The Topeka state journal., 1919-07-01
Indications Are Betting Will Be
10 to Z on Champ.
Willard Money PlentifuI-Doc-
tor Says He's in Perfect Trim.
WILL TAPE HANDS IN RING
Everything VIII Be Above
Board in Big Fight Friday.
Take Pictures From Airplanes
To Rush Them to Papers.

chance that Jack Dempsey will be a
favorite in the betting when he enters
the ring with Jess Willard Friday.
Dempsey is very popular. but it is
much easier to find Willard sympa-
thizers who are willing to back their
choice with money than 1t is to find
Dempsey men of the same ideas. Will
lard is the champion. The fact can
not be denied, nor can the trend of
betting sentiment.
Willard in Toledo ranges now from
ten to six favorite to ten to eight.
Indications are he will enter the bat
tie for his championship a ten to seven
favorite over the Utah challenger.
Dempsey has gained supporters in
the last week. largely because of the
fact that he has worked hard. whereas
Big Jess has been content to go along
very easily. People who have watched
the two scra ppers work out have been
very chary about expressing their
ideas in public. They favored this
man one day and that man another
They profess to be mystified by VIII
lard's condition, when as matter of
fact, a blind man would have no trou-
BILE in telling that the champion is in
condition to fight. Whether he Is IN
condition to win is another question.
self ready to go thru to Wednesday
afternoon with his training. He prob
ably will box a few rounds on that
day, but on Thursday there will be no
public appearance, or at most a very
perfunctory one. He may go fishing;
He feels that he is ready to fight ana
is positive in his assertions
Dcmpseys trainer. Jimmy De For
rest. said today that his challenger
for the crown may do some shadow
boxing on Thursday and go thru a ses-
sion with the light and heavy bags
Dempsey himself doubts it. Chances
are he will do what work he does
Thursday in private. He Is going TO
move from the Overland club on
Thursday in order to get nearer to
the arena.
willard is fit That is the an
nouncement Of DR.. Joseph sweeney
official physician for the Toledo Box
ing commission. who gave the cham
pion a thoro examination yesterday.
From examination Of heart, lungs.
muscle tone and reserve power, sald
Doctor Sweeney. Willard. l tind, Is
in such wonderful condition that he
will be able to go the full twelve
rounds at whatever speed limit Jack
Dempsey sets"
Toledo, July Jess Willard and
Jack Dempsey will so into the ring
for the heavyweight championship
contest here Friday with bare hands
and all bandaging and tapping Will be
done in view of the spectators and
seconds of the heavyweight rivals.
This announcement was made today
by Tex Rickard, promoter OF the con-
test The decision to request the
boxers to bandage their hands in the
ring is regarded as a victory for VIII
lard who protested against Dempsey
plans TO adjust the tape and bandages
on, his hands while in the dressing
room.
What amount of tape and bandages
will be used has not been determined,
but Willard said he would insist upon
a thin layer of cotton surgical band
ages and only enough tape to hold
the referee, Ollie Pecord, probably
will make a decision in this regard
.Omorrow.
Final Arrangements Completed.
Final arrangements regarding the
details of the big contest were com
1leted at a conference between the
1Oxers. managers and Rickard and
ZACH camp knows just what is ex-
Dected of the principals and their sec
ondinE brigade. The boxers will wear
specially made five ounce gloves and
Zach will be allowed to have five sec
onds in his corner including the man
ger or adviser as the case may be.
rot be made until the day of battle.
Willard inquired whether Dempsey
Intended to grease his body as he
heard was being done previous to the
daily workouts. He said II did not
make any difference to him which way
the challenger appeared provided he
knew in advance and could do ike
wise.
Dempsey told R.ckard he had never
creased his body at any time and had
no intention of doing so for the
cham pionship bout. This statement
Heared the situation and there will be
no annointing the body with oily mat |
tel. at any time during the last few
hours before the clash. While this is |
a favorite trick of wrestlers, it is not |
the usual custom among boxers, altho |
offering certain advantages in a long
fight The oil or grease. rubbed into |
the skin until absorbed by the pores, |
Immediately comes 10 the surface |
again when the body begins to per- |
spire and the body is so slippery that |
or clinch in either wrestling or boxing |
as the case may be.
Elaborate News Service.
Elaborate preparations are being |
made to report the coming contest on /
a scale excee ding anything of the kind |
at previous ring battles of any weight
championship. The record established |
at Reno with the gathing OF news
paper writer's and photographers for |
the Johnson J effries fight will be easi-
~ surpassed here. Noted sport and |
special writer's from all parts of the
country and Canada are present or
enroute and hundreds of seats have
been reserved in various sections of the
arena for their accomm odation.
There will be more than fifty wires
set up at the ringside 10 carry the re-
ports from the scene of the conflict to
every portion OF America and 10 cable
points for European service.
Special airplane service for the |
photogra pliers has been planned and |
from these low flying planes expert
camera men. some of whom served in
thc same capacity with the army |
!, hrnnd- will lake flms Of the fighters