Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-27
WILLS LOOMS UP BIG
AS OPPONENT FOR DEMPSEY
Conqueror Of Fred Fulton Has Been Boxing Eleven Yea
Is 20 Years Old, Weighs 2I2 Pounds and
Stands 6 Feet 3 Inches
BY LOUIS ii. JAFFE
n BIG smear of darkness now loo

n BIG smear of darkness now looms
"A up before Jack Dempsey. With
the returns of the Fulton Wills con-
test in Newark last night in which Fred
proved that. as boxer. he was
mighty good plastcrcr. Harry stands
out prominently. promiscuOusly likely
nnd probably as the first opponent for
Dempsey as worlds heavyweight cham
pion.
Nobody has said anything about it,
but Wills will be Dcmpsey'S viSa-vis
when Jack is ready to return to the
ring. Wills is mentioned as Dempsey's
opponent because there isn't anyone
else who stands out better, and. further
more. Dempsey has announced that
there is no color line in his young life.
The negro heavyweight is no new piece
of punching talent in the ring. Harry
has been in the game, off and on.
mostly off-because of lack of opponents
since 1911.
Seventy five per cent of Wills's Op-
ponents have been boxers of his own
color, because. for some reason or other.
the white folks didn't like the idea of
punching with or against the New
Orleans black. who is twenty six years
Of age, weighs 212 pounds and stands
SIX feet three inches.
Sam Langford, the once great Tar
Baby. has been a favorite punching
partner for Wills They have gone
after each others woolly scalp on fif-
teen different occasions. mostly no
decision affairs.
The only two times Wills has been
knocked out in his eleven year career.
Langford turned the trick on both
occasions in fourteen rounds in 1914,
and in nineteen rounds in 1916. Since
that 1916 bout. however, Wills has
defeated l.angford almost every time
they have met.
Wills today looms IN as the best of
the negro heavyweight punchers and,
for that matter. the peer Of the entire
division. outside Of Dempsey, because
there aren't any real good big white
men. If the title holder is TO be ex-
tended, Wills is the person to come
out of tn" other corner at the sound
of the gong
Bob Mar6m knocked out sergeant Ray smith
sh III the arn "nns %snt " S2q%9uf Jack De@p apt
sey but that's all II II doubtful II he would
attempt to kid himself into believing that he
could cop" with tn" champion.
kiG Hrrhc. the real ring veteran. who
has been boxing for score OF years. par
ticlpated in his 600th battle last week when
he won SlN-rUundcr at the Eleventh Street
Arena. BreO" started boxing IN 1900. and,
in his prime. tn" kii said he would sooner
box than eat OF course, Bcebe doesn't
feel mat he could go along and show sue
Cessful form against the present crop of
boxers his weight The Nd now Is operating
IA massage parlor downtown. giving treat
ments daily
\ pair OF negro light hcavywelghts will get
together in the star bout at the Eleventh
street Arena on Friday night when Panama
Joe Cans and Md Pattillo clash In an eight
rouHder. harr% Deacon today also announced
his other bouts. viz: Duke Avery ys Johnny
Hopkins Jack Cullen vs. Tommy HAYES Joe
McGoVern VS.. Bushy CHspar and Patsy Brad
ley VS. Harry kilburn.
Joe Kennedy has announced definitely that
his Germhnt0wn A. 4. VIII remain closed
until early in September The Manayunk
sportsman haE started to develop a lot OF
ring talent In Manayunk Falls Of Schuylkill
and Germantown, and lot of new faces
VIII appear in competition at his arena next
fall.
Tom Ioughrey and Pete Tyrcn have ar
ranged all details for tho flfteen-round bout
between Frank Loughrcy and Eddie Mean
drews AT West Manhyunk. Montgomery
country noyt Monday night. There is big
advance sal" OF tickets for .his bout which
has the fans In Manayunk Interested to a
vs.. Johnny FRwn. Battling Blake VS. Johnny