The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1919-07-01
STAGE IS SET
Concluded from I Page

Concluded from I Page
most at a moments notice, to move
from California to another state, in
order to secure battle ground. Rick
ards outlay for the coming battle in
cluding guaranteed purse, cost OF
arena construction, advertising and
other expenses will amount to a vast
sum-. The casual observer might think
that the promoter will still have big
margin of profit out Of the charges for
admission. At first glance this seems
reasonable but Rickard is going to pay
the regular war tax of ten percent on
all tickets purchased and has guaran-
teed the local authorities percentage
also The United States government
however, will have big claim for in
come tax so that when everything is
deducted from the gate" Richards
margin of profit probably will fall far
short of the results he attained in
some Of his previous ventures.
Some changes have been made In
the conditions governing the bout
since the original articles were signed,
the most important being the limiting
of the contest to twelve rounds and
to twenty feet square. Originally the
men were to have gone twenty or
more rounds and the intention was to
have regulation "a foot ring 9th
erwlse the agreement stands as signed
by Rickard, Willard and Dempsey,
each being entitled to a third Of the
moving picture privileges. willard Is
guaranteed 100000 and Dempsey
$27,5OO.
When the men step into the ring on
Friday, each will have big follow
ing of partisans. Those who rely on
Willard's retaining his title, insist that
he Is invulmerable to punishment and
that Dempsey will fail to reach his
burly opponent with an effective blow.
Many Of them also claim that Willard
has never hit human being with the
full force of which his huge frame is
capable. II Is said that once during
his preparation for previous contest
Willard lost his temper on being stung
by the blow of n sparring partner.
Then the big fellow landed vicious
swing which swept his opponent and
one OF the ring posts to spot several
yards away from the ringside and
that the partner" needed medical at
tention for many days afterward.
Dempsey's friends, and they are le.
gion, confidently state that no man,
however big or strong. can withstand
the impact OF full weight hook or
swing from either of Jacks fists They
look for a quick ending to the contest
with Dempsey a winner They say
that Jack can land on Willard's Jaw
just as effectively as he did on Fred
Fulton's last year. They rely on Jacks
fearlessness as big asset In conjunc.
tion with his heavy hitting power.
Dempsey's youth also Is one of the ar
guments his adherents advance as be.
ing a decided factor in his favor as
Dempsey is "a years old. There are
conflicting statements as to Willard's 4
exact age. but It Is the general belief
that the Kansan has passed the forty
year mark.
Dempsey has taken part In many
ring contests during the last four
years Willard has fought only twice
within that period. Jess won the
championship from Johnson at Hav.
ana, Cuba. In April. 1915. That battle
lasted twenty-six rounds. Just eleven
months later Willard met Frank Nor.
an for ten rounds at the Madison
Square Garden, New York. This was
q no decision contest but Moran was
80 far outclassed on that occasion
that there was no question az to WI.
iard's having won decisively Since
that time March 25. 1916, Willard has
not defended his title. Thousands of
hstic patrons believe that this pro
tracted absence from fighting has hat
a deteriorating effect on the big cham
pion's abilities while Dempsey, having
peen In ring action almost contantl,
VIII be In much better condition
Dempsey fought sixteen ring battle,
last year and scored thirteen knock
outs. One of these. with Arthur Pei
Ky at Denver. went 15 rounds; two O
them ended in the sixth. Carl Morri
and Bill Brennan being the victim.