Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-03-07
Willard should
keep TITLE IN
MORAN CONTEST
Knockout Not Expected in Ten
Rouacs sdhen Heavyweights
Meet in New York Bout
TBy Associated Pressl

NEW YORK, March THE coming
bout between Willard and Frank Mo-
ran is of unusual interest in that 1t
brings to bear upon the heavyweight
title several angles which are unusual
In ring contests wherein this title
has been involved. Under the laws
of the state of New York the boxers
will meet in what is termed 10-round
sparring exhibition without decision
and II both men are on their feet at
the expiration Or 30 minutes of box
ing future ring records viii carry the
bout as a no-decision contest.
Consequently the only way in which
the heavyweight championship could
pass from willard, the holder, to Mo-
ran would be for the latter to knock
out his opponent or win on foul so
deliberate that there could be no ques-
ton as to its intent. II can be seen
therefore that the chief interest in the
contest hinges On the probability OF
either willard or Moran knocking out
his opponent arc thus demonstrating
decisive supremacy.
Since the days when heavyweights
first donned gloves and fought under
Queensberry rules the ring records
show that knockouts in bouts in which
champions have participated have
averaged well over 10 rounds notwith-
standing that tie list includes such
powerful hittefs as Jeffries, Fitzsim-
mons, Sharkey, Johnson and Sullivan.
Going back to the year 1892 when Cor
bett won from Sullivan in 81 rounds
the tables show that seven heavy
weight title holders fought Is battles
in which the championship was at
stake.
No Short Bouts.
These contests Included those in
which the battles terminated in a
knockout or referees decision. All
told 242 rounds were fought and the
average rounds TO q knockout was APP
proximately 13 IL. In this list Of ring
battles are included several in which
poor opponents we're quickly disposed
Of, such as the Jeffries- MunrOe and
the Burns-Squires bouts. When the
list is pruned to those in which the.
title actually passed. the average is
still higher From the time Corbett
disposed of Sullivan until willard
punched johnson into the ex-cham-
pionship class seven title holders rose
and fell and the total number of
rounds necessary in the change Of
championships was lis. which gives
an average Of very close to IL rounds
per title battle.
From these f1gures 1t will be seen
that the chances Of q knockout In the
tenTound bout Between Willard and
Moran are against sucn q feat. The
records of the boxers themselves when
taken In connection with the perform
ances of the prospective OPPONENT
would appear to be AGAINST the scor-
ing Of knockout inside Of 10 rounds.
Moran has fought AZ bouts. winning
Is or about As per cent by kneckouts
and the average duration Of bouts end
ing In knockout was five rounds.
Willard has engaged in 80 battles,
Is OF which he won by the K. o. route
giving him an average OF about SO per
cent. The average Of rounds to knock
outs In the champions case is s 2-S
tor these Is bouts. That either VIII
lard or Moran can fight mp to these
averages when faced by an opponent
OF the calibre that he will be called
upon to meet in this contest is most
unlikely.