Willard won the title in 1915 vs Johnson. The next year he got the better ( and looked better on film than you would think ) vs. Frank Moran in a 10 round affair. Then Willard had a 6 rounder vs journeyman in Sailor Burke. Ok-- So what was Willard up to in 1917 and 1918 while he was champion of the world? Did he have any offers to fight anyone before Dempsey smashed him in July 1919? On the surface, Willard squandered his time as world champion. He wasn't active and wasn't in long title fights. Surely he could have had two or three more matches vs. fighters on Moran's level. Opinions?
The title was effectively Frozen during the war. Despite this Willard had several offers, most notably and persistantly from Fred Fulton but he wasnt really interested in defending his title as he was making money in other ventures such as farming, exhibitions, etc.
Fulton vs Willard would have been interesting. It is fair to say that offer from Fulton's camp or promoters was not enough to lure Willard into the ring? Willard received $47,500.00 for ten rounds vs Moran. That was a huge sum of money in those days.
Strangely enough, Les Darcy was another with ambitions to meet Willard. After belting Fulton in a sparring session (which Fulton retired from early), Darcy was totuted as a prospect to match against Willard. The pair of them met up for introductions and photogarphs, yet the sums of money requested by Willard was bordering on ludicrous for the time. With little thanks to all H/W champs prior to him bar Burns, Willard was playing the same game.... waiting for the right $$$$ to fight. Carpentier was also mentioned for a match with Jess and Darcy.
believ it or not in 1917 and 1918 there was a war on. You might not have heard of it as it was a pretty small scale war. Dont know how America got caught up in it really.
Willard was never in love with the fight game , he was a lazy trainer who had to be goaded into shape ,his title winning effort against Johnson was probably the best conditon he ever got in. Once he had the title he did Rodeo exhibitions ,riding in to the arena on a giant horse.,big sombrero ,and studded leather chaps ,he roped a few cows and trotted around the ring ,and made a decent living, he wasnt interested in fighting Fulton or anyone else.
