Arizona republican., 1911-04-08
WORLDS CHAMPION
 ID WHISTLE HERE
FRANK eoTcH WILL MEET THE TERRIBLE sWEDE" APRIL 18TH.
A Tight Match Predicted by Those Who
 Know Both Men.

 of the world, will wrestle with I. A. Johnson in Phoenix on the 18th of April The meeting has been ar ranged by George Kirkland. who has been in communication with Otto Floto, Gotch's manager for some time, and until last night there was considerable doubt as to whether it would be possi ble to arrange a match with the big wrestler. The matter was finally set tied and the plans of the champion were made definitely known when MT. Kirkland received a wire from Floto in which it was. stated that provided satisfactory arrangements for match could be made in Phoenix, it would be pulled on on Tuesday. the 18th.
 Before leaving for Los Angeles last month I. A. Johnson was the victor in a number of matches arranged by the manager of the Coliseum, in all of which he proved himself in a stronger class than any of his opponents. The manner in which he disposed of Dan Balsz and Zand Jeffries in his meet ings with them in this city put him in the number of the worlds greatest wrestlers, and he increased his reputa ton in Los Angeles, where he wrestled in the preliminaries of the Westergard Gotch match, which took place a short time ago on the coast Up to this time Johnson has never had his mettle test ed in a, match with a wrestler of any reputation and it is not known what showing he will make in a tussle with the gigantic champion, who has so far vanQuished every opponent who met him on the mat. So we'll recognized is the superiority of Gotch to any wrestler he has ever met that his back CTS have offered repeatedly to back him for any sum against any wrestler in the world, but his repeated victories have made the other members of the wrestling fraternity chary of arranging a match with him for as large a purse as would be raised in a tussle the out come of which would be considered doubtful. It is considered by a good many men competent of judging in such matters, that Johnson will give him as hard fight as any man who has contested with him for the cham pionship for several years, and some enthusiastic admirers of the Terri ble Swede" are ready to say that Gotch will not be able to win the match un- der the terms of the present arrange ment
 Gotch will wrestle Johnson for 75 per cent of the gate receipts, and the terms of the match demand that he shall throw the Swede three times in one hour. Those who are well ac- quainted with the performance of Johnson on the mat are not inclined to. believe that Gotch will be able to win in such a handicap, as Johnson's form is first class, and he is a bad man to dispose of. There are many who would back Johnson for a match call ing for two falls in one hour, and with the agreement calling for three, it is expected that a tight round will come off
 It is not announced what hall will be utilized for the meet, but MT. Kirk land gave out last night that he had arranged for the use of a well known house for the 18th, and that there would be good accommodation for a large crowd of spectators. Whether he will make use of the Coliseum, or the Third Avenue. or the Majestic for the
 
 but he promises to make provisions for the accommodation of the multitude of spectators who will attend to see the big champion take a fall-or be given a fall-out of Johnson, who. during his stay in this city gained large coterie of admirers.
 Gotch will come attended by his full combination of wrestlers, and before the big match a number of prelimi- nary falls will be arranged. It is ex- pected that this meeting between a champion and a man who is regarded by many as a coming champion, will attract a larger crowd than has at tended any sporting meet in the valley for several years. and the friends Of MT. Kirkland feel that he has put a feather in his cap by getting the men in line for a meeting in this city.