The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-08-25
MORAN IS BEFORE
CURTAIN AGAIN
Frankie Trips Over From Paree and
Promptly Cuts Loose With
Challenge TO
Willard.
TRIMMED BY JOHNSON
. Sturdy Boxer Stays Twenty Rounds
With Ex-champion Losing
Bout on
Points.

The recent arrival of Frank Moran
on our shores and his announcement
that he intends to force Jess Wizard
into bout for the heavyweight cham
pionship, adds q little new interest to
one feature of the boxing game which
had almost been forgotten. A SINH
lar announcement from any other
member OF the heavyweight division
would occasion only passing notice,
but Moran seems to have some 1usti-
fication for his demands. Further
more, the challenge came out in the
most matter OF fact sort OF way and
was not the result Of any managerial
buster.
Moran lasted twenty rounds with
Jack Johnson year before the big
black lost his title to Willard, and
this In itself is sufficient reason for
his demand OF match from Willard.
1t is on the ability Of Johnson that
Willard's claim TO distinction rests. as
he had done nothing worthy OF note
previous to his affair with the black
champion. It is not to be supposed
that Johnson did not go back to
some extent during the interval be
tween the Moran and Willard bouts.
II Moran's feat in staying twenty
thy OF notice It is only logical to as
sumo that it was no great feat to drop
the big Texan year later.
Was Outpointed.
| It is true that Johnson outpointed
Moran by a wide margin. but it is al
so true that Willard ran second to
the big negro ON the finer points of
the game in the earlier rounds OF the
battle at Havana Had this affair
been limited to twenty rounds. in.
stead OF being a long distance affair,
Johnson would undous teddy have
gone about his work In different
manner. and the change in tactics
might have brought the negro
through the twenty rounds with a
verdict on points. Just as in the bat
tie with Moran. The fact that Moran
lost to Johnson in twenty rounds on
points can hardly be offered as real
reason why he is not entitled to a
match with the present champion.
The battles were fought under differ
ent conditions and Moran uses logic
IN pointing out these differences.
Moran was not seriously regarded
during his long boxing career here
previous to his recent sojourn in
Europe, but the same might be said
OF Wizards early career, or up to the
time of his battle with johnson at
Havana. Both matches were looked
upon by the majority Of fistfc follow
ers as sure victories for the black
champion. But fortune surely IA
vored Willard in the arrangements
for the bout. The generally accepted
post mortem for the Havana fight
was that johnson was about ready to
fall before the first strong man who
met him. Moran found twenty rounds
too short to turn the trick in Paris
and Willard had the same difficulty
In Havana But the second match
went beyond the twenty-round mark
and the extra time proved all that
was necessary.
Fights Over Here.
Moran has put up some creditable
bouts in this country, the most not
able being with the late Luther Nc
Carly and with Al Palzer. There is
no denying that Palzer was not him.
self the last time they fought, but he
had previously evaded any such pun
ishment as he took from the Pitts
burgher. Moran has shown unaues.
toned gameness in several bouts. he
has the weight End strength needed
for hard fighting, and he carries
fair amount Of science. Certainly he
IS not overburdened with a resem.
blance to the style OF Corbett. but
none of the present day heavies is
burdened to any great extent.
If Moran Is sincere In his state
ment that he will first prove his right