Omaha daily bee., 1914-06-07
SPECULATING ON Big MATCH
JOhnson-Moran Fight is Subject of
Much Interest to Fans.
CHAMP ANXIOUS TO WIN OUT
BurIy Negro VIII DO His Utmost 10
MeritoriousIy Defend the TITLE of
which lie IL KnOwn 60 he
Quite Proud.

NEW YORK. June 6-As the time
draws near for the much-heralded en-
counter between Jack johnson and Frank
Moran, there is much speculation as to
what is going on beneath the surface
In all big matches of this kind there is
much that ls kept from the public, only
TO come out months and sometimes years
after the event Is history While every
thing may not be entirely above board
In The present affair what is being hid
den apparently Is Of no great Importance.
OF course, there are no American mil
llonairea putting up purse OF $4,000. IL
is understood In Paris that Johnson him
self and Dan McKetFick are the real pro-
moters. For a time 1t was rumored that
they would not be allowed TO hold the
match. And since the French promoters
were all on the outside, there may have
been some truth IN this rumor But now
that Victor Breyer, the leading spirit IN
French boxing circles, has been taken in,
there is little chance OF any interference
from the authorities.
Wish TO he UnLnOwn. rit-
There are several reasons why John
son and MeSetriek do not wish TO have
it known that they are the men behind
cover up the fact that he has broken as
supposedly inviolate rule never TO ae-
cept Q match unless guaranteed $4,000
johnson cannot afford to have this
known, as Il would seriously handicap
, him the next time he seeks to hold up
some promoter.
Another reason Is that the fact that tho
match is being run by the fighters them
selves does not look we'll II IL not at all
likely to increase public confidence in
the match. However. there seems to be
nothing seriously off color about the Af-
fair aside from the fact that Moran's
prowess is being unduly magnlfied.
Viewed from any angle. there Is 40
reason apparent why the battle should
not be fought entirely on its merits. John
sons well known antipathy to Americans
and his pride in his position as champion
make II almost certain that he could not
be induced to throw the fight under any
circumstances. II Moran wins II will lie
entire on his merits, or rather because
johnson Is no longer in condition to DO
himself justice.
Ia a vital Point.
This matter Of Johnsons condition Ia
of course the vital point of the whole
affair We're II not for the probability
that he has gone back. the match would
not be worth considering for q moment.
So many contradictory reports have
reached america regarding this point that
the truth Of the matter Is really more ob-
scure than It would have been II nothing
had been said
Probably the best and most arthorita-
tive report on Johnson's present condi-
tion was that furnished by Snowy Baker
the Australian promoter. Baker fully
qualities AS an expert. competent TO de-
liver an opinion on such matters. Besides
being an All round athlete himself. he has
written several books that treat on ply.
slcal welfare. And as the feeling against
Johnson In Australia prohibits him from
ever using the black in match. hC
should be entirely unbiased.
Therefore. when he states that John
son Is ready to fall before the first gooC
man he meets. he may have the situa
ton sized up accurately. Baker doei
3 not say, that Moran is the man to dC
, the trick. II he did his remarks woult
r have a great deal less weight. since 1t Il
e well known that Moran is outranked by
a at least two of the leading white hopes
{ and cannot be classed as at all dangerous
= among champions.