The Washington herald., 1918-08-29
to- SEE
HEAVY BATTLE
Both Willard, Champion,
and Dempsey, Contender,
to See Over There.

Cnlcagos Aug. @-lntereSt again
eenters in the Dempsey Willard posi-
bilities.
Dempsey. there is no doubt. wants
to take on the champion Jess. and
now the Kansas ranger, who has been
to the one-ring fighting arena since
his inability to get a chance to do
: to Fulton what Jack Dempsey did.
/ has added his willingness to the idea.
II am willing to meet Dempsey any
| time-next week or next month";" Is
! the way Jess phrases It; "the only
| condition Is that above absolute ex-
penses no one makes a cent out of
it-and it all goes to some good war
cause"
Jack had to heat him to 1t with a
similar proposition.
| II Just want a chance to prove that
and not Jess Willard am heavy
weight champion. 1 don't want a
nickel out Of the fight"
And 1t is possible. too. that this
championship go may take place
lover there where the big fight is
| both the boys dropped into Chicago,
expecting to join other stars still
shining and still remembered in put
ting on a coffee and doughnuts"
show for the Salvation Army, they
each admitted they had the "go to
France fever
Nor is that to be wondered at. Each
wants to help the boys who are lick
4 ing the Germans, forget they are
! away from home and likely to remain
so for a few months more at least
/ So the idea is to put on a numerous
display of exhibition fights before the
/ boys in camp.
! Jack Kearns. manager for the
| Dempsey chap, is anxious to get over
! as a secretary for the Knights of
| Columbus. and believes that Georges
! Carpenter, greatest of the European
heavy weights, could be induced to
meet Dempsey in short bouts II the
purpose is to raise funds.
| Meanwhile. locally. there Is tremen-
dous demand for both Willard and
Dempsey for the different shows
i around the country. The champion
! made the hit of his life when he came
\ to Chicago the other day and an
nounced that he was willing to box
| anybody for the Salvation Army fund.
! Though not in any kind of shape for
a real fight. even of short duration.
with a capably conditioned man like
| Dempsey, Jess never for an instant
fears the outcome. He Is as indif-
ferent as ever to the claims Of the
young contender. giving him plenty
; Of credit for what he has done and
| always saying he would be glad to
| give him the first chance.
| Willard cancelled some important
/ business engagements in Colorado
| when he came to fight for the "cof-
! fee and doughnuts'' fund here. and
has returned to fill them. Although
! Jack Kearns talked with him while
here. nothing definite has been agreed
| to.
At the same time the champion was
/ liberal with his praise Of the man
who Is contending for his scalp
telling Kearns that he surely has a
healthy young fighter and that he Is
glad to see him coming along so hand
somely.
Dempsey, too, still glowing from the
\ completeness of his victory over
Fulton. says there's nothing to 1t.
And at that there isn't-it's just a
case of beating the barrier. that's all.
In other words, it's a system of get
ting in first punch. but that first
! punch must be a corker.
| Got any plans Of fighting this big
fellow?" Jack was asked just before
he jumped into the ring with Fulton
and jumped right out again. victor.
Yes" casually observed Jack, "he's
no different from any of the rest Of
them. I'LL get in close as quick as I
can and whale away at that. belly
OF his. It'n be case of beating the
barrier. that's all-getting in there
before he has a chance to notice the
sneak I'll make on him. One solid
one amidships and I'll be on my way
easily"
And. verify, so It was.
But did you ever hear Of a fighter
before who doped out a battle so COR
4 rectly in adyance-his own battle.
that is? 1t seldom happens. And
there wasn't one slight symptom of
conceit or the presence of ego In
Jacks remarks, either. He DISCUSSED
the Fulton fight, the most important
one In his career to date, as calmly as
he would talk about tilt with Porky
Flynn or any other of the bush
leaguers.
And because results have made his
words seem modest Jack Harrison
Dempsey Is now the most sought for
fighter among the managers. He's
the greatest prospect since the days
Of Bob Fitzsimmons. and. better than
] that veteran. he has youth in his
favor, being Just around the I'D
mark.
Yes. Jack has landed in the gravy,
and IL 1t were not for the war, which
has taken the edge OF of those
things. there would be no iy In It
with him -