The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-01
WILLARD Is MADE
FAVORITE BETTING
Swing in Champions Favor
Due to Opinions of Ryan
and Other Experts.
OPPOSES RABBIT PUNCH
Kearns Insists Blow Be Barred
in Heavyweight Champion
ship Match Next Friday.
OPPOSES RABBIT PUNCH
Nv CHARLES r. MATHIsoN.

BY CHARLES r. MATHIsoN.
TOLEDO, Ohio, June 30.-The betting
pendulum swung to-day. and the cnam-
Mon became the favorite at odds OF 10
s. The previous betting had peen AT
eyens with no Willard money In siehI
There were few wagers at the new
figures, and It Is predicted that the VII.
lard adherents are waiting for the last
day. when they VIII dump loads OF cash
on the champions chances.
The shifting of the odds In WIZARDS
favor is said to be due to the opinions OF
Tommy Ryan, Martin Delaney and other
experts to the effect that the champion
Is in good condition ana prepareo 10
make a hard fight on July 4. Willards
, sire and the vigor with which he has
bumped his sparring partners have
caused the layers Of odds to change their
In taking his place as favorite Willard
simply follows In the footsteps OF every
title holder under Queensberry rules from
John L. Sullivan down to the present
chamnion. 1t is questionable IL any chal-
,enger IN the history of the heavyweight
division under the Queensberry code was
.vsr even quoted at even money at any
stage OF a match. therefore Dempsey mas
achieved that much honor In the betting
mart.
willard supporters Jubilant.
The willard supporters were 5ubilant
to-dav when 1t was found that inc
champion had become favorte anu
insisted that the big Kansans condiuoh
and earnestness had turned the toe IN
his favor. Many of them were not SLOW
20 declare that willard would JUSTIFY In
his battle with Dempsey on July the
ehift that made him the favorite In the
beginning. os
The change in odds has frightened
MANY of the Dempsey admirers and has
caused them to tighten their purse
strings.
one man whose opinions have not
changed is Joe Wagner, manager OF
Jack Sharkey. the West Side pantam,
Who has watched the boxers for the
past few days.
.J don't base my belief on what 1
have seen of the men in their training
work" said Wagner. II have written
10 ali my friends in New York to get
down on Dempsey. hook, line ana
sinker.'
INV opinion is the result of watching
both men in nearly all their ring pat
ties. which Is the only way IN Whicn
one can get a true line on nghters
ability. Dempsey is At for the battle
OF his life and Willard Is only In fair
condit,m.
"But il would make no difference to
me II the champion was in the best con.
dition of his career. Y still would hoio
that Dempsey is his master. Dempsey
is the hardest hitter the heavyweight
division ever knew, and he Is quick as
A flash. In addition he Is fighter
something Willard never was and never
will be.
Does Not Expect willard to Last.
Mark my words, willard is in for
the hardest punching a champion ever
received, and don't expect to see the
big fellow answer the bell for the NTH
round Dempsey Is so fast he will get
inside the big fellows guard and batter
him down. Monahan and Hemple are
cart horses that Jamaica Kid could
clean out in a few rounds each. and the
champion really has looked speedy IN
comparison with his helpers
These slow moving sparring part
ners will be a drawback to Willard when
he faces the rushing Dempsey, for the
champion will not be prepared for the
change to high speed. II Willard had
engaged a couple OF fast helpers he
might have increased his own speed and
thus been able to neutralize In a meas
ure the attack of the rushing Dempsey.
willard may stave off defeat by hold
ing but he will have to fight sooner or
later, and when he comes TO close quar-
tiers with Dempsey the title will change
hands"
Dempsey's Height Is Feet 2 In.
William Muldoon sprang a surprise
this afternoon at Dempsey's quarters
when he called the challenger to the
porch and asked him to stand up and
he measured for height The boxer
readily nsented and in his ring shoes
which are without heels, he measured
exactly six feet two inches.
Frank Moran was then asked to sub
nit TO measurement and he In his walk
ing shoes with heels, stood feet ! a
inches There was considerable surprise
over the figures, as It was generally sup
posed that Dempsey stood an even six
feet tall.
Having got his height. Muld9on Their
requested him to get on the scales. which
the challenger did. He weighed 49,
pounds. showing that bis hard work of the
past week has taken seven pounds AZ
toll
Dempsey hammered Tate, Jamaica
Kid and Jock Malone for the last time
this afternoon, as the challenger will d.
Dempsey will punch the bag anC
shadow box tomorrow and Wednesday
and devote Thursday to the drying ou
process When he steps into the rinI
he will be as nearly perfect physically
- as Il is possible for an athlete to be.
Barring OF the rabbit punch, one oil
Champion Jess Wizards favorite deliv-
cries, will be demanded by Jack Kearns
manager OF Jack Dempsey, before he al
lows the challenger TO enter the rims
with Willard The punch is a blow de-
livered to the back of the neck while
the men are lighting in clinches with al
least one arm free. Both Willard anC
Dempsey have been using II with pun
ishing effect in their training bouts, bu
Manager Kearns claims that while tn;
blow Is n favorite with the champion Il
Is not at all important In Dempsey
repertoire OF punches.
The delivery OF this blow has beer
forbidden In big fights The rules of tn,
Toledo Boxing Commission. however
permit the blow II the boxers are no
locked in an embrace
kearns said that he will request OH,
Record. referee. to see that the punch Il
not delivered and will insist upon hav
ing an understanding. with Willard 4
that effect before the day OF the contest
WiIlard's Cut over Eye Reopens.