Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-25
WILLARD DEFENDS
HIS TITLE TONIGHT
Champion Meets Frank Moran at
Madison Square Garden in Hun
dred thousand Dollar Bout.
PRACTICALLY ALL SEATS SOLD


PRACTICALLY ALL SEATS SOLD
NEW YORK, March 7L-Jess willard,
heavyweight champion Of the world, will
defend his title against Frank Moran here
tomorrow night IN q ten-round bout IN
which the financial side OF the contest
equals. II 1t does not overshadow, tho
interest aroused In the probable outcome
Promoted by Tex Reckard. famous for
his staging OF the Johnson-Jeffrles and
Cans Nelson battles, close 20 $4,000 Ia
involved, establishing record which has
never been eaualed or approached in a
bout limited to ten rounds.
Although Rickard started by bidding
$4,000 for the match no was finally
forced TO raise the total 70 tT1. .250 In or
der TO secure the contest. outbidding sew
eral other promoters during negotiations,
which continued for some days or this
sum he has guaranteed Willard s47.5OO
and Moran half OF that amount. When
this purse was finally agreed upon, Rick
ards disappointed rivals declared that
the sum was ridIculousiy out OF proper.
tion TO the value OF the match and pre-
dicted that he would lose a barrel of
money,
The former Texas cowboy went about
staging the contest In the same manner
tnat he did the Johnson-JeffrIes match
at Reno. New. on July 4. 1910, with the
result that gate receipts OF about 100000
are assured. and II Madison Square ga.~
den could be made 20 accommodate all
those who desire to witness the battle
the total receipts would be double that
amount With the price OF seats ranging
from 50 TO s25. according 20 location. the
demand proved enormous from the open
ing OF the boxoffIce several weeks ago
Good seats Hsxnausted.
The supply oi box and ringslde seats
was soon exhausted and a week axo
there were no $40 or sle seats for sale AK
oept by specuiators. Even the ss ana
y reservations. which wero held untH
the last few days. were quickly sold
out and tonlght spectators who have
secured scattered seats about the arena
are reaping harvest. SO great has been
the demand that some days ago Rick.
ard was forced to pay 500 TO a specuia-
tor for box for friends the original
cost OF which was $3.50 Fuuy 90 per cent
Of the sale has been 20 out-of-town box
ing enthusiasts and large delegations are
arriving in this city tonight from Chi
cago. Boston, Philadelphia. Washington.
Pittsburgh and other points even FUR
ther south and west
Local interest In the bout is. however.
extremely keen. as both Willard and
Moran have been training here for sew
eral weeks and II Ia expected that there
VIII be thousands OF fight fans IN and
about Madison Square tomorrow night 10
await the outcome of the battle. The DO
lice authorities have made special ar.
Fan6ements to handle the throng that
VIII gather inside and outside the Gar
den. large forces OF reserves being or
dered ON duty for the occasion.
Odds ON the champ
The greatest diversion OF opinion pre-
walls regarding the outcome OF the bout
willard IL TO 2 favorite, with very
Few large wagera In sight. although In
Vulnerable small bets have been made
between friends at odds which range
from TO to 5 TO I. with Willard the
favorits IN ali cases. These odds are not
based 50 much upon the records OF the
two principals as on the champions great
physical advantages over Moran. VIII
lard Will outweigh hts opponent close 10
fifty pounds and win tower five inches
above Moran when they meet In the ring.
In reach he viii have an advantage OF
about six inches.
Close followers OF the two puEiilsts do
not expect to see a clever boxing exhibi-
tion. since both men are more noted for
their hitting ability than skin in the
science OF leading and blocking While
Moran Il expected to be the more aggres.
sive OF the two. II Is thought Willard
great reach and height will make Il dlf-
fcuit for the Pittsburgher 20 land blow
that might lead 70 q knockout willard.
on the other hand. has never shown a
disposition TO force the fighting In the
early rounds OF his contests or 10 use his
great strength with viclousness unless
badly stung by his opponents blows.
During his preparatory work, Moran
has been practieing with his left hand
and has announced with a degree OF con
fidencs that he VIII surprise many who
think that he a only a right-handed
fighter. Willards great advantage In
reach will be considerable handicap
for Moran 10 offset. and according q
those who have carefully watched both
men during their course OF training. the
champion ought 10 do a lot OF damage
with his long left iabs and his wonder
fully clever right uppercut. the greatest
blow that the Kansan has developed.
Doubt has Reen expr~s~ed In some quar-
ters as 20 whether WillaEd Is actuall,
riaking his heavyweight championship II
the bout with Moran. owing TO the fac
that the New York state boxing Law
limits ali bouts to ten rounds and bar
q decision BY the referee. Theoretically
AZ loast. Il is considered that the title 4
at stake. and the best informed ring ex
perts agree that Il II possible for MoraI
70 win the title during the battle IN sew
eral ways.
a elean knoekout Of willard bY Nora