Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-16
FIGHT SURE TO SET
new RING RECORDS
Dempsey Probably WIN Be
Favored in Betting Over
Champion Willard.
CONDITION TO TELL TALE
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.


Indications are unmistakabie that
the forthcoming battle between Jess
willard and Jack Dempsey will be in
many respects the most notable in the
long annals of boxing. One record
already has been established by Pro-
inoter Tex Richard of Offering a purse
or s121,5oo. Another new mark an
ticipated concerns total receipts ana
unless all signs fail still another will
be set in that the challenger Will
enter the ring favored in the betting
to win from the titleholder. So great
IS the popularity OF Dempsey and 40
cordially disliked is the mammoth
champion that there is every ukeIi-
hood that the aggressive younEster
Will carry the bulk OF the pubiic's
money next July.
Great Interest in Bout.
The extent of the interest in the
coming clash for the highest honors
IN pugilism is shown by the space
being devoted to il in the newspapers.
Since Richard made known his inten-
ton of staging the scrap every move
ment of the principals has been re-
corded in detail and in the more than
four months that intervene before the
gladiators strip for action much writ
ten and vocal effort will be expended
IN discussing the prospects of the
contestants. Speculation, however.
Will be confined to the merits of the
two men and the probable favorite
for many weeks yet, until the site for
the bout is picked and until its lengthl
and whether 1t is to go to decision
become known. Even the moro
enthusiastic of Dempsey's followers
VIII want to know what progress the
champion makes in his training. But
though there is little or no betting
on the fight now, by May 5, when
by his agreement Richard must name
the site of the battle ground, to the
eve of hostilities wagers probably
will be recorded in greater extent
and number than on any previous
ring encounter.
Fight to Decision Assured
Where Rickard VIII decide to pitch
the ring for this scrap of scraps even
he probably has no definite idea now.
but that the contest will be a decision
affair there is no doubt He is re-
ported to have said that he would pick
any place where he was likely to get
good return on his investment, even
if it involved limiting the bout to
eight or ten rounds without a decision.
but Richard is too cagey to arrange
for anything under a twenty-round
affair with a decision, for no other
plan will assure protection for the
money he will stand to lose IL the ven.
ture should fizzle. willard has demon-
strated that he cannot make even .
fair showing in ten rounds. This wgDs
shown in the fiasco with Frank Mor1n
common knowledge among the SPORT
ing fraternity, upon whom the. nnan>
ciaI success of the enterprise depends
The wish is father to the thought
with the majority of fight fans, who
already have installed Dempsey as Ia
vorite in their mind bets and they also
are banking heavily on the more than
ten years advantage he has in age.
Fighters Records Compared
To support this they cite the fact
that the Utah mauler has a record OF
some fifteen knockouts in the past
year, most Of them in the early rounds,
and contrast this with the fact that
the champion has entered the ring but
of the title four years ago and then
risked nothing.
Unbiased observers contend that
Dempsey's advantage in age may be
more than Offset by Wiilard's greater
size, and assert that not only has
Dempsey failed as yet to demon
strate beyond doubt that he possesses
the necessary quality of gamenees.
but that Wizards expected inability
to get into condition is supported by
nothing more tangible than his &C
knowledged years. Admitting that
Jess has gotten along to the time
of life where muscles are inclined
to lose their f1exibility. and gre1<dng
that the former cowpuncher is great
ly overweight, they point out that he
always has led sensible. well. or
dered life and that, with five months
in which to train a man or his
known stamina and endurance can
so condition himself that, with his
preponderance of weight and SUI
periority of height and reach. cou-
pied with his purely defensive style
of fighting, he will prove more than
a match for his more aggressive ana
younger, but smaller opponent "A
good big man is better than gooo
little man. is their tune.