The sun., 1919-09-07
BECKETT SURE OF A
BOUT WITH DEMPSEY
English Champions Baekers
Will Wager Heavily on
His Chances.
CONSIDER HIM INYINCIBLE
Roberts, Staten Island Heavy
weight, a Promising Candi-
date for HOn0rs.
CONSIDER HIM INyINCIBLE
NJ CHARLES F. MATHIsoN.

roa Reckett, who climbed up on the
A.syvweight throne in England when
- tonpled the hrittle-ja Bombardier
Wslls off the pugllistic eminence, and
~ solidifed his position by eliminating
rretender named Frank Goddard, is
80, gazing steadily into the spotlight of
h matter what may be the opinion
-, critics as TO Becketts real ability
az boxer. he now is England's favorite
esb,ne man and as such must be con-
sidsred as an opponent for Jack Demp-
cav. holder of the worlds title.
Those familiar with the achievements
=, Dempsey will have but one opinion
az 10 the outcome of a contest between
The worlds title holder and the British
ehampion--a quick. summary defeat OF
the Englishman. Even Becketts knock
out of Eddie McGoorty will not change
the opinion of Americans as to the fate
az Beckett when he gets into the ring
w,,b Dempsey. On the other hand, Eng
lisb boxing enthusiasts are doubtless
nuite certain that their new champion
viii dispose of Dempsey with neatness
and despatch.
EnRlishmen always have had the ut
most faith in their boxing favorites.
They wagered 5 to ! that Burge would
baat Lavigne, and supported Palmer
literally when he faced Terry McGovern.
There is small doubt that the admirers
q Beckett will back him enthusiastically
WREN he meets Dempsey.
Wells stil Admired.
Undeniably McGoorty, who has done
q great deal of boxing in England, has
Impressed the Englishmen both be-
cause he whipped some English boxers
and also because he held Bombardier
Wells practically to a draw in a four
round bout In spite of his many over
whelming defeats Englishmen still have
a strong liking for Wells, and over
there he is regarded as the best boxer
in the heavyweight class since the days
Of Mace.
Therefore, McGoorty having held
Wells even in a short bout, was highly
regarded by the Britons, and when the
American light heavyweight was stopped
by Beckett it was looked upon as the
feat of a real champion. u
No arguments or claims in behalf of
Dempsey can changet the opinion of
Englishmen as to the chance of their
champion in n combat with the Amer
lean, and there is not the slightest doubt
the hackers of Beckett will insist on a
match for the worlds title.
That much being settled, the next
question is If course the location of the
battle ground. Without doubt the Eng
lislmen will insist on a bout not
shorter than 90 rounds. and as New
Orleans is the only spot in this coun-
try where 20 rounds could be staged,
it readily can be seen that the pros
poets of the bout taking place here arc
remote
Per contra, twenty rounds can be
boxed in any part of England, and espe-
cialy in Olympia, the huge arena where
the Wilde Moore contest took place.
All indications therefore point to the
battle taking place in England, the only
possible hitch being the purse. Demp-
sey will insist on a large amount OF
the coin of the realm, and unless Coeh-
ran or some other British promoter pro-
duoes the proper amount the worlds
champion will decline to go across.
Beyond question American promoters
will offer huge sums for a ten or twelve
round bout between Dempsey and Beck
EFT, and the English promoters will have
to Increase these offers or lose the
match.
1t is not improbable that Beckett will
engage in a bout with Carpenter pre-
vious to the match with Dempsey, and
the Frenchman, owing to his skill as a
boxer, would give the public better
line on the Briton's ability than did
McGoorty. If Beckett makes a good
showing with the F'renchman or defeats
him it will strengthen his claims for
bout with Dempsey.