Omaha daily bee., 1919-07-04
P PRINCIPALS IN
JULY 4 FIGHT
AWAITING CONC
Willard and Dempsey Both
| Said to Be in Top.Notch
! Trim for Expected Greatest
! Pugi|istic Go in History.

sonable amount Of tape will be per-
mitted in bandaging the hands of
the contestants and they will wear
the customary one-piece boxing
trunks.
More than the, usual number of
officials will be employed in pass
ing upon the merits of the boxers,
for in addition to the referee there
will be two judges, similar to the
system in vogue in England.
Ollie Pecord of Toledo will act as
referee, assisted by Tex Rickard
and Maj. Anthony J. Drexel Biddlt,
of Philadelphia, in the capacity of
judges. They will sit on different
sides of the ring and will reach any
decisions required of them without
consultation. Jack Skelly of Mount
Vernon, N. Y, will be alternate ref
cree and w. Warren Barbour of
New York will be official time
keeper. Each boxer will also have
timekeeper.
Both in Splendid Shape.
Both principals appear to be
trained to perfect condition and
each expresses perfect satisfaction
with his physical and mental condi-
ton.
Willard probably will enter the
ring weighing about 245 pounds,
while Dempsey is expected to be
near the 200 mark. In almost every
physical measurement, the cham
pion will have the advantage of the
challenger, being the largest man
who eyer held the title. Notwith-
standing these physical handicaps
Dempsey has the popular following
and he is selected to win by many
shrewd ring followers, partly due
to his youth, for he is "a years old,
to Willard's 81, and his impressive
rushing, fighting style of boxing.
Wagering on the bout indicated
the uncertainty that prevails re-
garding the outcome. Even money
is quoted in some commission
rooms, while just across the street
Willard adherents are giving 10 to
9. In no case are the sums laid
large in comparison to bets made
on past heavyweight matches. Play
in the pari-mutuel department
showed opinion about evenly
divided on the result should the
affair 60 the full II rounds. Bet
ting on the probability of knock
ont centers about rolnds seven and
eight as has been the case for
several days.
Many Unusual Angles.
While wagering reflects the opin-
ion of those who take more than a
casual interest in such matches, it
has no effect upon the ability of the
principals. More heavyweight
championship holders have been de-
feated while carrying the popular
money than is the reverse case.
There so many unusual angles to
Fridays contest that this is not
considered, however, g~an axiom to-
night. Were Willard and Dempsey
matched over long distance rang
ing from Is to As rounds, it is likely
the younger of the two would be
an outstanding favorite in the bet
ting.
Wizards great size, bulk and
strength form an impressive mental
barrier that even the Dempsey sup
porters hesitate to hurdle financial
ly when il is realized that he is re-
quired to box 36 minutes and hold
his own to gain at least draw de-
cision. The champion is generally
conceded to be the better boxer of
the two, but Dempsey has achieved
remarkable ring record with his
incessant rushing, free hitting type
of offense. His followers base their
predictions of his victory on his
ability to rush and batter his way