New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-09
Dempsey Men
Regard Jack
As Favorite
so.Called Wise Money, How
ever, Usually Goes With
the Champion
By w. O. Mcclellan

ths whole 270 pounds Of him, steps
into the ring with Jack Dempsey, who
will scarcelY tip the beam at over 100
nounds. The Dempsey followers rash
" predict that the contender will be
fayorite over the champion. They base
This contention on Wizards unpopu-
,arity AMI the sensational rise of
Dempsey
Surprising that the fight will be a
ten-round no-decison affair, Dempsey
will have TO be even better than he
looks to bring home the title He will
have to knock out Willard, and that
will be some afternoons work 1t is
true that the champion is pretty close
10 forty and that it will be some effort
Tor him to condition himself for the
bout. But while Willard is lazy and
hates to train. he is clean liver and
is never badly out of condition.
Real Age in Doubt
lust what Wizards real age may be
would be hard to tell. Before the
draft law threw d scare into the timer
Gus pugilists Willard was passed as
being about thirty. When it seemed
that there was a chance for him to be
signed up for Uncle Sans standard
purse OF thirty bucks a month, Willard
confessed that he was q portly old
gent, almost tagging forty. This comes
pretty close to being the truth. He is
almost aged for an athlete, almost rs
old as Ruby Robert Fitzsimmons was
when he held the title eff heayvWeipht
champion
willard is not a fighter tempera-
mentally. lie dlSlikes the game and
the iimelicht. The only thing that ap-
peals to him il the arena is the purse.
He is not much Of a boxer, and there
is not touch of the viciousness that
is necessary in successful fighter in
Wizards makeup. 1t is his tremen-
dous bulk alone that made him cham
pion
Willard will have just little bit
more bulk than he had in the Moran
right when he meets Dempsey. He
probably will make the same sort of
hghl against the new contender, Il
purely defensive fight. Anybody who
saw the Moran Willard fight does not
doubt for moment that Willard could
have toppled the Pittsburgher at any
-'oS " ''S StlitS. MURAL was IKE q
child in his hands.
Of course, Dempsey is not Moran.
The new contender has a punch that
has toppled the best of them. More
over, ne is cleverer than Moran ever
vas lie really Is another John l.. Sul-
ivan, tighter by temperament and
physique.
John L. Belittled Jess
pu+
John l.. at his best would be anvthinc
IKE match for Willard. The great
cid gladiator had the most profound
contempt for the present champion. He
declared that Willard was not fight
er' which IS true But he will be a
nara man Tor any normal-sized heavy
Weisnt to beat. Dempsey's best chance
rs Us 10 meet Willard out of condition.
lhen the wonderful vitality and the
punch of the contender may tell. From
al accounts. Willard will be far from
haoDy wreck when he steps into the
ring with Dempsey. He has started
training already.
MORA! Moran had just one good round with
, %sniaid' tne seventh. You will recall
mat ~ this period of the fight the
Plttsburgher actually pushed the huge
wizard TO the ropes and dashed him
noout the body with rights and lefts.
Dul me effort took all that Moran had.
ns was nearly out at the end of the
vyouAu' while Willard was still fresh
iou VIII recall also Moran's battered
.sce. Willard paved HIM at will with
.'Hs' rangy lett Only once did Moran
1 5 inside and under that offensive and
oeIenslve weapon Of Wizards.
hsan may be that Dempsey's fighting
ssa.. ana his vitality will enable him
~ ~ csusn through Wizards guard But
!. ssmalns to be seen how much pun
.snaenl Dempsey VIII be able to alb
soio VI late his victories have been
quick and easy. There IS no doubt tse as
WIZARD ability TO take punish
;aehs. II ne has d vulnerable spot it
% yet to be revealed
~ wo1io seem, then. that the Demp-
- toiowers are oyer-sanguine when
10y hgure that Dempsey viii 20 into
~ ing a faYorlte over the champion.
IsSunnted that Willard is an unpopular
NO the betting on prizefghts is
-, ayne Tor sentimental reasons. The
sS'Saaed wise money usually is with
as. champion, and there is no doubt
'Aar viii be with Willard this time.
l Rickard Begins to Worry
,Hempsey is expected in New York
sany 70 hnish signing articles for the
ssa @ hiekard IS getting bit anxious
MS failure TO materlalize. and his
s,saaasef, Jack Kearns, is even more
ss AsVus Dempsey il one Of the kind
gasnsers who sometimes forget that
- nave managers. He disappeared
10Y after John the Barber had him
Snned to contract.
/ sonnny Ertle, former bantamweight
spioh, mas started to write his con
a's,oas. Johnny takes his pen in hand
W.. ~. me following effusion out Of his
4 pn ne past year has taught nc les
/ snaI all pugllists must learn sooner
~. nave become convinced that
I n,s ser cannot follow the primrose
asis Aao ~ the same time keep in CON
4 -. 70 90 himself justice in the ring
4 a..s, cost me lot OF prestige and
Ne !, 70 iearn this lesson. but. believe
i -. ~ " mas soaked in very deem. How
IL, am only Fl years old and nj
! age when all good boxers begin
/ ss:~ .. careers. have been leading The
F.s 'e me on my farm outside Of St.
! slsr sshee last September. and the reg
4 aoufs. good, wholesome food and
b. WORK have done wonders for
sssy,.1 Dsgah my training in Mime
d gymnasium on January / and
ase .Dr feeling better than at any time
lkrs poor showing last year was due
l. saet that ] paid more attention
~ Affairs '@'' %" ~ ny
hsnmDis Tom cowler, the Cumberland
" jsgaGtain, - booked to battle with
a. t.shhsIt4, the eolorcd veteran. al
/ .4.aa,1spry Athletic cluD, Jersey City,
- 'ssglIew night. Tumble Tom has