The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-12
TEX RICHARD SEEKS
/ SPOT TO PITCH RING
Has Numerous Proposals, but
VIII Await Action on Box
ing Bills in Several States.

Tsx Rickard. ne zoe Of pusfiistio pro-
motion. having induced Jess willard to
sign a paper calling for 100000 FOR
the champion, and followed this by get
ting Jack Dempsey's signature to q doc
ument calling for s27.soo for the chal.
lenger, now In confronted By the most
difYicult task Of all--ths discovery Of .
spot in which to stage the dispute. But
with the calm persistsnoy that enabled
him 70 lure willard from retirement
Riokard viii now bend his energies to
Surmountin9 the last obstacle. The pro-
motsr win start away Saturday to look
over the Hefu, and by the time he re-
turns he thinks he will have some news
on the subject. Queried yesterday as to
whether any Of the propositions regard
ing a site for the big night appealed
to him, the promoter replied:
There have been several suggestions
made to me that look good. can't
say anything rs yet for publication. a.
II might interfere with the plans OF
all concerned. I don't expect to have
any trouble In finding place for the
bout. but certainly will not announce
. selection until the various boxing bills
In . number Of States have boon dis
posed OF one way or another. II may
be that boxing win be legalised IN some
State, with a decision, and q sufficient
ing Of the ring there However. I am
not at all worried over the question OF
place in which to stage the fight. That
Is the least OF my troubleA
Defends willard's Action.
IT have heard that Wizards war rec
ord might detract from the public inter-
est in the bout. but fail 10 see why
such shold DO the case. While Willard
did not go TO the front, tho same 10
true OF many other boxers. am hav-
Ing compiled q statement showing the
amount Of money earned by Willard for
patriotic objects in comparison with that
OF other boxers who did not 70 to the
trenches. I think II will prove q sur
prise to tho public. While Willard did
not box so often a. others, he drew
moro money to each of his exhibitions.
Another thing have heard Is that
Willard has q disagrecsble personality
and that people will not 20 to see him
box. I am not paying Willard 500. 900
for sweetness Of disposition I am CIV
ing him tho money on the supposition
that he can fight In tho ring BY the
same token / am not giving Dempsey
| s27,60o on tho strength of his reputa-
ton as a Beau Brummel or = social
butterfly. but because OF the Indication
| tender for the heavyweight champion
ship Of the world.
Purely . FtGAting Proposition.
This contest IL not to be one between
drawing room favorites, but between two
fighting mon. and history records the
fact that fighting men are not noted for
docility or sweetness OF temper. The
Huns who bumped against the doughboys
will testify to that fact
III championship boxing matches had
been arranged on the basis Of mild de-
pertinent I fear that John l. Sullivan,
Bob F1tzsimmons. Jim Jeffr,es. Tom
Sharkey and many others would have
been barred from the competition.
willard and Dempsey are by com
mon consent the ablest heavyweight
lighters in the world and II the public
does not care TO sec them In action then
1t Will be new departure on the part
OF the public"