The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-04

Boxing has become a universal ln- stitution. It has an unlimited field. Real. clean, honest and wholesome boxing is still in its infancy. The days of bull logging are passing - and passing rapidly. The world has not entirely been ridden of crooked matches. But the time when these dishonest promoters will be forced out to make room for the honest and well meaning sport is not far dis tant.
 THERE HAVE been rumors-wild rumors-rife that today's big battle in Toledo is a fake. Such is far from the case. On the face of it this state ment seems ridiculous. Tex Rickard is an honest promoter. He will not involve himself with any proposition or enterprise that has the tiniest semblance of crookedpess. His sue cess in the promotion end of boxing is the best proof we have of the pub lies coNddence in Tex Rlcksrd.
 Of course, if today's bout develops into a farce, and this is not at all improbable, for few heavyweight bouts are interesting or thrill the fan unless there is a knockout scored, there will be thousands of people in the country who will insist that it was n I1ke match. InaL Will De Tex Richards hard luck.
 Tex RickaTd nor any other man with brains Is going to lay out the money that the popular promoter has already laid out to back a crooked match. It doesn't listen well in the first place and in the second place it isn't being done even among crooks. Richard is in this thing for money the same as Jess Willard and Jack Dempsey, the statements of the chal- ! ispger to the contrary notwithstand- ing'
 If all boxing matches held in this country were as honest as today's af- fair boxing would be the most popu- lar and glorious sport in the world. Unfortunately, there are still crooks and petty thieves connected with the game. The sooner these are pushed out the better 1t will be for the fan, boxer and the sport itself.
 RUMoR ABOUT TOWN has it that Larry Williams, disgusted and discour- aged because of the Knockout he sus- - tained at the hands of Kid Norfolk in Jersey City on Monday night, has made up his mind to retire perman- ently from the sport.
 Don't be crazy, Larry.
 OL Allt DtSl IiltH III DOAlilS today were knocked out when the path to success seemed most cheer full. We will admit that the blow must have hit Larry hard, for the writer UT arstood the confidence and ambition that Williams carried with him into the ring. There isn't a boxer in this burgh or anywhere in the country we like to see climb the top more than Larry.
 Larry Williams was going like a house at1re until last Monday night. He was beaten by a man whom many considered Larry's superior. And surely there is no shame in being beaten by one of whom others con- sidered your superior. On the con- trary, Larry Williams deserves all the credit in the world for taking such a match in spite of the severe criti- cism to which his manager was sub 1ected when the match was made. Larry knew what he was up against. He knew how tough Norfolk was. Yet he vas game enough to stake his all that he could beat him. But he didn't But because he did not win is no reason why he should quit.
 Life itself is just one big disap- pointment after another. We can't always win. We gamble-and what happens; we win one night and lose the next. This battle we call life is nothing but a series of lights. We grab Opportunity when we believe 1t Is knocking at our door. Some time 1t is but a vain dream and at others 1t materializes into success: but. frankly, it's all a gamhle-inst talk ing a chance.
 Larry Williams took his chance | with Kid Norfolk. And he did what any other sincerly ambi tious youth would have done. He was game and unafraid enough to meet Norfolk