Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-12
COMING JOHNSON-MORAN
FIGHT HAS PARIS TALKING
johnson Is Far from Being All
In as a Fighter, Says
McKetrick.
MORAN HAS BACKING
,sFFenchmen Want White
Champion and Are Roofing
for Frank to Win.
By DAN M'KETRIGk

PARIS, Feb. 2.-The coming worlds
heavyweight championship fight be-
tween Jack Johnson and Frank
4 Moran is attracting great attention
here, and 1t is the sole topic of con-
versation in the cafes and other sport
ing places in Paris. While the game
has been injured here to some extent
by matches between inferior boxers,
the big fight Is going to re-establish
the sport and make 1t az popular as
it was three years ago. As the day
or the fight approaches interest will
increase, and I expect to see an i'm
&lense crowd, one that will break oil
records, attend the battle.
When the fighters go into training
for the title bout interest will be fur
Their accelerated. Moran Is doing light
work at this time. but he Is In good
,rhysioal condition now without any
surplus weight. He will not do any
real training for some little time
johnson IL playing In the music halls
of England, which Ia keeping his
weight down and helping to round
him into form.
johnson is far from being "all tn,''
! either financially or physically, and
when he steps into the ring with
Moran he Is going to be about as good
as the day he defeated Jeffries al
Reno. 1t was no easy matter to make
the match with Johnson, as he is
drawing $1,000 week at the music
halls. That $4,000 offer was toe
tempting to refuse, however, The big
fellow is very confident, his confidence
being shown by the articles he signed
which state that in case he fails to
meet Moran the title will go to my
man.
I witnessed Johnson's fight with
Jim Johnson, and he displayed his
old speed and cunning. Jack would
\ have won in the third round had he
not broken his arm on his opponent
head. Before 1 came to Paris to try
to get the match with Johnson 1 was
under the impression that he was
only shadow of the great fighting
machine that he was when he licked
jeff" 1 was astounded when I saw
him. This, OF course, did not STOP
me from getting the match on with
Moran. l think Moran can beat him,
and we would much rather take the
title from a real champion than @
4 has BEEN"
Moran Is very popular here, and
they are all pulling for Moran VIC
tory. The Frenohmen want to see a
white champion and are as anxious as
Il UIl0 AMERICANS TO nave the Iltle
Brought back to the white race. Col
ored fighters are no longer In popular
favor here, and fights between me-
groes is probably a thing of the past
Langford was after the title match
with Johnson, but the promoters
would not listen to a title bout be-
tween colored men. Langford's man.
ager is In terrible state over losing
the match with Johnson.
Johnson will undoubtedly be the IA
,yorite in the betting, but 1 believe
that there will be plenty of Moran
money. Frank Is confident that he
can beat Johnson, and I am sharing
that confidence. We will get some OF
that johnson money when the odds
look best to us. Moran Is bigger and
better than ever, and I fancy he Is
going to surprise some people In the
States.