Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-01
EVEN DIVISION ON
| OUTCOME OF FIGHT
Thompson Says Easy to Pick
Winner, But Not for Bet
ting Purposes.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

TOLEDO. Ohio. July LETTING
line on the big fuss that's coming off
here Friday is no difficult task. Any
body. everybody you meet can tell
you right OFF the bat who the winner
will be. Only about half of them are
lying or don't know. as canvass
this morning disclosed. OF forty
eight experts both professional
and amateur: approached at the
l-eakfast period today. twenty-four
said willard and two dozen "Demp-
sey." Each greeted the information
seekers with plying look as much
as TO say. the poor fish, as though
there could be any doubt. No one
processes ignorance of the outcome.
at least not for the purpose of lobby
conversation. The boys who make
their living by beating tattoos on the
typewriter are positive enough on
the issue during tanning bees. but
continue to punctuate the master
pieces they file for home consumption
with ifs" and butts
With the challenger yesterday having
finished his arduous work of preparation
'as brown as berry and groomed like
thoroughbred" with the title holder still
in deep in the grid to aid himself for
the independence day ordeal. the lay
men naturally would expect that odds
would be obtainable. For more than a
week past yarns have been ferried TO
the Atlantic Seaboard of the flood of
Dempsey money in sight with no takers.
But this cash is not being given an air
ing today. The statements of Willard S
jll-wishers that Dempsey will meet in
the champion a mere shell of the giant
who licked Jack Johnson in Havana
four years ago are not being heard any
more. The fact that Willard really is
in more than fair shape is beginning to
dawn on the challenger's hackers. and
while they are biased in debate as
formerly. they are not breaking their
legs to wager ticket money home. To-
ledo is not completely rid Of those who
assert Dempsey is sure to stop the
champion within six rounds or so. but
when called with cash they duck and
sldestep by asking prohibitive odds.
Most of the critics agree this VIII
be a bout in which anything may hap
pen. but there also is a feeling that
Dempsey to win must stop Jess. They
contend. and plausib1y enough, that
Wizards conceded superior boxing
ability justifies the view. If both
battiers are on their feet at the end
of the twelfth round and Willard isn't
worse than shaded. there is little or
no likelihood that any jury in the
world would take his title from HIM.
This show of Richards is going to
Se record r:aa!-er IN more IN;
one way. i:u. IN r"nc more no:a.,iC
ing the two judges for the main event
there will be no less than nine, as
there are six preliminary bouts. each
calling for its own arbiter. There
are to be many new wrinkles aside
from the records established in the
size of the stadium. amount of re-
ceipts and prices for meals, rooms
End takes.
one of these is section exclusive
for women. 1t is in the $40 division
and the seats are not reserved. but
only the capacity. 800 seats. will be
sold.
Another innovation is the esta blish-
ment in the arena of a fire depart
ment and an emergency hospital,
which will be in full operation the
day of the fight with full corps of
fire fighters and large staff of ply
sicians and nurses. The arena is
built entirely of wood and during it's
construction the rule has been that
the lighting of a match by any work.
man meant automatic discharge. In
such huge throng as is expected
Friday il will be impossible to pre-
vent smoking and in case of a small
fire every precaution will be taken to
prevent panic. The hospital staff
probab bly, will have to concern itself
most with heat prostrations.