Evening journal., 1919-07-04
Tens of Thousands Gathered
AT Ring TO See Big Fight

boxing until IL was healed.
The training period Of each was IN
sharp contrast. Dempsey devoted a
great deal Of time to building his
weight to a point where it would more
nearly equal that OF Willard, for he
needed weight TO Offset the great
poundago Of the champion. Willard,
on the other hand. arrived in camp fat
and slow and worked strenuousiy to
take or weight. The process, there
fore. was one Of building toward each
other. The difference in the weights
was expected to be about forty pounds,
perhaps a little less.
Willard towers TO a height OF six
feet six aud hall inches. Dempsey IS
six feet one and q half inch. The dif-
ference is startling. .but Dempsey's
punching power was expected by his
followers to Offset any advantage su-
perior size gave to the champion
Betting favored the champion slight
ly before the battle. Odds OF Q to
on Willard were quoted freely about
the city a week ago, but this has re-
ceded. There is a great deal OF Dempsey
money. lie has a host of supporters
and they have been willing TO risk their
pocketbooks on their judgment. There
fore. there has been little chance for
Willard money to force the odds very
high.
Ticket spectators were strongly IN
evidence, with little effort 10 discour-
age them. The promoters realized
some time ago that this sort Of gentry
would have to be dealt with. but there
was no way in keeping a certain num-
Der Of tickets out Of their hands. With
such an enormous number Of the
tickets on sale to any one who cared
to take them il was a certainty that
some would fall into the hands Of
Spectators
Transportation facilities 70 the arena
were taxed 10 their utmost from an
early hour The double-tracked system
for street cars was crowded with near
ly ell available rolling stock OF the city
lines Huge interurban cars were
pressed into service from outlying
lines. many Of which center here Auto
mobiles passed in a constant stream.
Hundreds made the trip afloat.
II was predicted last night that at
least $1,000 persons would get into the
arena, counting newspapermen and
other necessary persons mixed in with
the crowd which paid the freight.
Tn the center Of the arena. which
sloped TO a height OF about fifty feet TO
a bowl-shaped structure. was the ring
"A twenty-foot square in order to pro
vide additional space for newspaper
men. Of whom there were several
hundred Hundreds Of telegraph instru-
ments clicked under the edges Of the
ring and were scattered back in the
rows Of the massive press Stand
probably the largest press stand ever
built for any purpose. Usually a
twenty -four-foot ring is used for cham
pionship bouts, but this is not the first
time a smaller one has been used Ad
Wolgast and Battling Nelson used a
twenty-foot enclosure when they staged
their famous battle in California for
the lightweight crown.
Promoters declared before the con-
test that rain would not halt the bout.
The tickets have been sold and no rain
checks have been issued. The crowd,
they believe. would pay small attention
should rain start. Many thousands
have come here for the holiday. having
only one day to spend away from
home. and would be unable 10 remain
should there be a pOstpOnement.
The first bout OF The day, scheduled
for 10 a. m. was to he between Wop
English, Toledo, and Whirlwnd Wendl,
Of the army They are lightweights
and were TO go eight rounds.
Bantams were TO provide an eight
round scrap at ~ a. m, with Tommy
O'Boyle, Of Cleveland, and Solly Ep-
stein, Of Indianapolis the principals
Johnny Lewis, Toledo lightweight,
and Tommy Long. Detroit, were carded
Tor ten rounds at noon.
Jock Malone, St. Paul, and Navy
Ralsion, Joliet, H., welterweights, were
scheduled for ten rounds at 1 p. m,
md the scmi-wind-up was 10 be be
.ween frankie Mason. TT. Wayne. Ind,
bantam. and Carl Tremaine, Of Detroit.
Referees for the prellminaries We're:
BILLY Rocks. Detroit; Danny Dunn,
Cleveland: Tom Bodkin. Pttsburg;
Tommy McGlnity, Cleveland; Lon Bau-
nan, Cincinnati, and Jimmy Devers,
Jackson, Mich.