Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-05
UP TO WILLARD AND MORAN
Fate of the Boxing Game in New
York Depends Entirely Upon
Approaching Battle.
GOVERNOR LOOKS INTO AFFAIR
ny RINGsIDE.


NEW YORK. March 4,--The Jess WIN
ard-Frsnk Moran flght. scheduled for
Madison Square garden on March q. will
make or break the boxing game in this
state. An indifferent exhibition by the
champion VIII put the sport here into
disrepute for 80 long that there will be
a general exodus OF mitt wielders. and
once tho metropolis II stripped OF lts
boxing talent II will take years to cajole
them into returning.
We have II on excellent authority that
Governor whitman himself viii make
drastic changes in tbs boxing law. n not
revoke II altogether, should the bout
prove unsatisfactory The legislature
will be in session until May 1. and the
lawmakers, at the governors behest. will
be ready TO jam through measure kill
ing boxing in New York ESQ We are In
formed II the battle Is not on the up
and-up.
So Il is up TO willard and Mofan to
preserve the ancient diversion Of mltt
singing to New Workers..
AZ the present moment interest IN the
match Il not 70 great as was anticipated.
The cloud OF uncertainty still hovers over
the impending struggle. and not until
there Il reasonable certainty OF the
match taking place viii great interest
be manifested. And the flght-loving pop
ulace Of this tight little Isle IL not 20 be
oeneured for ita apparent lack Of interest
Wizards physical condition IL not an
open book. He forced two changes from
the original date; 20 what Is to prevent
another7
Not Cola Feet.
The claims OF some ao-called experts
that WIZARDS cold Il IN HIS feet. not n
his head - ridiculous Surely. Big Jess
with all the natural advantages he en-.
joys IN height. weight. reach and vigor
does not fear & man who was defeated
by his victim. Jack johnson. Moran
really has shown no exceptional abIIit,
in tbs ring. even II he IL the most formi.
dabIe Of the Willard challengers--ai
present
Aside from his two knockout defeats
OF Jim coffey. Moran's record 10 not bril-
liant. True. he knocked out Al PalEei
and Bonfbardier Wells. but Palaer wal
unfit 20 enter the ring that evening. and
Wells was previously stopped twice b,
Georges Carpenter. who falls short o.
Moran's weight by twenty-five pounds
Yet Moran il the logical first opponen
for Willard, these facts notwithstanding
Diree Of Leach cross.
Hark. from the tomb (pugilistic, q
course) a mournful sound. II Is the dlrgl
for Leachie Cross. gamest OF New York
veteran lghtweights: for 1eachlo u
Through with the ring game
u took Ailburn Saylor. mediocre bat
tier, TO put the terminus 70 Loach's hon
orablo boxing career OF ten years dura
ton. Saylor accomplished Cross down
fall IN five rounds the other day. II wa
not the first knockout for Leach, but 4
was the first defeat by the knockou
route he suffered since 1900 whom he wa
stopped by Dick Hyland IN forty-on
rounds
Previous 10 that In 1895, his first yta
In the game. Cross was knocked out b
Jack Doyle In two rounds and By Franirl
, MaddeA, IN one, Leach evened up IN
Madden score two years later. knockin
. out the Bowery champion In five round,
, Ia his time Cross fought the best light
weights In the game including Champio
Welsh. While Richie (when the califor
nian was champion). Joe shugrae, 10
Rivers. Joe MaHdot. Battling Neiao
tshortly after the Dane was dethrone
by Woigast), Al woigast (whom h
stopped In five roundsl Matt Well
Tommy Murphy. Packey Mcfarland. Jer
Driscoll and scores OF others None q
/ the above mentioned even fioored Ieacl
while he outfought a number OF them.
Il Ia natural 10 presume that IAac
o viii announce ''eome back" shortly. bu
h Il will be only for one purpose-to enhanc
n the family bank roll Cross has won
= fortune In the rlng (boxing) and lost
!. tidy sum In another ring CWall street
e The Ghetto veteran has saved his carr
4 lngs OF the last few years and can iiy
, on HIS income. Only three years ago \
= bought a row OF apartments paying dow
n sseeo IN cash. Then. again. he ha
4 worked up a big dental practice.
!, Adieu. Leach Cross: you have serve
your followers well. and never have yo
shown a tinEe OF yellow or refused
! fight samely at all times