The sun., 1919-02-11
DEMPSEY SIGNS TO
BOX JESS WILLARD
Aspirant for Title Goes to New
Jersey to Affix Signature
to Articles.
CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS
Declares the Champion Has
Little Except Bulk to
Worry Him.
CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS
n, GEORGE n. UNDERWOOD.

Nv GEORGE u. UNDERWOOD.
When Jim Jeftrles and Jack johnson,
after the preliminary discussions here at
the Hotel Albany in 1909. got ready TO
ecn the contract with promoter Tex
Eickard they we're Informed by Police
commissioner william r. Baker. who
VOW Is president of the Philadelphia Ma
,ionals that under section 11l0 of the
Penal Code such an act would be illegs..
Eckard, Jeffries and johnson had to
,rcss over TO Jersey to sign the papers
Jack Dempsey, who arrived here yes
.e-day morning to sign to fight Jess
willard, had TO follow the same pro-
csdure, for clause 1910 Of the Penal
code was restored to full effect when the
F~awley law was repealed. After a pre-
iin1.nary discussion at the Hotel Claridge
Dempsey Jack Kearns. his manager, and
promoter Tex Ricksrd terried over to-
New Jersey. and there In the waiting
,oon Of tho West Shore Railroad Demp-
scy signed the contract to meet Willard
n \ championship battle on July 4.
There was little Of the fanfare and
excitement that marked the signing up
Of Jefries and johnson in 1909. Rick
ard Dempsey and Kearns leaned up
against radiator. spread the contracts
ont on a window sill and scrawled their
John Hancocks 10 the papers. Ike Dor
san, Richards major domo, and Jack
sk.lly. the old time rugilist, were the
witnesses Two score OF reporters.
sporting men and hangers on watched
lie proceedings. The majority OF the
rersons In the room were not aware any
hing out Of the ordinary was taking
pace.
J~T signed In secret.
when Jeffries and johnson signed up
owe on the Jersey side in l9os--the
contract was signed On December 3,
1909, seven months prey ious TO tho fight.
July T. l9io-it was at a Hoboken hotel
amid the popping OF wine corks and
great huilabaloo. The actual signing OF
the contract was done in secret and WAS
not witnessed by the newspaper men.
Jef'res and his manager. Sam Berger; ;
Johnson and his manager, George Little :
Richard. Jack Gleason and stakeholder
Bob Vernon locked themselves in a
loom and did not show themselves to the
newspaper men until after the contracts
were signed. Joe Cans the colored pug
list. and II. II. Frasee. now president
az the Boston Red SoX. were the legal
Witnesses.
The contract Dempsey signed with
Richard yesterday Is identical with the
one signed by Willard except as to the
division OF the purse and the forfeits.
Richard agrees 90 pay Dempsey 327.5c0
ane one.third OF the picture privileges.
kearrs IL required TO post a forfeit OF
$4,000 instead OF the $4,000 Richard
required as forfeit from Willard.
Rckard will post $4,000 at once as
guaranty OF good faith. $4,000 more
sixty days previous 10 the contest and
the remainder Of the se7,50o forty-eight
hours before the fight. Richard agrees
20 inform Dempsey where the contest is
% take place sixty days previous to the
light, but retains the privilege of chang
tag the battle ground upon ten days
notice previous TO the bout Richard
asrees TO pay Dempseys expenses II the
contest takes place outside OF North
America.
Two Months Training.
Dempsey left here last night for Allen.
'e7n, Pa. where he opens a six weeks
eatrical tour. Jack intimated yester.
a. he would engage In further theatri-
al work before setting down TO the
C'lnd ot training.
~ have been in steady training for
rany months" said Dempsey, "and an,
on edge. or course my brothers death
sTn my mothers sickness have worried
ne but physically am in the best o!
condition ] will not take more tina r
ivo months hard training for Willard
That is really more than I need anyway
My theatrical contract requires me to
ooX and do considerable exercise. Tha,
VIII keep me pretty Mt and I will moi
start active training for the big bout
until about May L.
Richard at first was averse to per-
lifting Dempsey to box while on the
stage as his theatrical contract callt
hi ~ NJ aftai
Dempsey promised 10 take no chances
81 inturing himself.
When Richard was asked IL Dempsey
and kearns showed him the contract
between them and whether any one eX
cept keayns had any managerial interes
IN the fighter Tex declared ~ did moi
ask them TO show any papers. Boil
assured me, however. that Kearns IA
the sole manager. did not care. how
ever have Dempsey's signature to tn,
contract, and that Is all l want.
makes no difference to me In what wa,
'he money is split after pay Dempsey
There my obligations end"
In Dcmpsey's presence Kearns reiter
s'ed his statement that Jack Curley hac
nothing 10 do with the handling o
nen0.ey's affairs. The boxer, too. de
l'tt any connection with Curley.
hearns Sole hhubkeF.
"Doc' here--you know there are 81
many jacks around that call Kearn
DOES the only one that has anythin,
N do with my professional affairs" esi'
Dempsey. Il have Ave year contrac
with Kearns, and no one else can d.
any business for me until that expires
" Doc continues to work for me 20 ca
pably as he has in the past he can Gig
ne up for another FIVE years when thi
contract expires Neither curley no
ANYBODY else except Kearns has aV
thing al all TO do with the direction o
ny business affairs"
Dempsey seemed optimistic OF III
chances against Willard and said
would stop the big fellow inside of te
rounds. When asked II he ever ha
ever seen Willard fight Jack snapped
NO, ] haven't seen him night, 70
know I haven't been anywhere In tn
vicinity OF the few bouts he has Tough
have seen him box. however. and kno'
pretty well how much he has got. II
has little else except bulk. and you kno'
what Joe waioott said about bulk: "rh
bigger they are. tho harder they fall
Regarding the story that Harry Will
The negro pusilist. had been engaged a
sparring partner. Dempsey said he ha
heard nothing about IL until one of In