South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-25
MORAN BELIEVES
He CAN CONQUER
NEGRO CHAMPION

NEW YORK, March 25.-Frank
Moran Of Pittsburgh, which is in
Pennsylvania, is mOnOpOlizing the pu-
gilistic spotlight just now. on June
81 Moran will show what a cOura-
geous-and foolish-fellow he is 10y
attempting to swap wallops with one
J. Johnson. a person Of color, who
now freqUents Paris and adjacent cit
les.
"IlI beat him sure-itn take me
only II rounds" asserts Moran, in
speaking of his coming match with
Johnson. That guy has gone back.
He'll be a cinch for me-"
AS We lamp things just now. John
son will have to go back SO far that
he can be discerned only with the aid
Of a telescope to enable Moran TO
will do, that is if the fight is on the
level. Johnson some three years ago
stood at the very crest Of pugilism-
was called by all who saw him in ac-
ton as the greatest human lighting
machine Of all time" High living
and Incorporate habits may have fat
tened him up, may have slowed his
terrible punch and shortened his
wind, but they haven't robbed him Of
his ring skill and his great general
ship.
Moran Second Rater.
Moran. judged by his past perform
ances. is only a second rate white"
And that means that if Johnson is
anywhere near his former condition
the Pittsburgh individual may just as
well begin now to pick out the softest
spot where he a land after Johnson
unhooks one of his swings.
Moran will get $1,000 as his share,
no matter which way the battle ends.
But il isn't the $4,000 that he's striv-
ing forts the little trick of knock
ing out the cOlored champion and
grabbing for himself the heavyweight
crown that has decorated the dome Of
lii Ahthah" for nearly -four years.
It'll mean a million TO me 10 beat
Johnson declared Moran. eff / take
the championship away from him
and I will-Ill be q great vaudeville
drawing card all over the world. I'll
have enough theatrical offers TO keep
me busy at nothing else for two years.
And, as champion III be able to name
my terms for fights with contenders.
Moran then proceeded to state that
Johnson considered him a joke, and
that Johnson figured that he wouldn't
even lave TO extend himself to put
Moran TO sleep.
johnson is Fat.
"But TIL fool him" asserts the
brave Mr.. Moran. That man John
III - CaAAgAbG ADOAL ~ BOAAAAo VA
fat on his frame today. He can't
get rid Of 1t in time for our scrap.
J no matter if he starts to train right
now, n you can bet all you've got
that I'm going to be the little boy
who will bring back the title 10 the
white race"
Moran has on several occasions ap-
peared in the list of white hopes
! who have made the fight game al
most a joke in this section. Moran.
taking his record into consideration
has never made a wonderful showing
wen against the worst nan in his
class. He stacks up as an average
fighter, and below both Gunboa'
Smith and Battling Leyinsky in abil-
ity. And there's no one just now who
is making any statements that either
Smith or Levinsky could grab the u
tie from Johnson-unIess it's the
manager Of one or the other Of thai
pair OF battlers.
Moran says he is basing his state
ments on what he knows.
Il saw johnson just before ] lefi
Europe" he declared. Il know Wha'
he looks nke-know what condition
he's in. And that's why I'm so conf
dent. I'm not so sure that l coulc