The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-13
HE'S CROWN NOW
Jim Savage Says He Is Ready
to Fight Again.
He Will Take on Anybody
Jack Dillon Preferred.
BY FRANK G. MENKE.

New York, July 13.-Oh, look who's
herei Yep. Jim Coffey-the very same
Jeems who temporarily retired from
the pugilistics spotlight on account of
an ailing jaw.
I'm back-and 1 want to fight"
bellows Jim. iii try conclusion any
old time with Jack Dillon or anybody
else. Dillon beat Moran, and Moran
beat me. That makes some people
think I'd be easy for Jack. Well, I
won't be. Moran was lucky in both
those fights with me. He caught me
at a time when I was growing and my
legs weren't as steady as they are now.
I've got my full growth now.
measure feet inches. And I'm
feeling better and stronger than at any
time in my life. 1 quit the ring tenn
porarily after Moran beat me the sec
ond time because l wanted to wait I'M
til 1 had reached my full growth. Now
l m all Highland 1 want to fight any
body that will fight me.
Legs Were Weak.
''Some people think that Moran won
on account of a weak jaw. That wasn't
it at all. 1t was on account of my
legs. They weren't strong and, there
fore, whenever I was hit 1 couldn't
get back my balance very easily
Then the other fellow would WALTON
me again and unsteady me still more
The growing process took all the
strength out of my legs Now fney
are all right-they don't wobble any
more.
MY jaw is all right Those who
call it a glass jaw are wrong. No man
ever knocked me cold. A lot of them
nave hit me and made me stagger-
put 1t wasn't the jaw, 1 tell you. 1t
was my legs. Moran is credited with
two knockouts over me, but in neither
case could he put me down for the
count.
I'D like to take on Moran again
the sooner the better. But 1 don't
think he'll fight me right away. So 1
am out for Dillon or Weinert. Sure.
ia like to get a crack at Willard. but
realize taht no one would match me
with him right away. I've been beaten
against me as a drawing card. must
work my way up to the top again.
And I'd like to start with Dillon
Moran's Peculiar Luck.
II is more than passing strange how
rank MORAN has been able to shake
down the promoters for sizeable
purses while men who have beaten
him must fight for guarantees far
smaller.
Dillon whipped the blond
ger to CORY pulp a brace of
We 90. That ought to make Dill
ION = 4.eater drawing card than Mo
Ian. But it hasn't. Dillon imnedi-
ately after that fight took on Jim
Flynn and the best he could get for
MS efforts was $4,000 or $4,000
Moran on the other hand, has been
| offered $500 to fight Carl Morris
and calmly ultimates $4,000 or no
fight The chances are that Moran
VIII get that $10,0o0-a sum almost
-FOUR times greater than Dillon got
AFTER ne beat up the sorrel-topped
| person.
Other Luck Instances.
Jim Savage stopped Moran some
years ago-the only man that ever ac-
complished the trick. Jim's feat
should have meant that in future he,
and not Moran, would be the drawing
card But poor old Jim has been al
most fightless during the past two
years. The few battles he has had
have netted him only a couple of hun
dred dollars each.
Gunboat Smith won from Moran in
twenty rounds in Frisco. Smith put
up great fight; Moran's showing was
miserable. He had nothing but game
ness to recommend him. Judged by
their relative showing in that battle,
Smith was so much better as a hitter
and boxer that there was no COM
parison.
And what happened? Smith fought
a few more battles and, somehow or
other, things broke badly for him.
Fortune didn't smile upon him, as it
has on Moran. His ring earnings be-
gan to shrivel from thousands to hun
dreds per fight. During the past year
Smith hasn't earned enough in the
ring to buy himself a stylish flivver.
In the same year when Smith and
Savage. the men who triumphed han
Oily over Moran, earned a combined
total of about $4,000. Moran gathered
in something like $4,000. And Dill
Ion, who also beat Moran. is still fight
ing for skinny purses while Moran is
gathering in the big ones.
Ain'f II odd