Omaha daily bee., 1919-06-29

Dempsey, of Utah. here next Friday
afternoon. Both Willard and Demp-
sey have been earnestly training in
this vicinity for several weeks past.
Neither one has left anything UNI
tried or undone in order to get him
self into the best possible condition
for the encounter, the outcome of
which will mean so much for the
victor. By winning from Jack John
son at Havana, Cuba, four years ago.
Willard was placed in a position to
begin building up an immense for
tune and should Dempsey capture
the title there is no telling how
much wealth he may accumulate in
these days of high finance, when
sport promoters talk of the "sky"
as the limit for big events.
Aside from the actual purse mon
ey of $l27,50O signed for by the two
pugilists, 100000 of which is guar
anteed to Willard, win, loose or
draw the enormous amount OF cash
which will be handled in connection
with the coming bout, dwarfs all
previous ring contests into financial
oblivion. The gate" from the sale
of tickets and concessions is expect
ed to pass the one million dollar
mark which would make the receipts
of previous fistic carnivals look very
small in comparison.
Tex Richard, the daring promoter
who is bringing the two big men
together in this bout, generally does
things on a large scale. He secured
the Johnson effries fight for a
guarantee of $4,000 and at Reno,
his receipts amounted to $27O,OO0.
OF course the promoter was at an
enormous outlay in bringing that
contest to an issue, having been
forced almost at moments notice,
to move from California to another
state, in order to secure a battle
ground. Richards outlay for the
coming battle including guaranteed
purse, cost of arena construction,
advertising and other expenses will
amount to vast sum. The casual
observer might think that the pro-
moter will still have a big markin
of profit out of the charges for ad-
mission. At first glance this seems
reasonable but Richard is going to
pay the regular war tax of 10 per
cent on all tickets purchased and has
guaranteed the local authorities a
percentage also. The United States
government however, will have a
big claim for income 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 the reduction of the
size of the ring to twenty feet
square Originally the men were to
have gone twenty or more rounds
and the intention was to have reg
ulaticn "a foot ring. Otherwise the
agreement stands as signed by Rick
ard, Willard and Dempsey, each be-
ing entitled to a third of the moving
picture privileges. Willard is guar
anteed 100000 and Dempsey, ST.
500
When the men step into the ring
on Friday, each will have abig fol-
lowing of partisans. Those who re-
ly en- Wizards retaining his title in
sist thai he is invulnerable to pun
ishment and that Dempsey will fail
to reach his burly opponent with an
effective blow. Many of them claim
that Willard has never hit human
being with the full force of which
his huge frame is capable. 1t is said
that once during his preparation for
a previous contest Willard lost his
temper on being stung by the blow
OF sparring partner. Then the big
fellow landed a 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 attention
for many days afterward.
Dempsey's friends, and they are
| 'SSloii, SOillidSltly StdLC llidt lS
man, however, Zig or strong, ear
withstand the i'm act Of a 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 car
land on Wizards jaw just as effec.
lively as he did on Fred Fulton's last
year. They rely on Jacks fearless
ness as a big asset in conjunction
with his heavy hitting power. Demp
sey's youth also is one of the argu
ments his adherents advance as be.
ing a decided factor in his favor a:
Dempsey is "a years old. There are
conflicting statements as to VII
lard's exact age, but it is the genera
belief that Kansan has passed ths
40-year mark
Dempsey has taken part in mar,
ring contests during the last fou'
years while Willard has fought onl,
twice within that period Jess wor
the championship from Johnson a
Havana, Cuba. III April. 1915. Tia
battle lasted 70 rounds. Just /
months later Willard met Franz