The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-07
SAYS JESS WILLARD
 LOST GAMELY
Barney Has Praise For Fallen Monarch - Says Dempsey Will Be Popular.
By BATTLING LEVINSKY.

AYEw YORK, July 6. - Well, here l am back in my man
 ager's office after witnessing what l believe to be the most spec tacular heavyweight championship battle ever staged in annals of box ing.
 Jack Dempsey is the new worlds heavyweight champion-and he will be one in fact as well as in name. Of this there is no doubt. He proved his mettle when he forced Jess WH- lard to quit at the end of the third round of their Toledo battle
 I say it was the most spectacular championship bout ever staged and l am confident that the old timers back in Bridgeport will bear me out. There was no question about who won the battle. Dempsey won fairly and squareIy He forced the most power fuI heavyweight, since John l.. Sul- 1ivan's time, to quit
 Jack Dempsey will be everything that Jess Willard was not as worlds champion. If what he promises to do materializes there is no question in my mind that he will be the greatest and most popular champion of all times. Jack says he will defend his championship and I, for one, believe he will do precisely what he says he will do. Dempsey usually keeps his word and I believe he is sincere about his promise to meet any contender
 There are a few who have come out already with a little criticism hurled at Jacks statement that he will go on the stage. Dempsey today is perhaps the most popular man in the country-he is with the fight fans anyway and w2 must bear in mind that eight out of every ten in these good old United States are patrons of the sport Jack is entitled to make some money now that he is champion.
 With Jack Dempsey, as with any intelligent boxer, this fighting game is a business. Dempsey has reached the height of his ambition and what a fool he would be if he tossed aside a chance to build himself a fortune on which to fall back on in the dark CT days that are bound to come.
 Jack Dempsey is entitled to all that he can make. He worked hard to win the championship and besides glance at his record will show that he has beaten all contenders. Who is there in this country for him to meet. Willie Meehan? Willie has four round newspaper decision over Demp-
 
 from the Coast. He came East with Billy Gibson, but proved a flat dis appointment. He probably. like other Californians can beat anybody over the short four-round route, but what he will do over a longer route is proble- nautical although I personally believe he will be entirely lost over the eigh; and ten round route - let alone a championship distance. As a matter of fact I believe that Dempsey today can stop any man in the ring inside of a round.
 There is no one who is prominent in the heavyweight class whom Dempsey has not met and defeated so why shouldn't he rest for while and collect some easy money on the stage The fans of the country want to see him. There are millions and millions who neither could afford time nor money to go to Toledo, but who are anxious to get a glimpse of the man who forced the biggest heavy weight champion ever to wear the crown to quit in three rounds.
 The feat accomplished by Dempsey was considered impossible by a vast majority of the people. They can not understand how a man standing six feet seven inches with powerful arms, tremendous reach and strong punches could be beaten by youth seven inches shorter than he. Some of the fans can not be convinced yet that Dempsey beat Willard fairly and squarely. They will tell you 1t can't be done. And I will tell you that Dempsey can do the same thing to any man living.
 These skeptics want to see Demp- sey. Natural curiosity demands that Jack Dempsey show himself on the stage for while. Jack has received lucrative offers to go on the stage and he has accepted the best one. He will be back of the footlights for aboA three months at the end of which period he will return to the ring and be prepared to meet who ever the critics and public select for him to meet.
 Dempsey will be a fighting cham pion. He will defend his champion