Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-30
-ESS PROMOTES OWN BOUT
lack Curlsy Merely Figurehead and
Willard Is Putting Up His
Own Guarantee.
FIGURES ON A HUGE GATE


NEW YORK. Jan. 2s.-Jess willard has
sisned tentative articles to fight Frank
Moran in this burg sometime In April"
The bout Is scheduled for ten rounds,
and the promoter IL announced as Jack
Curley. who arranged the match with
Johnson that eventuated In willard re-
trieving the heavyweight championship
20 the Caucasian race.
Further. willard Is 20 receive ts2500.
with a guarantee OF a. per cent Of the
gross receipts. The contract IL valid only
on condition that Moran signs before
February l. The battle site has not been
determined as yet
These are all the details that have been
furnished TO a palpitating public. II the
real facts must be known. they are that
Jess Willard mot Jack Curey) Is the
promoter. and that the most commodious
privately-owned amphitheater Will be the
battle-ground Also the date OF the mill
probably will be extended until the latter
part Of May-Decorntion day, most likely.
Il does not require an elastic imagina-
ton TO see why Jess willard should be
The actual promoter Of such battle lie
has the money to float the proposition.
Inc sum UltnllOHfb-tA@tu ft-Wpulu W. Aif
highest Jess could expect from an out
slider for ten-round bout here. AT that.
IL would establish a high-water mark for
a purse for one man to become embroiled
with another FOR only ten rounds.
But even this sum would not entice
Willard back into the ring with the most
formidable contender for his tltle--Frank
Moran. Not after Jack Curley had Will
lsrd's Ger for few moments
BY simple process OF reasoning Jack
curley figured orally that willard
Moran match. at reasonable prices. would
1raw nj least a tiOc0 gate. Computed
on a basis OF charging 81 10 s., OF an
average Of - per head, the bout won d
draw $4,000 In ono Of the local ball
parks, sny ~ which can comfortably seat
scooo persons
simple enough, ch? Some may argue
: 10000 gate is beyond reason. Well.
iidnt Mcfarland Gibbons. doubtful
match, draw e,ose 10 SG0OOO-and at less
popular prces than 81 to s.?
Figuring ON an intake OF $4,000. VIII
ard would clear almost $500. Moran
would be amply recompensed with $4,000
'or ten rounds: the rental and installati On
Of seats would not amount 10 more than
10000 and lncidentals. Including adver-
Using. and the cuts" OF Curley and Tom
tones. would run about $1,000 SO why
should Willard fight for paltry s32,5Oo
when he could secure twice as much by
conducting tho bout hlmself7
No BattIinE for Glory.
or course. there Is likelihood that
Moran will endcavor TO hold up the
willard interests for a purse Of about
g10.OpS Under ordinary conditions. Moran
should he content 10 get chance Al the
title end not consider his end" But
Moran has long since passed the stage Of
haiti ng for glory He had the honor once
with Jack johnson IN Paris on July 4.
1914 HIS reward was whipping and no
money.
Moran 10 now In position 10 demand
a lucrative "bit." lie occupies the top
rnng among the heavyweight contonderi
since his two-ply knockout OF Jim coffey.
md IL regarded as a tough customer for
sYcn Champion Willard. Since his TIT
With Johnson, Moran has had four battles,
and IN each he knocked out his opponent.
Ec upset nombardler Wells IN ten rounds;
Gordon Sims. another Britlsher, IN six,
and coffey In three and nsne rounds.
Moran's ring record Is dotted with four
black marks He has sustained four de-
feats In his career MS fighter, all IN
lsli, In that year ne lost TO Jim Savage
IN seven rounds; 10 Tony Rose IN ten; TO
lack Geyer In four. and to Cunboat Smith
twenty Savage was the only one to
core knockout over Moran, and II was
! technical one.
Moran has changed his ways since then
and has not tasted defeat. barring the
johnson affair. In over four years What
can do to man OF Wizards hulk and
bulk remains to be seen. Moran II UNI
ques,lonably the bess Of the eontendera
for WIZARDS crown; but only a bout
with the champion win establish Moran'l
uandinr IN the pugilietic community.