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HISTORIC BOXING NEWSPAPERS
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THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
SATURDAY, JULY 5, 1919

WILLARD'S WIFE,
SORRY OF DEFEAT,
IS GLAD HIS RING
CAREER IS ENDED

(By the Associated Press)

_ Toledo, July 4. - There is one
woman in Toledo tonight happy be-
cause Jess Willard is no longer world's
heavyweight champion. She is the
wife of vanquished titleholder, and
mother of his five children. She left
them in their home in Lawrence, Kans.,
came Toledo unannounced last night
and, with Willard's attorney, occupied
a seat in the $50 section this after-
noon while her husband was being
battered to defeat. No one in the
huge crowd, except the champion him-
self, knew she was there.
_When the bruised and battered giant
of the ring was brought to the home
he had occupied in Toledo's exclusive
residential district, Mrs. Willard was
there eager to care for his wounds.
She put him on a davenport and sat
at his side, applying soothing iced
cloths to his closed eye.
_Mrs. Willard left the sun-baked
arena after the towel was cast into
the ring at the start of the fourth
round, while the beaten champion was
taken to the casino, his training camp
for a month, where he was bathed and
first aid given his injuries.

_ _ Can Now Live in Peace.

_"I am sorry that Jess was beaten,
but I can truthfully say I am happy
that he's no longer champion," Mrs.
Willard said.
_"It means now, that we shall be
able to live in peace. Jess will be-
come a private citizen again. It was
the second boxing contest I had ever
witnessed and I do not want to wit-
ness any more. I shall be happy when
I can take Jess back home to our
children."
_Although, the fight was over before
4:30 o'clock, Willard did not motor to
his home until an hour and a half
later. He said he did not recover
from the effects of the left hook that
Dempsey landed early in the first
round until perhaps an hour after he
left the ring.
_"That was the blow that started me
on to defeat." Willard said, "I felt
physically able to continue, but my
head wasn't clear and my eye was
closed and I realized it would have
been useless for me to attempt to box
while half blinded.
_"Dempsey is a remarkable hitter. It
was the first time that I had ever been
knocked off my feet. I have sent many
'birds' home in the same bruised con-
dition that I am in and now I know
how they feel. I sincerely wish Demp-
sey all the luck possible and hope
that he garners of the riches that go
with the championship. I have had
my fling at the title. I was champion
four years. And I want to assure you
that they'll never have to give a bene-
fit for me. I have invested the money
I have made."

_ _Neighborhood in Sorrow.

_When the beaten champion motored
to his home with ray O. Archer, his
business manager, and his sparring
partners, the porches adjoining the
Willard house were alive with wom-
en dabbing their eyes with handker-
chiefs.
_"It seems as if there has been a
death in the neighborhood," one of
them said.
_"Well, I tried it once too often,"
was the greeting Willard gave them.
_The champion had a Turkish towel
draped over his head to obscure his
bruised face. He does not expect to
leave Toledo for three or four days.

THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION 1919
THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION
JULY 5, 1919

THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION 1919
THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION
JULY 5, 1919

DEMPSET WINS
JACK DEMPSEY NEW KING
WILLARD A PITIABLE SIGHT
GREATEST HEAVYWEIGHT SINCE JEFFRIES
WILLARD'S STYLE OF LOSING

WILLARD'S WIFE, SORRY OF DEFEAT,
IS GLAD HIS RING CAREER IS ENDED
THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, JULY 5, 1919

Historic boxing newspapers and articles.