Iditarod pioneer., 1914-07-04
A Talk With Moran

Frank Moran arrived in this country from Europe in April to fulfill vaudeville en gagement Recently sport writer sad of him:
 "The big blond giant of Pittsburgh, Pa, stepped from the Mauretania looking as neat and clean-cut as ever-he always vas a mighty fine fellow a thorough gentleman and credit to the game.
 "Ill lick him sure" were the first words he uttered, and he fully believes it. too.
 Moran is over her filling up the coin coffer at $500 per He is making money on the fight already tWho said that white hopes were joke?)
 "'How in the world Johnson has escaped so long Is a mystery to me said the Pitts burgh boy One look at the dinge is enough to make anyone wonder why he wasn't grabbed long since this, He must weigh at least 240 pounds, and while he doesn't appear dissipated he looks mighty healthy mighty healthy. Oh, he lives the life of Reilly all right l saw him fight short time ago-that battle with his namesake, Battling Jim Johnson It was real fight, though, even if Battling Jim did fall down and knock himself out. And say if Jack cannot fight any better than he did that night I have cinch Why, he seemed to have forgotten all about boxing. He rushed and swung all around the ring looking anything but champion. You know how he used to fight standing up straight, with the left out and the right uppercut ready, and waiting for 'em to come in, We'll he doesn't do that any more He goes after 'em now, and most awkwardly too. He was completely winded in six rounds I think that the wrestling game he has been indulging in has spoiled him
 "'Oh, he is some wrestler laughed Mo- ran He wrestles standing up and never goes to the mat He just stands up there and cuffs his opponent around the ring The wrestlers are all afraid of him-they are afraid of punch on the jaw. He has hit two or three of 'em, you know.
 "'The French don't like him at all, but they consider him the legitimate champion of the world and respect him for that. He causes some commotion when he rides down the boulevards in his illuminated auto believe your Uncle Francis,
 "'We expect the fight to draw almost as much money as the Jeffrles-Johnson fight It will be held in the Veledrome d'Hiver, which seats 35,000 persons The first two rows of seats about the ring will be sold at auction, and no telling what they will bring I know sportsman who will pay s2,000 if necessary. The next three rows will sell for S1, ,000 each and so on down. There will be about Sl50,000 in the house, it is estimated. Johnson IS guar anteed $35,000, win, lose or draw l am guaranteed s5,000. The money has been put up by two rich American sportsmen. The check has been deposited to the credit of Johnson's wife, who may withdraw it the day of the contest. There are no sus- picions in France in regard to this, as l understand there is here.
 "The match is looked upon as a social event in Paris, and as it is held the day before that Great French turf classic, the Grand Prx, there will be as many women present as men. Johnson and 1 divide 50 per cent of the moving picture profits" smiled Moran.
 How will I fight him?
 "'With the old right-hand wallop-that's how
 "'And I'll beat him-surep"