TAUNTON DAILY GAZETTE TUESDAY EVENING APRIL 6, 1915

NEW KING OF THE RING IS A HAPPY MAN ABSOLUTELY UNHURT, ONLY A FEW SCRATCHES WERE EVI- DENCE OF HIS BIG BATTLE - TOM JONES, WILLARD'S MAN- AGER, THE REAL POWER By BARRY FARIS (United Press Staff Correspondent)

_ HAVANA, April 6. - Happy, like a school boy with a new slate. That was the evident disposition today of Jess Willard - new - and white cham- pion world's heavyweight. _The new king of the ring was up early. He roamed around the streets, the center of a jostling, admiring throng. Such crowds followed him that at times his morning jaunt was absolutely blocked, the tempera- mental Cubans went into raptures of demonstration. _Willard was absolutely unhurt. Only a few scratches were the evi- dences of his winning battle. Jack Johnson, dethroned champion, on the other hand, was sore in mind and body. His ebony frame was wracked with pain from Willard's pummelling. _But the big, black, wincing yet from the terrific body punches of the cowboy champion, showed sportsman- ship in seeking recognition for a game, though losing fight. _ "Give me what credit is due," Johnson told me." No other heavy- weight in the world could have stood of Willard for 26 rounds. _"I gave Jeffries credit for gamely taking a beating from me at Reno; now give it to me." _Tom Jones, Willard's manager, shared today in the felicitations over the wresting of the big prize of fis- tiana from the negro. Jones is the real "power behind the throne" of the new fistic king. He deserves the greatest credit for his part in return- ing the championship to the white race. _Willard is the third champion de- veloped by Jones. Billy Papke and Ad Wolgast rose to the front rank un- der Jones' tutelage. I learned today how Jones, dispite disappointments and reverses, put Willard on his present pedestal. It cost him $34,000 during the last three years alone, seeing and believing in Willard's ability when the champion was in the rough. Jones grabbed him and, tediously and patiently, stuck by Willard until he developed. The con- tract for Jones' management called for but $250. Now the contract to both is worth a fortune. _Jones has been the experienced hand which guided Willard and fash- ioned him into the skilled offensive and defensive fighter which utterly amazed many spectators yesterday. Willard has been regarded a clumsy, though husky, novice. Jones was also the master mind which planned and directed the whole course of battle, with Willard minutely following in- structions and never being in danger at any stage of the fighting. _Willard and Jones today began to taste the first fruits of the financial harvest ahead. Cablegrams offering vaudeville engagements enough to last a couple years showered upon the new champion. Also came chal- lenges from matchmakers in the states. _Johnson, said to be under espion- age of United States secret service agents endeavoring to return him in the white slave case, planned to leave today for Martinique, to take a steamer for France, where he and his white wife expect to make their home. Johnson was not disturbed by reports that he might be arrested, declaring that he was safe while in Cuba or on the high seas. _Willard leaves tomorrow for Jack- sonville, Fla. and will probable play a week's vaudeville engagement there. Afterward he will spend an- other week in New Orleans and then go to New York for a long engage- ment. _Deluged with theatrical offers, Willard intimated today that the prize ring will not see him again, ex- cept in exhibitions, for at least a year. He and Jones intend to reap their well-earned golden harvest on the stage. Promoters Curley and Frazee and Manager Jones share in Willard's end of the purse and the real profit to the new champion will come from his stage engagements and share in the moving picture rights.

Historic Postcard of the Jess Willard and
Jack Johnson Heavyweight Title Fight

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