The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-26

Jess Willard having securely bound
himself to defend his title against any
boxer selected by the venturesome Tex
Richard. public interest naturally is TO-
cused on the identity OF the man who
will crawl through the ropes on July
and attempt 10 take the championship
away from he big Kansan.
In discussing the question OF an OPP
ponent for Willard promoter Richard
mentioned the names of two boxers
Georges Carpenter, the heavyweight
champion o: Europe, and Jack Dempsey,
the youngster with knockout record
equal to that of Fitzsimmons when the
Cornishman was at the height of his
powers.
Richard unquestionably will look at
the situation through the cold. ca!cu-
.ating eyes OF the investor in a business
proposition. and will make a decision
based on his judgment as to the man
likely TO draw the most money to the
box Office. The promoter may select
Carpenter because OF the Frenchman's
great popularity abroad, due largely to
his excellent military record during the
four years of war and his persistent re-
fusal to consider any proposal to box
for personal gain during the duration
OF the strife that ragged on the soil Of
France.
Carpenter an Heroic Figure.
Carpenter for these reasons is a he
roic and patriotic figure. and Richard
may be swayed b. these circumstances
to give him the preference.
The American public, on the other
hand, desires the selection OF a man
capable Of giving the giant champion a
fight and as the public will pay the cost
of staging the spectacular bout, some
heed should be paid to its preferences
in the matter.
Judging Carpenter solely on his rec
ord as a fighter in the ring he would not
have a ghost of a chance against the big
title holder. Willard stands feet
inches tall and will weigh 240 pounds.
lie can hit hard and he boxes fairly
we'll. Carpenter stands feet Ii inches
tall, weighs l75 pounds in ring condi-
ton. Is an exceptionally good boxer and
a fair hitter The FrenChman has been
out of the ring for four years, and his
health Il said TO have been impaired by
the severity OF his military work. Even
were he to regain all his original vigor
II is impossible to concede him a chance
against so big and strong man as
Willard.
Therefore. should Richard put Car
pentier In the ring, he might achieve his
object so far as the box Office is con-
cerned, but It probably would result in
a very unsatisfactory and one sided con-
test The best man ever defeated by
Carpenter is Bombardier Wells. heavy
weight champion of England, and how
mediocre a performer the British title
holder is is a matter Of record with New
York patrons of boxing. who saw third
rater like AL Palzer stop the English
man in three rounds.
Possibly Carpenter has improved over
his middleweight form, but he certainly
did not class with the best l6O Founders
of his day, for he was stopped by Billy
Papke in seventeen rounds and by
Frank Klaus in nineteen rounds.
In the case Of Dempsey, there Is not
the slightest doubt that he and Willard
would attract the greatest throns that
ever went to pugilistic contest NOT
only would Dempsey prove magnet at
the box office, but his past performances
I'm the ring against the best men IN the
heavyweight division give assurance that
he is the one man In the world VINO ~
qualified to give Willard real battle
for the championship.
Dempsey Weighs 100 Pounds.
Dempsey would be handicapped In the
matter OF weight, but not so much as
Carpenter. for the Utah thumper scales
1870 pounds in condition for ring work.
He stands six feet tall and is splen-
didly proportioned. His arms are long
and supplied with the flexible muscles so
necessary in quick. powerful hitting. His
chest is deep and his well rounded legs
are built for strength and speed. In the
matter of attack he has as much speed