Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-17

~ w. March g. was found
To be too close for comfort and Jess found
Il convenient to become violently ill.,
-Four weeks was too short time for the
champion to get into condition and sick
ness was as good an excuse as any to
gain more time.
As had been pointed out in these col
umns before, Willard was 60 pounds over
weight and not in the best physical shape.
He worked out in a Chicago gymnasium
last week and found that II would be
difficult to train down in four weeks so as
to be in condition to make a credltable
showing against Moran. He realized that
the heavyweight title was at stake, and
not only that, there was the well-paying
contract with the circus. The circus prob
ably Is worrying Jess more than Moran.
Conflicting Reports
Reports from Chicago were conflicting.
One story was that Willard was so sick
that he was confined to his bed and
unable to see any one. Another said that
Jess was Just as well as ever and the
champion was spending most of his time
riding around in his automobile. Martin
Delaney. physical director of the c. A. A.,
where Willard was training, said that
Jess was in good shape Saturday, and II
he was sick the Illness came upon him
suddenly.
Then Tom Jones took hand in the
was in no shape to fight on March or
any other time he made a hurried trip
to Chicago. OF course, Tom found Jess
wrlthing in agony and unable to even
think of defending his title for some time
to come. He could not possibly recover
for at least a couple of weeks, so the
bout simply MUST be postponed.
Let's take another slant at Jess record
in the last two years. In April, 1914. he
knocked out ham named George Rode
and in April, 1915. won the championship
from Jack Johnson in Havana. Before
that he lost a 12-round bout to Tom Nc
Mahon In Youngstown, o.; lost the de-
cision to Gunboat Smith in 20; failed to
stop Carl Morris in 10 and fought four
round draw with an impression named
Charley Miller We must admit that it
is not much of record.
Dragging in the grandoldope, we find
that Jess has engaged in only one battle
in two years, and that was with Johnson.
The big Smoke now claims that the fight |
was framed and that he 'flopped' as per
arrangement in the 26th round. This
might not be true, but 1t does not help
Wizards record. But 1t is easily seen
that the champion has been out of the |
game for some time and he is taking |
chance when he meets a tough PROPOSE |
tion like Moran Jess needs a few tryout |
bouts before engaging in any title tits,
and this will take time.
Vacation for Moran
And in the meantime, Frank Moran has |
left Sulphur Springs to indulge i'm n slight |
vacation until Jess RECEIVERS sufficiently |
to resume training. Perhaps Frank is un- |
willing TO take an unfair advantage of |
the champion and will start even with |
MIN again next week. Moran Is in good |
condition right now and could jump into |
the ring against the hardest opponent. |
He has developed his wind and stamina |
In the great outdoors and feels able to |
take fall out of the Woolworth Build |
Ing Moran will weigh about 200 when he |
meets Willard That will give Jess the |
advantage of 80 to 10 pounds in weight.
Moran is certain that he will defeat Will |
lard and Is anxious to get him into the |
ring on March 20 or any other date that |
might be selected. He proved it yesterday |
when he met Tex Rickard and refused TO |
accept perfectly good check to make up |
Tor the disappointment and delay.
This unusual scene was pulled In the |
Claridge yesterday after Frank hustled to |
new York to take another look at the |
bright lights and get the straight "low
down" from Tex.
Frank" said Tex, 81 am sorry that the |
bout has been postponed and that this
delay has been forced upon you. know |
now you feel and to square matters, here's |
my check for $500 as a sort of a balm" |
moran showed the check back at Rick |
ard and looking him straight in the eye, |
said:
i don't want the money. Tex, and I |
want TO say right now that I'm going to |
stand by you and see the thing through. |
no matter what happens. It's rather a |
novelty to be dealing with a man as
square as you, Don't bother about me.
Just get Willard into the ring on the night |
mat suits you best and l will be repaid a
thousand times over"
II is safe to say that the Willard-Jones-
Curley combination will not consent to a |
match next month If 1t possibly can be
avoided A date next September would
De more to their liking. True, Willard
mas $4,000 forfeit posted, but he can
snord to lose that. as Tex Rlckard gave
MIN S75OO for signing, If he lost the |