Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-03
FIGHT RULES TO
BE AGREED UPON
BY PRINCIPLES
The Kidney Punch Probably Only
Blow Barred Under RuIes
Toledo Commission.

row are to be officially interpreted
at meeting today attended by
Ollie Pecord, the referee; Richard
and Major A J. Drexel Biddle,
judges of the contest, the boxers
themselves and Jack Kearns, man
ager of the challenger.
Previous to the meeting, Willard
expressed himself as being willing
to box under any rules but sug-
gested that the contestants be per-
mitted to box as long as an arm is
free, to break at once at the COM
mand of the refree and to break
clean.
Kearns, who spoke for Dempsey,
said he intended to press the point
that the judges should not sit to-
gether, but on opposite sides of the
ring. He also said that he did not
care how the rules were inter
preted so long as each boxer and
the referee agreed on what was to
be exacted.
The only blow that probably will
be barred will be the kidney punch,
which. under the rules of the To-
ledo boxing commission, is prohib-
tied in all matches staged in this
city AS PecOrd is the official ref
cree of the commission and tomor-
rows contest will be staged under
license granted by the commission,
the punch undoubtedly will be bar
red No provision is made, how
ever, for the rabbit punch, which
Wizards admirers say is a fav-
orite blow with the champion. The
blow is delivered on the back Of an
opponents neck.
Betting on the outcome of the
bout has proved surprisingly
light to date. It was estimated this
morning by one of the foremost
wagering commissioners that there
was not much more than $4,000 in
actual stakes in the hands Of the
various betting concerns.
With their training grind ended,
Willard and his youthful challen-
ger planned to spend today in COM
plete rest. The champion planned
to take a motor trip into the coun-
try this afternoon to escape the
eyes of the curious and 60 to bed
early tonight in the Stone resi-
dence he has occupied with his
training retinue since his arrival
month ago.
u
of the Maumee bay shore district
was the program for Dempsey this
morning. Jack Kearns, manager of
the challenger, planned to take him
on a motor spin through the coun-
try this afternoon to keep his mind
of the contest and also to avoid
the crowds which have flocked 10
the challenger's camp in ever in
creasing numbers
Even Money on Jack
In some quarters sentiment ap-
peared to be veering toward the
champion, for while Dempsey back
ers were Offering even money on
the challenger a day or two ago,
they are now asking that Willard
men lay 10 to 8. Even when these
odds are granted the switch does
not result in any large sums being
turned over to the stake holders.
At the leading commissioner
quarters the black boards are filled
with various betting propositions
which have remained untaken,
with the exception of a few freak
bets. for several days. Some of
these include:
One hundred dollars to $1,000
that Willard does not last three
rounds.
One hundred dollars to $500 that
Willard does not respond to- the
call for the seventh round.
Favor Rounds 2 and s.
In the pari-mutual betting the
heaviest play is being made on the
seventh and eighth rounds while
Dempsey is almost a two to one
favorite, according to the number
of tickets sold, on the result should
the bout go the full II rounds.
Every train arriving in Toledo is
unloading its scores and hundreds
of boxing fans and hundreds are
making the trip here in motor cars.
Once they arrive, a small percent
age of them go directly to hotels
and claim rooms for which they
made reservations a month ago,
and which they are privileged to
occupy at the rate of SIS bed with
two to 10 beds in a room. The 9TH
ers walk about the streets in
frenzied search for accommoda-
tions which are not to be found.
All Rooms Sold Out.
y
house, bath house and similar es-
Establishments are sold out for to-
night. Thousands of visitors who
will be unable to obtain hotel &C
commodations will sleep on cots in
several buildings which have been
turned into huge dormitories. The
minimum charge for a cot in va
cant building viii be $500. Hun
dreds of motor parties brought
tents with them and pitched them
along the roads on the outskirts
of the city. Hundreds of others
plan to spend tonight in Cleveland,
Detroit, Columbus and other cities
within a radius of 100 miles and
make the trip to Toledo early to-
morrow.
Confusion and Noise.
There probably is more confus-
ion, more noise and more argu-
ments in Toledo today than in any
other place in the world Where
arguments have been crowded out
rumors find room for themselves.
But the arguments prevail. Hotel
Hobbies are crowded with fndivid-
uals demonstrating a favorite
punch of either willard or Demp-
gey or debating whether Willard's
now famous rabbit punch will be
allowed.
Saturday July 9Th
- 44,n half rata exru~a4rx4 -