Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-03
FIGHT CR|T!CSP|C
FRENCHMAN TO WIN
Believe Science Will Bring
Him Victory Over Rugged
But Slow BritOn.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

Sporting circles on the other side
are all agog over the meeting tomor-
row at the Holborn Stadium. in Lon
don, of Georges Carpenter, idol of the
French and Joe Beckett, English
titleholder. in twenty-round bout Tor
the heavyweight championship OF Eu-
rope. Owing to the fact that IT is the
first real important international
heavyweight battle fought in years.
and that it is expected the winner VIII
De pitted against Jack Dempsey Tor
1.-THE world title. the meeting is at
tracing more interest in this country
than the worth of the contestants
justifies and is being made the me-
dunn for an unusual amount OF pet
ting an even money basis. al
though Beckett is a heavy favorlte
with the loyal Britons.
Neither man has been seen in action
In America. but a majority OF com
petent judges who have looked the
contenders over are inclined TO favor
the Frenchman. because or ms aa
mitted superior boxing skill. Jlinm!
Wilde. the English fyweight: now IN
this country is of the option that
Carpenter will win. as are also rom
O'Rourke the boxing impresarlo. who
piloted Fred Fulton to England. and the
big pasterer himself. Says Fred
Beckett Lacks Science.
Beckett is big and strong. but slow
and nowhere near the master OF DoX-
ing tna1 the TSHtilUidh Is L w
believe Beckett will be able to land
effectively on Carpenter, and l look
to see the French champion give the
Britisher a boxing lesson and. per-
haps. knock him out.
Fulton also expresses the belief ne
could defeat either of the men VINO
sidestepped him so carefully during
his recent visit abroad. Eddie NC
Goorty, the Yankee boxer who was
defeated by Beckett strings along in
picking the Frenchman and predicts
he will do it easily. McGoorty is
helping to train Carpenter. and Tor
this rea son his opinion does not carry
much weight but Eugene CORR. the
world famous referee. will get re-
spectful hearing when he declares 1t
will be typical struggle of brain
against Drawn and predicts win for
Carpenter. Although Beckett may
stamina" says CORR, Il think Car
pentier will beat him by being able
to think more rapidly. unless the
Frenchman has deteriorated since the
beginning of the war
About the only American source o.
Information tending to offset the prepon-
derance of opinion city above comes to
Billy Gibson. manager or Benny
Leonard. lightweight champion, from
a man in England. advising him to
bet on Beckett. Gibson says this tip
comes from a man in whose judgment
he has great confidence.
Judged from this distance. the out
come of the clash tomorrow Will de-
pend largely on Carpenters physical
condition. 1t is generally agreed that
II CARPENTER has been able to regain
his pre-war form :he rugged but un-
scientific Beckett will stand but little
change against him. but four years
of active duty in the nerve-straining
air service on the battiefieldS or
France reasonably may be expected to
take the edge off any boxers work. par
ticularly in the matter of judgment
of distance. If Carpenter energies
victor it will be distinctly come
back for him. and comebacks are
rare in the annals of fistiana.
Denies johnson Has Contract.
Although the illness of Ban Johnson
prevented Owner Comiskey OF the
white Sox from obtaining papers re-
lating to the formers contractural
relations with the American League
for consideration by the majority
directors of the organization in New
nate reported that his researches in
Johnson's offices at league headquar-
fers failed to disclose any evidence
supporting the claim of Johnson that
he has twenty-year contract 10 !
serve as president of the league at
, salary of $4,000 year. Comiskey
goes further and states positively his
belief that no such contract is in eX-
istence.
This may be regarded as odd, in
view of the fact that some members
IF the league who were present at
the meeting on February 26, 1910. as
aert that not only vas Johnson eject
ed for the long-term period, as con-
tended but that Comiskey himself
made the motion and named the sa--
AIRY.
ment at the meeting was request
from Johnson's counsel that the date
Of reinforcement of the hearing of the
latest injunction proceedings against
the league executive be moved for
ward from Monday. December 8, to to-
morrow.
The New York club consented to TINS
reouest. The insurgents profess to
see in it decided weakening in the
Johnson forces and are confident no
attempt will be made to hold the an
nual session in Chicago if the court
grants an order restraining Johnson
from holding such a meeting. They
point out that it indicates Johnson
and his supporters are contemplating
attending the New York meeting, for
were the hearing not held until next
Monday it is possible the court would
not reach q decision until the follow
ing day Then, if it were favorable
to the directors it would be too late
for the Johnson faction, assembled IN
Chicago TO reach New York in time