Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-25
HEAVY GIANTS IN
SHAPE FOR TITLE
FIGHT IN GOTHAM
willard VIII Enter the Ring Tonight
A Three to One FaYorite Over Jack
Moran for Record Purse.
PITTSBURGHER Is CONFIDENT
less Has Big Advantage Over Oppon.
emf in Weight and Reach-Net-
eran White to Referee Scrap.
FACTS on BATTLE.

principalS-JeSS Willard OF Uni.
cage. worlds champion, and Frank
Moran of Pittsburgh, challenger.
Place and time-MadisOn Square
Garden. New York, about 10 p. m.
eastern time.)
Wizards share of the purse
$4,000.
Moran's share-S23,o00.
Probable receipts Between
sl5O,00O and $4,000.
Official prices-Range from s25
for box seats to $40 for standing
room, down to So for general ad.
mission.
Promoters estimated profits
$4,000.
Length OF bout-Ten rounds, no
decision.
Probable weights-Willard, $50;
New York, March 25-With the wag
ering close to three to one in his favor
Jess Willard. heavyweight champion
of the world, will meet Frank Moran
in a 10-round no-decision bout here to-
night for the largest purse ever offered
for contest of this scheduled dura-
ton. The two pugilists will receive
s71,250, posted by Tex Rickard, the
promoter of the match. OF this sum
the title holder will draw SAT 500 and
his opponent $23,750. Notwithstanding
the size of the purse, Richard will
clear a handsome profit on the venture
since every seat in Madison Square
Garden has been sold and the receipts
are estimated at more than $4,000.
Although Willard is a top-heavy fav-
orite, interest in the outcome of the
bout is intense. and the greatest gath
ering of fight fans that ever thronged
into and about the garden is expected
at that historic show hall this evening
when the principals enter the ring.
Few large bets have been placed on
the contest owing to the difference in
the odds and acknowledged physical
advantages possessed by Willard over
Moran. Hundreds of small wagers on
the result and on various angles OF
the fight have been made between
friends both in this city and among the
large delegations of spectators from
other cities of the east, south and mid
dlewest.
Moran and his camp followers assert
that the Pittsburgh heavyweight will
win from Willard in decisive fashion
on points if not by knockout but the
great majority of the boxing enthusi-
asts cannot be convinced that the
Kansas cowboy will fall a victim tc
Moran's rushes and blows. 1t is point
ed out that the cOnquerer of Jack John
son is physically superior in every re-
spect to his opponent and that in 6
bout of but 10 rounds it would be lit
tie short of a ring miracle for Moran
to stretch the champion on the fiool
for the count.
Both Powerful Hitters.
In boxing ability the two pugilist!
are conceded to be about equal but be
yond that point Willard has a marked
advantage over Moran in almost ey
cry department of glove fighting a.
well as in physical makeup. He viii
outweigh Moran by close to fit!
pounds, stand between five and sil
inches above the Pittsburgh sluggeI
and have a longer reach, of more thai
six inches, than Moran. Both are ex
tremely powerful hitters in proportion
Ioir ei1 b,,t I'd
greater physique and strength Civ,
him wide margin over Moran. Tht
latter is the more aggressive boxer o
the two but the champions towering
height and ability to block with hi!
long arms initiate against the chance:
of the smaller pugilist landing {
knockout blow to the head. The tasl
of reaching Wizards body is not 81
difficult but in all his bouts to date thu
Kansan has shown ability to take yer!
hard blows in his midsection withou
slowing up. From defensive stand
point Willard is considered to be one
of the best equipped boxers of his di
vision in many years.
Can Jess Win In 10 Rounds.
He is equally formidable Extensively
when aroused, but, as a rule, lacks tn,
aggressiveness necessary to win from
an opponent of Moran's Calibre in II
rounds or less. His best blows are {
short left jab and right hand upper
cut These blows he uses almost con
tinually and owing TO his long reach
and great strength the punches carry
terrific power when Willard puts full
force into them. Under pressure hi
can and does fight with other blows
and carries knockout in either hant
when mixing savagely. In his awk
ward and ponderous style Willard il
almost as fast on his feet as Moran
although he seldom uses footwork tC
avoid an opponent. At close quarters
he should be able TO hold Moran safely
although the latter Fill be dangerous
if he can tear loose long enough to I'M
cover his ability and power as an in,
fighter.
Both pugilists virtually completed
their training on Thursday and each
rlaims to be in perfect condition fol
the battle Moran has been on edge
for the bout for close to two weeks and
his trainers have had more difficulty in
holding him to physical form than
Wizards handlers. The champion was
slow TO round into condition since he
had been cut of the ring for almost a