Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-28
champion Denies Contrary
Stories in Interview With
Evening Star Man.
ALL PARIS IS INTERESTED
Promoter Bettinson Gets Mis-
sive from Jack Full of
Hot Shot.
(Fr0m the Paris Correspondent of the
Newark Evening Starr

OFrom the Paris Correspondent of the
Newark Evening Starr
PARIS, France, Feb. 13.-Jack
Johnson, the heavyweight champion
of the world, is the most serious fell
low in the world just now. The big
black man is handling his own af-
fairs, as he has done ever since he
won the championship, and he has
mapped out a campaign for the pres
ent year that will place him under
the spotlight almost necessarily; that
is If he does not come cropper
Johnson has declared that he is go
ing to fight every real contender dur
ing; the year 1914, and in a converse
ton with me he stated that he will
light any man any club may produce,
his one stipulation being that he re-
ceive his price. = At this time he has
but one match scheduled, and that is
with Frank Moran, the American
heavy, who. in Johnson's opinion, is
the best white heavyweight in the
game at the present time. After the
Moran match is over he will go after
Gunboat Smith and then he will meet
all corners.
Big Fight Has All Paris Interested.
The Johnson Moran fight is a big af-
fair and is exciting great interest in
Paris. Regardless of Moran's ability,
1t is big, for big purses make the
game, and Johnson's end of the COM
Ing battle is $35, 900. If Johnson proves
the winner and the promoters are sue
cessfulsn a financial way, which is al
most certainty at this time, it is
quite safe to say That Johnson will
Dloaf (xtInhnot Smith a M fha q RI n
will be staged in Paris. This is a
wonderful fight town, and from my
talks with the various boxing club
promoters they are going to bid and
bid high for every big mill in the flu
ture. OF course, much will depend
upon the financial outcome of the
Johnson Moran battle.
johnson Anxious to Fight.
have been at Johnsons quarters
in Paris frequently, and his pro-
nounced desire to fight and the man
ner in which he enthuses reminds me
of the fellows who are trying to come
back, the beens who have lost
their titles and find the spirit most
willing but the old physical machine
is.lacking. In his present mood John
son is not showing the good Judgment
that marks most champions. He is
not, apparently, igoing to pick his OPP
ponents and stage his bouts with a
considerate time intervening. This
very procedure has been the downfall
of many a champion and come back,
and it may be the undoing of John
son. At any rate, his desire te-fight
is undoubtedly sincere, and he may
go down the line and clean up all the
white hopes and the black fighters as
we'll.
Jack Dislikes London Stories.
Johnson was very much angered
over the reports circulated here and
in London that he does not intend to
meet Moran, but he was probably
more incensed over the efforts of the
National Sporting Club of London to
force him into a match with Sam
Langford at the clubs own terms
johnson says that. he will meet Lang
ford, but he must have a guarantee
of $4,000 $3.50, 000), win, lose or draw.
That was what Tommy Burns re-
ceiyed when Johnson met the Cana
dian in Australia and won the cham
pionship, and Johnson says he will
follow the Burns precedent to the
letter in all of his battles.
| ran across Johnson early last eve
ming, while he was on his way to the
theatre After hearty greeting he
came right down to brass lacks, and
had a few words to say on the doings
of the National Sporting Club of Lon
don in particular and on his plans
to defend his title.
Despite all talk to the contrary,
my next fight is to be against Frank
Moran" said Johnson. MIR. Bettin-
son, of London, seems to think diff,
ferently, butt guess know my own
mind best
I'm the meantime I will take up the
offer of James W. Coffroth for a fight
with Gunboat Smith, for it is my in
tention to meet every real contender
for the heavyweight championship
before the year of 1914 is over.
Cannot Understand Reports.
Il cannot understand why these re-
ports that ! am not to meet Frank
Moran should be taken seriously.
They are without foundation. I am
getting my price for that fight, and,
better still, l have already received
$4,000 of the $4,000 that has been
guaranteed me. That looks as though
| was going to meet Moran, doesn't
it,"
His Letter to Bettinson.
l am inclosing copy of Johnson's
letter to the National Sporting Club,
In which he throws some hot shot at
the famous London fight club. The
letter in full follows:
Paris, February ~, 1914.
A. f. Bettinson, ESQ., National Sport
ing Club. Covent Garden, London,
w. c.:
Dear Sir-I received your letter this
morning and / must say that the offer
you have made me is absolutely ridi-
culous to my thinking. l have de-
feated Langford and not only that;
Langford has been beaten four times
in the last two years. He was beaten
by Sam McVea in Australia; he was
also defeated by Joe Jeanette on two
different occasions in New York city,
and not so long ago he was defeated
by Gunboat Smith in his own home
town, Boston, and the only thing
that | can get out of the fight is
money, BECAUSE there will be no glory
in defeating Langford, as l have al
ready done the trick
And, furthermore, the club has gone
so far as to make the match for me.
They have also said there. must be
$500 side bet, and they have dictated
to me how much of the picture privi-
lege / shall receive
I am very proud that | have made
all of my matcheS-l myself-and be-
ing a real champion, l do not see
where the National Sporting Club has