The Washington herald., 1919-02-24
Utah Heavyweight Con-
tender Gives Training Ex-.
hibition to Local Fans.
Talks of Big Fight.

Jack Dempsey, contender for the
worlds heavyweight championship. is
with US today. The big Utah young
ster arrived here early yesterday
morning as a special attraction with
a burlesquc show. but owing to a
misunderstanding he was unable yes
tcrday to give a private exhibition of
mis- art before District officials, and
the fight fans that packed the Lyceum
Theater doors were forced to be con-
tented with watching the Utah mauler
20 through a few of his training
stunts. in which he demonstrated a
number of famous blows.
The private exhibition which was to
have been held at Prof. W. Roy
Whipps boxing school on Pennsylva-
MIA Evcnue was postponed until later
in the week. Dempsey will work out
at Prof Whips gym each afternoon
with his sparrinE partners. Terry Kel-
Ter and j Jimmy Burns In the 12-min-
ute fun stage setting Dempsey demon
strated enough to the fans yesterday
TO convince them that Jess willard
would meet a worthy opponent in the
title clash on Independence Day.
Jack is just a big kid in every sense
Of the word. as the big boy showed
signs OF embarrassment and was back
ward in talking TO both the newspaper
men and the fight fans who met him.
But Jack Kearns, manager OF Demp-
sey, soon had Peerless Jack talking
and telling OF how he expected to win
from the Kansas cowboy Both KearnS
and Dempsey were forced to deny
many OF the fake stories that have
recently been printed. In short
speech to the fight fans present at tho
show yesterday Jack claimed when he
meets Jess he would give the public
the best he has in him, and may the
best man win.
In. talking to the writer Jack said:
Il know Jess Willard is mighty
his fellow, but remember the larger
they are the harder they fall Of
course, don't think that I can go into
the ring and frightcn Willard by say
ing Boo Jess is undoubtedly a bet
ter man than he has been credited
with being i'm many places. but just
know I can beat him. It's a cinCh
he'll never lick me. For the sake of
The sport and for myself. l hope Jess
gets into the best shape of his life
do not want him Offering any ex-
cuses or anybody else holding up his
lack OF condition as the reason for
my trimming him"
This coming from Dempsey may
sound like he is somewhat of a brag-
ger, but such is anything but the
case Dempsey Is Just one of those
great big boys who are full Of what
some like TO call the enthusiasm of
youth" His prophecy of what he
viii do to Willard is said with the
same spirit as that which might be
offered by the captain of some school
hrsN ENgr 81
big game Of the season.
Dempsey promises that if he wins
the title he will not retire into his
shell. but will defend the hOnors at
every opportunity. IF l win, I'll
keep on fighting until I get licked"
Is the way ne puts it, Should Demp-
sey. stick TO that resolution he Will
be a tremendous success.
During 1918 Dempsey met every
white heavyweight in the country OF
any prominence whatever. and only
two were able to 90 the limit with
him These were Billy Miske. whom
he had on the verge of Sunderland
in both Of their battles, and Willie
Meehan. with whom he boxed four
ROUNDS in a benefit bout Meehan re-
ceived the referees decision. although
he had been knocked down twice dur
ing the fray.
The most important of Dempsey's
yistOriCs was big Fred Fulton. whom
Willard himself had picked out as the
logical opponent to face him in
championship match. Fulton had
toppled over a majority Of the better
known white heavyweights and also
had stopped Sam LangfOrd. The tall
plasterer had height. reach and
weight in his favor but Dempsey
bOwled him over with a few waIlops
to the jaw. The giant lasted only
fifteen seconds.
Next to Fulton in Importance was
Battling Levinsky, who claimed the
nsht heavyweight championship. Lev
insky never had been stopped and
was one Of the cIeverest defensive
boxers Of any weight seen in the ring
during recent years.
Its too late for me to hOller now.
but l am inclined to think l signed
the papers a bit hasty with Tex
Rickard." is the Dempsey observa-
tion. 1T has been brought home to
me that Richard was prepared to dig
much deeper into his pocketbOok. L
am sure that had Jack kearns, my
managor. waited for me before max
ing any" verbal agreements we could
have had guarantee Of 10000 or
more
Dempsey will be the attraction at
tn" Walter Reed General Army Hos
p.tal on Saturday night. when a num-
Der OF boxing and wrestling matches
viii be STAGED for the benefit of the
wounded soldiers. These bouts are
being arranged by Lieut.. Fred Hall
Thomas. known in the roped arena
as Freddy Welsh. the former light
weight title holder Jack may also
give an exhibition to the over seas
men at Fort Myer. Va. on Tuesday