set to at Buffalo, but Willard  injured his hand on Leon and was unable to entertain the One Round artist. Jess didn't even bother about notifying! the Buffalo Club that he couldn't go on. For this he drew a suspension from the New York authorities.

FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH TOM JONES 

However, about this time Jess ran across the astute Tom Jones. Tom explained to the crest fallen rancher that New York wasn't the only place a pug could make a rep. He suggested a trip to the Pacific coast and Jess pulled stakes for the land of sunshine under the management of the man who  was to pilot him to a world’s championship. However misfortune was not yet through with big Jess. He tackled the formidable Gunboat Smith who had been dumping heavyweight aspirants right and left with his terrible “Occipital” swing as his manager described it. The Gunner had a knack of connecting his crusher early and Jess had been warned  by Jones to watch for it.

Willard was getting along famously bending back out of the patch of Smith’s comet like lift and inflicting some damage of his own. But in the fifth Smith connected with his swing. Willard said afterward that it was the hardest smack he had ever bumped into. It was almost a knockout although Jess didn’t go to the floor.

WHIPPED BY GUNBOAT SMITH

At that it really won the fight for the Gunner. Willard became so wary of a similar swipe that he lost all the thought of fight and was content to stick twenty rounds with Smith.Gunboat received a well earned decision.Willard greatly discouraged told Jones he was going to quit fighting. For almost a month he lay idle and moped.Then Jones aroused him to action again, picking an easier match in Charlie Miller the big motorman. Jess and Miller went four rounds to a draw. 

A couple of months later Willard encountered another mishap. At Vernon, California, he knocked out Bill Young in the eleventh round, the bout ending in the latter's death. Jess was put under arrest, but eventually was exonerated of blame for the unfortunate ending of the mill.

The realization that an opponent Had died from the effect of one of his blows increased Willard's natural cautiousness inside the ropes. It was nearly three months after Young's death before Jess donned the gloves again. He then just managed to win over George Rodel. Later something of the old fighting spirit returned and he dropped Jack Reed in two rounds and One Round Davis in the same number, and polished off Boer Rodel In nine. 

But interspersing these feats were a sloppy ten round burlesque with Carl Morris and the worst showing of Jess' ring career—his twelve round defeat by Middle weight Tom McMahon. Willard, however, restored himself to public favor by scoring knockouts over the giant Dan Daily and George Rodel. Daily who had but a few weeks previous put Al Palzer away in two rounds went out in 9 sessions. It took Jess but six to eliminate Boer Rodel 

WHEN THE TITLE CAME BACK TO THE WHITE RACE 

The public was now convinced that Willard was the logical opponent for Johnson. The latter, ostracized from his native country by reason of shameful Misconduct, and badly in need of cash received the suggestion of a battle with Willard with open arms. Jess by this time had acquired a real gladiators spirit. He felt confident he could beat  the black were they to meet in the ring. That fight is history now and everyone is familiar with the details of the fray which marked the downfall of one of the greatest colored boxers the prize ring has ever produced. 

Willard fought the champion pretty, much as he did his other opponents —Johnson couldn't rattle him, often couldn't hit him, and for the first time in his life was obliged to carry the fighting to his opponent. Jess attempted no rushes and smiled at Jack’s cunning tricks to draw him out.
 

JOHNSON SEES HANDWRITING ON WALL

For the first time since he won the title Johnson fought with the desperation of a man who had met his match. Jack tried every conceivable method of beating down his giant white opponent. Out boxed At long range by Willard’s long left he switched to in fighting. But Willard simply Leaned back rom jack’s famous upper cut and when the champ resorted to roughing he gave him a plenty of the same.. Toward the end of the fight Johnson fagged out, gathering All his strength together and finally feinted into an excellent opening. Like a flash Johnson hooked a terrific left to the point of Jess’s jaw and as the cowboy’s head rolled to the left Jack threw all his power into a crashing right uppercut. Jess was doubled over like a Jack knife. The spectators arose as one with a chorus of “Ohs” expecting to see Willard stretched out on the canvas. 

JESS ABSORBS JOHNSONS BEST

But instead he straightened up unloosened a fearful right just below Johnson’s heart , almost sending the colored man to the floor. Jack realized   he had shot his bolt after the failure of his terrific combination clout. Jess had taken his best and then delivered something just as good.. Discouraged and physically wearied Jack finally wore himself down to a point of exhaustion in the twenty-sixth when, Jess, comparatively fresh despite the scores of terrific blows he had taken, finished "Lil  Artha" with his favorite right uppercut. 

JESS A REAL CHAMPION  THEN

Jess was the champion of the world and a genuine one. In the condition he was in that day it is doubtful if Dempsey at his best could have even disturbed  Jess -with a punch. But can he attain that same wonderful form after a three years lay? That Is the question which makes the Dempsey battle interesting. Those who have seen him, say he has and perhaps it is so. But didn't they say the same of Jeffries when he prepared for the Reno disaster? 

Willard's battle with Moran In New York is hardly worth mentioning Frank had no business in the same ring with Jess. But it can be said for Moran that he was a though one Jess broke his right hand on Moran's jaw trying to put the blond Pittsburger out. Some Jaw! But think what a wallop it must have been.