Norwich bulletin., 1915-08-17
MORAN WAITING FOR A
CHANCE TO MEET WILLARD.
Stayed 20 Rounds Against Jack john
sen in Paris.

The arrival of Frank Moran on our
Fshores and his announcement that
he intends to force Jess Willard into
a bout for the heavyweight champion
ship adds little new interest to one
Feature of the boxing game which had
almost been forgotten. similar an
nouncement from any other member
of the white heavyweight division
would occasion only passing notice,
but Moran seems to have some justi-
f1cation for his demands. Further
more. the challenge came out in the
most matter of-fact way and was not
the result OF any managerial buster.
Moran lasted 20 rounds with Jack
johnson year before the big black
lost his title to Willard. and this in it
self is sufficient reason for his demand
of a match from Willard. 1t is on the
ability of Johnson that Wizards
claim to distinction rests, as he has
done nothing worthy of note previous
to his affair with the black champion.
1t is not to be supposed that Johnson
did not go back some extent during
the interval between the Moran and
Willard bouts. If Moran's feat in
staying 20 rounds with the champion
is unworthy of notice it is only logical
to assume that 1t was not a great feat
TO drop the big Texan a year later.
Difference in the Bouts.
It Is true that Johnson outpointed
Moran by wide margin. but 1t is also
true that Willard ran second to the
big negro on the finer points Of the
game in the early rounds Of the battle
at Havana Had this affair been lin
tied to 20 rounds, instead of being a
long distance affair, Johnson would
undoubtedly have gone about his work
In different manner and the change
in tactics might have brought the
negro through the 20 rounds with g.
verdict on points, just as in the battle
with Moran. The fact that Moran
lost to Johnson in 20 rounds on points
can hardly be offered as a real reason
why he is not entitled to a match with
the present champion. The battles
were fought under different conditions
and Moran uses logic in pointing out
these differences.
Moran was not seriously regarded
during his boxing career here pre-
vious to his recent sojurn in Europe
but the same might be said of will
iard's early career, or up to the time
of his battle with johnson at Havana
Both matches were looked upon by
the majority of fistic followers as sure
victories for the black champion. But
fortune surely favored Willard in the
arrangements for the bout The gen
orally accepted post mortem of the
Havana fight was that Johnson was
about ready to fall before the first
strong man who met him. Moran
tounO ~ ROUNDS TOO snort TO turn the
trick in Paris and Willard had the
same difficulty in Havana But the
second match went beyond the 20
round mark and the extra time
proved all that was necessary.
Had Some Good Bouts.
Moran has put up some creditable
bouts in this country the most notable
being with the late Luther McCarty.
and with AL PalZer There is no deny
ing that Palzer was not himself the
last time they fought, but he had pre-
viously evaded any such punishment
as he took from the Pittsburger.
Moran has shown unquestioned game
ness in several bouts. he has the
weight and strength needed for hard
lighting and he carries a fair amount
Of science. Certainly he is not over
burdened with resemblance to the
style of Corbett, but none of the pres
mt day heaVies is burdened to any
great extent.
If Moran is sincere in his statement
that he will prove his right to a
battle with the champion by removing
Ill the other challengers his ultimate
challenge to Willard will carry all the
more weight. and public opinion will
be strong on the side of the red-haired
Pittsburger. willard will have a busy
time ignoring Moran under the con-
1itions. AS the only real line in de-
iermining the relative merits of these
wo heavyweights Willard can hardly
bass up Moran on the ground that.
he is not worthy of consideration.
The water in the Panama Canal lis
TadCally becoming salty.