Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-24
R|CKARD MAY HAVE
TO REFEREE BOUT
Willard Holding Out for Tex,
and Promoter May Be Forced
to Officiate
BIRTHDAY FOR DEMPSEY

Toledo. o.. June 24.-Tex Rickard
may be forced into the ring July to
referee the championship bout between
Jess Willard and Jack Dempsey, reports
here today indicated.
1t was said Willard is holding out for
Rickard. In order, therefore, to save
his bout and the thousands of dollars
paid for tickets. it was believed. Tex
might agree to officiate. although he has
stated several times that he would re
| fuse.
An effort was being made to have
Willard agree to Ollie Pecord. official
| referee of the Toledo Athletic Club.
Willard, however, is usually un-
changeable in his decisions. Richard
would be acceptable to Dempsey and
Jack Kearns, his manager.
Richard was forced to referee the
bout nine years ago between Jim JET
fries and Jack Johnson at Reno, which
he promoted He entered the ring after
the principals had failed to reach an
come up here.
Dempsey's Birthday
Today is Jack Dempsey's twenty
fourth birthday, but if he continues the
stunts he has been pulling around his
training quarters it will be his sparrins
partners, and not himself, who will re-
ceive the traditional spankings.
Yesterday Dempsey delivered himself
of couple of well chosen left hooks
both of which found lodging on the Jaw
of Big Bill Tate, dusky duplicate OF
Jess Willard. Bill took a snooze in the
ring. After that affair Dempsey took
on the Jamaica Kid for a pair of rounds
and the kid had the time of his life
escaping some rough treatment.
Can't pulp Punch
Criticism of Dempsey's defense, which
has been so free, evidently spurred him
to greater efforts, and he used his gloves
yesterday with telling effect.
ITS hard for me to hold punch
with my sparring partners, he said
II see an opening, the fist shoots and
I may feel sorry afterward. There is
no kidding about my sparring. Its
meant for just what it does. / DOM
ask my partners to hold back anything
and I am holding back nothing myself
Ii I should happen to get cracked hare
enough to floor me it's all in the day
work. / wouldn't worry about it If Il
did happen. I'm training to whip Jes'
Willard, and not for the public. I be
lieve / can whip Jess willard"
Langford Picks Jess
Sam Langford, the Boston Tar Baby
visited the Dempsey camp. The Ta
Baby was mildly amused when he saV
his former rival, Bill Tate, busting tn
resin from his tights.
"Bill looks kind of natural kissin
the canvas" remarked Sam. 81 don
think that Dempsey has a chance a
all. Willard ought to beat him easily
He will win by. knockout and when
ever he wants to. I am quite sure o
that. Dempsey misses too much and h
leaves himself wide open for a man lik
Mr.. willard
That the consensus of opinion her
is that it will be a pretty even affai
is shown by the tagging in the betting
Negotiations at 10 to are pretty SLOW
Detection set in with the Dempse
hackers yesterday. Today the Willar
hackers were serious when Bill Tat
sat down to mediate. Betting o
rounds started today. but it is lagginl
Jack Helnen Quits
Jack Heinen, who boxed a while wit
Willard, stopped in at the Dempse
camp to take a farewell look at VIII
liam Harrison before shaking the duI
of Toledo from his feet. Jack is cor
vinced that Willard has some power
his punches.
'I'd like to stay and work out Il
contract" said Jack, "but understar
that a'broken neck is hard matter
repair. If ! remained much longer
have had broken neck"