The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-27
BOXING FANS
 FOR DEMPSEY
Salt Lake City Boxer Favored as Opponent for Jess
 Willard.

Jack Dempsey of Salt Lake City, who has been clamoring for a cham pionship boxing match with Jess Willard, heavyweight titleholder, will probably be the man selected to do battle with the big Kansan, on the date which Tex Rickard will an- nounce before March 25, for Willard's next ring competition.
 The selection of Dempsey seems a foregone conclusion, since there is no other aspirtant on the pugilistic hori- zon who overshadows Dempsey in comparison. The Salt Lake City heavyweight has consistently pounded and battered his way to the forefront of pugilism's limelight, topping over with apparent ease those who would question his right to such recogni- | ton, until there is no one left in the 1 field who is capable of giving Will l lard's annoyer serious contention. l Talk of effecting a visit to this country of Georges Carpentier, Flu l ropes premier heavyweight, is not 1 given serious consideration by the fol- l lowers of boxing. Carpenter is en- | gagged in his war duties in France, and there is no immediate indication | of his release from his war services. 1 It is generally conceded that the | physical advantages in such a bout ! would be so overwhelmingly in Will | lard's favor as to make for one-sided l competition.
 Speculation is rife on what location
 will be accepted by Promoter Rickard
 as the scene of the bout. It is stipu- | lated that the contest is to be for any
 number of rounds up to 10. &o-
 moter Rickard and the general box
 ing public favors a distance bout which will produce a decisive winner
 In only a few states in the Union are l long contests permitted, and in some
 of these states the chief executives
 have strongly objected to pretentious
 bouts such as the proposed match
 will be.
 The Governors of Connecticut and Maryland both set themselves as Jn- alterably against a meeting between Willard and Fred Fulton, when Col onel J. C. Miller of Ranch 101 fame
 was planning such a bout, and it is . rot likely the opinions of these exec. uttVes will change in the time be- tween now and July 4. Colorado alsc
 permits distance bouts. as does Lou.
 tsiana, but it is a. matter of conjec. ture what attitude will be taken b3 } the Governors of these two States or the proposed Willard match. Tn
 Juana, a post-village of San Diego Cal, permits I3dstance bouts also.
 Promoter Rickard is not bound by [, .NP hn himself and the champion to prornot the contest in this country, so that i , necessity demanded the match couIC be held in Havana. where Willari f beat Jack Johnson for the title fou
 years ago. It is expected. though
 that the match will be held in thi
 country.
 When Rickard secured Willard's sig
 nature to articles of agreement caIlin, for the champions appearance in
 title bout, the Western promoter add ed another chapter to his enviabl , record as a promoter of importan , boxing matches. Rickard has the dis = tln"tlon Of being the promoter of tn f most successful match of ring history
 This was the bout between Jack John
 son and Jim Jeffries, at Reno, Ney
 July 4, 1910 The sum of S27O. I'D wa ! paid by 1S,02O spectators to see thi battle, for which a purse of S121,OO
 was hung up by Promoter RickarG
 Rickard also promoted the Battlin 5 Nelson-Joe Cans lightweight cham . pionshfp bout at Goldfield, Nev., i
 September, 1906. and the Willard
 Frank Moran ten-round bout at Mad
 ison Square Garden three years agt l. This is the only contest in which Wi lard participated since gaining tn = title.