The Washington times., 1916-01-22

NEW YORK, Jan. F22.-Unless there Is
a decided change in the tactics Of Frank
Moran i'm his quest for a battle with
Jess Willard, indications point to Jim
Coffey being substitute for the Smoky
City pugilist, who refuses to sign ar
ticle for Jack Curley to stage the bout.
Curley stated today. and he expressed
himself freely on the point, that he
would not stand for Moran to dictate
when the big fight should be held. lie
intimated that Moran must either do as
he wants him to do, or forever lose
the chance TO fight Willard for the title.
This strengthens the belief in this city
among the various promoters that Cur
ley has Coffey in view in case Moran
doesn't come around to Curley's way
of thinking. Coffey. despite his two
defeats by Moran. is stilI popular hstic
idol. with perhaps the biggest following
of any heavyweight in years.
Tex Rickard won't make any fur
ther efforts for a while toward getting
the fight He believes Curley will dis
cover shortly that he has made a big
mistake in giving Willard a 45 per cent.
privilege in addition to a fiat guarantee
OF SS2,5OO.
Il want II understood" said Promoter
Jack Curley today, that those men
who are now making bids for a VIII
lard Moran bout are wasting their time.
There's not chance in the world OF
anybody else securing Jess services for
his next fight / have the signed ar
ticles In my pocket, and II Mr.. Moran
doesn't care to accept my terms then
somebody else will be given the match,
willard wants to fight before he re-
turns to the circus in April. There are
three heavyweights who have already
offered to meet Willard on a fair guar
antee basis Why shouldn't they?
get chance to meet the champion.
Think of the fortune II means IL he
defeats him! Then Willard would be
nowhere and the challenger would be
up there getting the easy money.
Some people can't see how l. who
have an interest IN the management OF
Willard. can also promote the hght'
Didn't l promote the bout at Havana.
and didn't Harry Pollock, manager of
Welsh promote the Welsh-Ititchie bout
"I am still receiving lots NJ bids for
the Willard Moran fight. philadelphia
offered $4,000 for six rounds, but even
If ] didn't have contract with him
there'd NOT be a chance Ot Willard ac-
ccptIng a match over such short dis
tanCe. In concluding / want to impress
or Shtsrs ana tue pffS fSr
his next fight and he will fight for
me here in April and IL Moran insists
on debating terms some Ctker nghter
will get the match. / haven't seen
Moran, but he'll have. to come to me
and accept reasonable terms II he
wants to get the first crack at the title"
NEW YORK, Jan. 22.-Jimmy johnson,
manager of Madison Square Garden. Is
out with an offer that he believes will
knock the wind out of the sails OF all
his rivals. The fighters being willing,
johnson is .'eady to offer $55,OOO to have
Willard and Moran meet In Madison
Square Garden either I'm March or April
Wizards share of this purse will be
ss5 OO6 while Moran will get $4,000 for
"The offer will be presented today to
the respective managers Of Willard and
Moran" said johnson. II think the
sum of $4,000 which am Offering for
the 1O-round decisionless bout Is better
than they can do anywhere else. 1t tops
anything announced so far by about
$4,000 II ! am not mistaken and VIII
lard and Moran have announced that
they will fight for the best offer they
can get / would like to stage the bout
in the ring at Madison Square Garden
Jones still maintains that Willard can
not hght before April, l will yield on
| that point as we'll"
"Tex" Rickard and Sam" McCracken
who are also after the bout, are said ia
be ready to give $4,000. Willard to get
| So, 500 and Moran $1,000. AS originally
| Rickard and McCracken offered Willard
$4,000 and Moran $4,000, It will be in
/ teresting to note what reply, II any
| they have to make to this latest move
on the part OF Johnson.
Jack" Skelly. formerly worlds fea-
theTweight champion. also entered the
list Of bidders for the WillArd-Morar