Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-25
MONEY INVOLVED
FEATURES BATTLE
Fact that heavyweight Title is at
Stake is Forced Into the
Background.
A GREAT FINANCIAL PROJECT


! NEW YORK, March 24-Surrounded by
the most representative assemblage that
ever witnessed a pugllistic encounter in
this country. Jess Willard and Frank
| Moran will meet here tomorrow night
In a ten-round encounter of extraor-
dinary possibilities.
While the heavyweight championship
OF the world. now held by Willard, is
virtually at stake. this feature of the
contest is forced into the background to
some txtent by the large amount Of
money invilved in the purse and gate re-
ceipts and the types OF spectators, who
| will attend
According to the predictions OF the
Moran contingent, there is more than an
even chance that the heavyweight title
will change hands before the tenth
round IL completed. but the promoters
OF the bout have not billed II as bat
tie for the championship and willard
simply smiles when the possibility Of
his losing the title is mentioned within
his hearings.
Cannot give Decision.
Under the New York state boxing law
no decision can be rendered by Referee
Charley White. and the only way that
Moran could win the title would be by
knocking out his opponent, winning on
foul committed by willard. or to have
the contest stopped by the referee be-
cause the champion was unable to con-
tinue for any reason.
| In many quarters the probability of
any one of these contingencies arising Is
considered TO be remote, but among the
admirers of Moran 1t 10 accepted as
foregone conclusion that the Pittsburgh
heavyweight will put the conquerer Of
johnson for the full count. While con-
fidence fairly radiates In the Moran
camp and among his close followers. 1t
has had little effect on the wagering.
Willard was quoted as two to one
favorite Immediately after the singing
OF the fight articles but these odds have
shortened to some extent during the last
week.
No official Quotation.
There are no official quotations or odds
on the outcome OF the bout and nothing
that resembles wagering by professional
betters Undoubtedly hundreds Of private
wagers have been made at various adds,
but as these are not on record, It is dif-
ficult to fix on anything like official
quotations. In the bets made on Will
lard to win a consensus verdict among
the experts at the ringside, the cham
pion at present rules a favorlte at about
TO l. Wagering is to 1 that willard
viii not knockout Moran and to that
Moran cannot stop Willard. In fact, the
betting on the various angles Of the bout
sinks into insignificance when compared
with the many other financial features OF
the contest.
With gate receipts OF close to Sl5o,ooO
assured and purse OF 81. $50, in addition
TO $4,000 Of moving picture money to be
divided between the pugs and promoters,
wagers Of Is and $40 look like copper cents
scattered in treasury reserve vault.
Forced to Raise Rid.
So far as Willard is concerned, the bout
from the very beginning has been H.
nancial project In which the risklng OF
his title was only a mere incident to be
dismissed without serious consideration.
Tex Rickard, the promoter OF the bout
was forced to raise his bid several times
before he secured Wiilard's signature al
sfoo. Moran was originally signed to
box for Rickard at $4,000 The latter
voluntarily raised Moran's share every
time the Willard price was boosted q
notch, with the result that Moran's share
of the purse is Just half of what Willard
received. Moran repeatedly stated he ex.
pected TO make his big money after n,
had won from Willard. while the latter
with everything to lose and nothing &c
gain in the ring. took care that he wa
paid handsomely for any risks that hs
took In melting Moran inside the squared
circle.
This great initial cost and the large in,
lsatI
up to nearly $4,000. or about $4,000 q
round IL the fight goes the full distance
Confronted with these figures Rickard
realized that he would have 20 charge
high prices. yet the sale OF some ll.OOt
tickets at figures ranging from s25 down
to 50 did not prove difficult. Fully twie,
as many could have been sold and spec.
uiators were today receiving double tn,
face value OF such tickets as they had
, obtained.
Those List includes.
I Among those who purchased their boNe
E and obtained choice positions are boxinl
D enthusiasts prominent in professiona
business. social and theatrical llf
4 throughout the country. The list in
! eludes fore State Supreme Court Justie
Morgan o'Brien. State Supreme cour
Justice Keogh, Styvesant Fish, jr.. Joht
Phillip sousa, Colgate Hoyt Theodor
shontz. David Belasco. Anthony J
q Drexel. ir.; Mayor Curley. Boston
!, Charles n. Weeghman. owner OF IN
r Chicago Cubs; william Ziegier. Augu'
Belmont and William A. Brady.
Women OF social prominence also wi
- be among the box-seat spectators.
: Perfect physical ooncition and suprem
cOnfidence In their ability to win tn