Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-07-08
Public Considers Promoters to
Be Well Paid for Making
Willard Champion.
TITLE SOON MAY BE OPEN
Morris and Fulton Most Logi-
cal Rivals if Champion
Actually Has Retired.
(J. A. ERMATINGER.)

MlLWAUkEE, WIS, July I.-Wnil0
the sporting world is sitting back and
chuckling with enjoyment over the
plight Of Tom Jones and Jack Curley,
dethroned pooh bahs of the high and
mighty Jess willard. the anticipated
sensational disclosures promised by
Jones and his little pal have not been
forthcoming as yet. Only their lamen-
tations at being shooed away from the
trough continue to fill the air.
When willard decorated his faithful
servitors with the Order of the Can.
and followed this up with several ver-
bal boots. the shock OF the separation
from their meal ticket left Jones ana
Curley speechless for time, but II
was not long. As soon as they fully
realized that the worlds champion
had really cast them adrift threats OF
reprisals were freely made.
Yelled hints OF disclosures that
would leave Willard in t>i light.
with the public were voiced. but apart
from the fact that the champion now
is being charged with lack of fighting
heart and ingratitude neither Jones
| nor Curley have disclosed anything
that would reflect on the character Of
willard or becloud his championship.
Signing for Bouts.
Perhaps the former pilots Of the
title holder are awaiting the result OF
court action before exposing their full
hand as It Is a certainty that they will
not relinquish hold on such valuable
| piece of fighting flesh without con.
siderable of a struggle. Their plan OF
procedure is plain. Under the terms
Of the original contract Jones and Cur
| ley still are vested with managerial
right over Willard until September Is.
next. Pending the expiration Of this
agreement It Is the plan of the pair
to sign up Willard for at least one,
and possibly two ring matches and
| then try to force him to 20 thru with
| the engagements.
II the champion refuses to do this.
| and his present attitude indicates that
| he Is thru with tho prize ring for all
time, then Jones and Curiey believe
they will have something tangible on
which to base their contemplated court
suit for heavy damages. They will
maintain that Willard willfully de-
prived them Of their managerial per-
| centage. The situation promises to
| become a complex one and one that
holds out hope OF fat fees for the legal
fraternity.
Public Not Sympathetic.
SO far as the general public Is con-
cerned. but little sympathy is manifest
| in the plaintive walls OF Jones and
Curley. Both have grown rich thru
| their connection with the champion.
and while 1t Is true that 1t was the
brains of the pair that piloted willard
to the championship. they have been
paid royalty for their services.
While the controversy between Will
lard, Jones and Curley Is being
| threshed out in the courts the interest
! Of the public at large will be centered
not in the outcome OF the legal tangle
| but In the future OF the heavyweight
championship.
Morris or Fulton Next.
with Willard eliminated from the
heavyweight field there would be only
two huskies remaining to contest the
right to succession to the title. Fred
! Fulton and Carl Morris are the men
| in mind, and one OF them seems GER
tain to be acclaimed champion ere
| long.
Because of the unsatisfactory ex-
hibitlons this pair have put up against
various opponents in the past neither
| Fulton nor Morris enjoy a high place
! in public esteem, but that fact does
| not operate against either holding the
| championship. Right now there Is
spirited controversy between Fulton
and Morris. Some months ago they
| met in battle at New York city and the
contest ended in the fifth round whom
Fulton was disqualified for fouling. In
| explanation OF his tactics Fulton de-
clared that before he resorted to foul
| fAhting he had protested against the
illegal tactics Morris was using. but
as the referee paid no attention to this
| Fulton then retailiated in kind The
wrangle that followed this match IL
still at fever heat.
Perhaps the issue between them will
be definitely and satisfactorily settled
In the near future. Negotiations now
are under way for return match and
several promoters are in the field for
the plum. Matt Hinkle of Cleveland
claims to have the inside track on the
match and IL he lands IT he proposes
| to bring the men together In 10
round encounter to decision, on
Labor day. The winner will be either
pr onounced the new champion or else
he will be In position to force Willard
out into the open In defense or his
crown.
Carpenter May Como.
| II the report that George Carpen-
/ tier, heavyweight champion of Europe.
| Is coming TO this country. really proves
true. the arrival OF the famous French
man will be awaited with nation wide
| interest. Carpenter Is the pc OK
man who stands above and apart from
the profession that originally brought
him fame. His willing service for his
beloved France Is In contrast to the
attitude assumed by many American
| boxers.
Carpenter will have two missions
| in this country. The first will be to
aid In the recruiting OF aviators for
| the allied flying forces. The second
will be to give boxing exhibitions thru
| out the United States. the proceeds to
be devoted to the construction Of aero-
nlanes In Franco.