For some reason this fight keeps coming up The San Francisco call., May 21, 1913, Page 8, Image 8 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1913-05-21/ed-1/seq-8/ "Majority of Spectators Do Not Agree With Referee Selig's Ruling" ". . . it can be conservatively be estimated that the cowboy was entitled to atleast a draw. Others will go further and say that he should have won." "Willard The Aggressor Willard had the majority of the majority of the rounds, green as he was. " The San Francisco call., May 22, 1913, Page 8, Image 8 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1913-05-22/ed-1/seq-8/ "The outcome of the Gunboat Smith-Jess Willard bout caused considerable talk around town yesterday. Referee Selig's decision pleased many, while others maintained that Willard was entitled to a draw, and some held that the Kansan had a clear lead. Setting aside the argument over the merits of Selig's decision and getting down to the merits of the fighters, the majority seem to think that Willard is the better man of the pair, even though he was defeated by Smith on Tuesday night" "Smith is entitled to a chance at McCarty, but he also owes Willard another match, as Tuesday night's victory was not a very satisfactory one." The Seattle star., May 21, 1913, Page 2, Image 2 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/.../seq-2/#words=gunboat+willard+Gunboat+willard "[Willard] rocked the Gunboat with rights and lefts, and had he been an experienced fighter, would have finished his man." The San Francisco call., June 22, 1913, Page 43, Image 43 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...seq-43/#words=gunboat+willard+Gunboat+willard "Ever since he lost that hard luck decision to Gunboat Smith last month Willard has been eager to appear before a San Francisco crowd again." "Willard is as good a white hope prospect as we have seen around here for a long time. All he lacks is experience."
1913-05-21 San Francisco Chronicle (page 9) By HARRY B. SMITH. While it is true that Willard made a surprisingly good showing to the ring followers who had not expected much of him, it is also true that had the Gunner followed the same course of failing to lead there would not have been much fighting. It was Gunboat Smith who was the aggressor in a majority of the rounds and the chap who scored the most points. 1913-05-21 San Francisco Examiner (page 13) By W. W. Naughton. Referee Ben Selig decided in Gunboat Smith's favor at the end of the twentieth round in the Eighth street arena last night, but if Smith really won from Jess Willard it was by a very small margin. In the writer's opinion, the big man from Kansas should have been allowed to share the honors of a draw. 1913-05-21 Oakland Tribune (page 10) (By THE TIMEKEEPER.) By this we do not mean to cast any reflection upon Referee Ben Selig, for awarding the fight to Gunner Smith. The writer firmly believes that the ex-tar was entitled to the decision, for the simple reason that if it had not been for Smith there would have been no contest at all. 1913-05-21 Los Angeles Evening Herald (page 11) By JAY DAVIDSON. Not that Willard is entitled to any credit for what he did in the ring, for he is decidedly the most emphatic illustration of what does not constitute a fighter that I ever saw. Nor is Smith entitled to any credit for winning from Willard. But Willard clearly outfought the Gunner boy in the last half of the fight and won by a wide margin. Associated Press Of the twenty rounds fought, but six could be credited to Willard.
I think it's interesting that seemingly a lot that thought Smith won, seem to think Willard had the better talent too.
