The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-24
Henchman Questions
Dsn1pSey'S Worlds Title
Insists Claim VIII Not Be
Valid Till American De-
feats Carpenter.
ny CHARLES F. MArHnsoN.


II any proof were needed that tho box
ing enthusiasts OF America wish to see
Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpenter
In the ring, II Is furnished by the atti-
tude OF French residents Of this country
on the subject. Not only are they eager
TO see test of skill between the two
pugiists. but they are unanimous In the
opinion that Carpenter win win,
They go even further and declare that
Dempsey has no valid claim TO tho
worlds title and cannot pose as sucn
unless he defeats Carpenter. who Is the
champion OF Europe.
Cyrille Laprin OF Montreal. Canada.
voices the feelings Of Frenchmen In IN,
appended communication
Il have read in the valued NEw YORK
HERALD that Jack Dempsey claims TO be
the worlds heavyweight champion pugti-
lat. How can he hold that title when he
Is not the champion of Europe'
Georges Carpenter Ia the champion
OF Europe. BEFORE Dempsey can claim
to be the champion of the world he has
10 defeat Carpenter, who ID the cham
pion OF Europe. Europe Ia part OF
this world.
In my opinion Dempsey will never be-
able to defeat Carpenter. First Car
pentier Ia very much moro agile. there-
fore faster, very much more scientific,
hits harder and has q very much su-
perier brain.
Il have followed pugilism and the
greatest fighters these last thirty-hve
years and l claim To know something
about the game.
= ANY man that would judge Carpen-
| tier by his fight with Levinsky would
be very much out OF order.
Il would thank you very much indeed
il you would honor the above article TO
De printed In the columns of your valu-
able paper.
Relieve me with best wishes and
kindcsr regards. Sincerely yours"
Dempsey's Title Status.
So far az the relative merits OF DNmp-
sey and Carpenter ara concerned. that
problem can be settled only By meet
ing in the ring. FOR the supporters of the
French boxer are rock bound In their
confidence, and Dempsey's admirers ere
not to be convinced by the claims Of the
opposition.
Therefore II is idle 10 try to settle the
question verbally In advance OF ring
contest between the lighters
Regarding the question of Dempsey's
championship status, that can be de-
cided by the recorded facts OF pugilistic
history. In order to make II quite clear
that Jack Dempsey is the undisputed
heavyweight champion OF the world II Is
necessary to revert to the career OF
Tommy Burns, who, on the retirement
OF Jeffries In 1905 claimed the heavy
weight championship OF America and
successfully defended the title. On July
4, 1907, at Colma, CAL. Burns knocked
! out BIZ squires. the recognized heavy
weight champion OF Australia. in the
first round. On December .. 1907, in the
National Sporting Club. London, Burns
knocked out Gunner Moir. the heavy
: weight champion OF England, In the
tenth round. Carpenter at this time
was starting his pugilistic career as Q
bantam and France had no heavyweight
champion. In any event Burns by win
ming the heavyweight title OF Americs
and stopping the heavyweight cham
pions OF Great Britain and Australia
made himself the heavyweight champion
of the world. Burns retained the title
tin December g. 1908. when he lost q
Jack johnson at Sydney, Australia, ir
the fourteenth round. Johnson retained
the title till April 5, 1915. when he los
TO Jess Willard in twenty-six rounds a
Havana.
Willard chung to the honors till July 4
1919, when he was knocked out by Demp
aey In the third round
From the time that Burns won tn
worlds title In 1907 the honors have re
NAMED continuously in America, To
there has not been bout between tn
holders Of the worlds championship ant
foreign champion Certainly Carpen
tier never has boxed an American title
holder.
Ia recent years Carpenter made him
. self the heavyweight champion or Eu
rope by defeating Bombardier Wells AM
Joe Beckett Therefore Jack Dempse.
Ia the undisputed champion Of the worl
and win retain the title until such tim
as he Is defeated or retires from Ia
ring. II Carpenter defeats Dempse.
the Frenchman becomes tha hesvyweigh
! champion of the world, but this Will no
affect Dempsey's title an America
champion, BY the same token. II Dcnp
sew were to defeat Carpenter tn
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