I was just reading this snippet from the new Willard book, and thought some people here might enjoy it! _____________________ The fight with Frank bowers was won by Willard in the fifth round. Although Bowers was strong and able, he went to the canvas in the third round when Jess Willard hit him with a hard right hand. Unfortunately, that blow broke the knuckle of Willard's middle finger and tore some ligaments and it took two more rounds before Jess could knock him out. The last blow was fortunate, since the police were poised to stop the fight, just as the moment of the knock out. The Bowers fight illustrates the difference of opinions held by sports writers on Willard's ability at the time. Ray C. Peterson, writing for The Chicago Tribune, saw Willard, as many others did, as unschooled and unimpressive. The fact that it took Willard five rounds to dispose of Bauer, of whom nobody ever heard of until he was matched with Jess, makes one thing stand out plainly, and that is that Willard's offensive fighting ability is extremely weak. One thing that appears certain, Willard is not ready for McCarty. This view was widely held, but Eddie Santry, former featherweight champion, and the referee of the fight in Fort Wayne, had a different view. He's about the best there is right now, through still green. I was in the ring and right close to the men all the time and will say that Willard hits harder than any heavyweight in the game today. Fitzsimmons, when his hands were good, could not hit with more pile-driving force than this fellow. Jess was under wraps all the way with Bauer for fear of injuring him, but at that he shot over a couple of right-hand uppercuts that would have stopped less gamer ring men than the St. Charley heavy. I never saw a boxer improve as fast as Willard. He's got a nasty left hook developed, the short kind, you know, that does not have to travel far to hurt. And his right uppercuts and crosses are stunners. He does not waste punches either, and when he starts one, it's a good bet it will land. There is none of the old-woman milling style with him. He did not pull a punch from his hips in the fight. All of them were the snappy kind that you see champions use. I do not hesitate to say that I think Willard can trim Jack Johnson in the latter's present condition. I saw McCarty fight a couple times, and if Willard can't beat him, then I never had a boxing glove on. Willard is bigger and tougher and a harder hitter than McCarty, and I actually believe he can out-box him too. Jess Willard Heavyweight Champion of the World by Arly Allen Pages 75-76
