Evening journal., 1914-06-27
johnson IS THREE
TO ONE FAVORITE
Heavy Weight Champion
ship Mill Draws Near With
White Man Low in Betting
BELIEVE MORAN
THOUGH HAS CHANCE
By WILLIAM PHILLIP sIMMs

Paris Correspondent Of United Press
PARIS, June 27.-Frank Moran ar
rived here today from Butry -Plage
70 find the betting to | against him
for his twenty-round fight tonight with
Jack johnson for heavyweight cham
pionship Of the world. And that was not
all. There was mighty little money 60
ing down on Moran and what there was
placed, apparently had little senti.
ment behind It.
Moran, when he arrived, went at once
to the Hotel Grosvenor, where he will
rest today until the gong rings tonight
at about 1890 and the big fight in the
Velodrome DHiver begins. The Pitts
burgh man claims he win fight at about
POS pounds. He looks lighter johnson,
who was also resting at his quarters
here today, declares he will enter the
ring at 2l0 pounds He looks easily go,
perhaps heavier.
Impartial observers, who have visited
both training camps in the last days Of
work declared today that il Moran wins
it will be because johnson is done, not
that he shows class Willie Lewis, they
say, hit Moran at will in traAling, the
big Pittsburgher showing slow and un-
handy. johnson declared he is right.
On the surface he looks fair, but there
is a habby appearance about his stomach
which does not look like the rigid
muscles which covered his vulnerable
point In other days.
Suspicious that the fight will be
fixed" which were rampant here for a
while had pretty well died down today.
The impression now is that Moran will
really try his best, but the doubt is
grave that his best viii be anything like
good enough to stop the giant black.
Several sporting writer's from Amer
lea, who are here, say they believe Mo-
ran has a chance They assert that
johnson surely has gone back But
not one OF them, so far as known. is
backing his opinion with cash. OF course,
only the fight win tell the story. But
from all surface indications Moran-if
he wins, will win because the big black
is "burned out" BY high living, not that
he classes with johnson as a fighter.
The presence Of both lighters in the
city today heightened the already
great interest in the mill. Seats for
the Velodrome went fast and the pre-
diction Is made by the promoters
that fully $4,000 will be in their
strong-boxes before the gong clangs
to start the battle. OF this Johnson
is guaranteed $4,000. win lose or
draw Moran get $4,000 on the same
basis.
1t is generally said, and not seri-
ously denied however. that Johnson
is the real promoter OF the mill and
whether he loses or wins will draw
down not less than $4,000 OF the
total takings at the gate.
To the uncertainties Of Johnson's |
condition, In the opinion OF many .
fight fans, has been added a new un-
certainty in the fact that Georges |
Carpenter, the French lightweight,
viii referee tonight's battle
Carpenter, while wise" on the
boxing game itself. has had little or
no experience as a referee. The feel
ing is general that II a tight pinch
comes he may lose his head. In his
hands absolutely rests the decision
save in case of a knockout He may
also disqualify either fighter for foul.
Johnson's well known habit of hold
ing renders him peculiarly liable to
trouble In this particular Several
bets were placed against the negro
on the chance that Carpenter. who Is
considered as straight, may make the
negro's fight harder for him on this
score, Il indeed It does not bring VIC
tory TO Moran should the negro per-
aist in hanging on TO the white mans
forearms.
The crowd tonight will be one or
the most remarkable ever seen at
rinEHide Many seats have been re-
served By leaders OF society and
white shoulders Of women and
'rhausc fronts" on their escorts will
make TIE Nelodrome look more like
the scene 81 3 fashionable opera than
tne ring where brute strength and
endurance coupled Il e true, with
Skull viii decide the championship OF