The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-09-06
HARDING WILL TRAIL BEHIND GOV. COX TO OKLAHOMA
Dempsey and Miske Will Face Each
Other in Big Fistic Contest This After
noon; Champ Says he Has Tough Nut to
Crack; Thinks he Can Hold CHAMPIONSHIP D

the world, today Staked the crown he
won from Jess Willard, fourteen
months ago. at Toledo on his hard
hitting prowess in a ten-round, no.
decision bout. with Billy Miske st.
Paul claimant Of the premier fistic
honor. Thee hampton, it was adver-
tised. was guaranteed minimum Of
$50 900.
Dempsey was the favorite, but with
every prospect of a hard fight. So
confident. In fact. were Miske's st.
Paul hackers of his ability to stay the
limit, that they bet freely on the
blows that sent the giant Willard TO
the floor seven times in the first
round, could not stop the challenger,
and that he would be on his feet and
fighting when the last bell rang.
Dempsey apparently was in as per.
feet condition as on the Fourth Of
July at Toledo last year. In his daily
workouts he has exhibited every indi-
cation Of having regained his quick
ness of eye. and his work shows no in
effect Of fourteen months of idleness
Miske, likewise, was in excellent form
| While he has not the champions
fleetness of foot. his friends pointed
out that he is the only man who
fought Dempsey ten rounds without
being knocked off his feet. He was
better today than at any time before,
they said, and that a troublesome spi-
nal ailment which interfered with his
work last year, has been removed.
Like Dempsey. Miske has had a long
rest from the ring. not having been in
one for the last ii months.
The men in age. weight. height and
reach are fairly well matched. Demp-
sey is 26 years old, and Miske 27. Both
! expect TO enter the ring at about 100
pounds. Dempsey is six feet one and
a quarter inches tall, and the challen-
ger quarter of an inch less The
champion has a reach of rs inches, as
compared TO Misckes II. They have
met twice before. fighting ten rounds
at st. Paul on May 3, 1918, TO no de-
cision, and six rounds at Philadelphia
on November 2S, of the same year,
with the same result.
Floyd Fitzsimmons. promoter Of to-
days fight, expected every one Of
the $4,000 arena seats to be sold. The
big circle was Go per cent sold yes
terday, he said. "a hours before the
blocks Of unreserved seats went on
sale. With all seats sold, Fitzsimmons
said the fight receipts would approx
mate s175,000 to 100000. Dempsey
has guarantee Of per cent of the
receipts II they are enough to exceed
his $4,000 cut, and Miske 25 per cent
Thousands of fight fans began pour.
| ing into the twin cities OF Benton
Harbor and St. Joseph at dawn to-
day, swelling the tide of arrivals
which flowed in through every gate
way Saturday and Sunday.
Every train and boat up TO the
hour Of the fight brought its com.
plement.
Down the roads of q half dozen
bluffs that half circle the two cities
by the lake. automobiles by the doz.
ems are coming toward the twin cit.
les.
In the mid-morning fleet of giant
seaplanes was looked for to soar over
the harbor. drop swiftly into the lake
and taxi up to the harbor 10 discharge
coteric OF officers from the Great
Lakes naval training station. so miles
across the water.
The arriving fight fans found rooms
at premium and even refreshments
hard to get. These summer resort
towns are adept In handling excursion
crowds. but nothing on the scale OF
today's throng ever before swooped
down on Benton Harbvr. Hastily eat
Ing house keepers set UP lunch stands
on the curbstones. prepared TO sup
plement the established restaurants.
\ cursory survey OF the signs indicat.
cd belief that a fight fan trained on
hot dogs" and red lemonade.
y hard shower sunday laid the dust
and packed more firmly the sand on
which the arena is built. The big sau.
Ger, with its $4,000 seats. Is erected on
scopod.out depression In the sand.
little Of its structure being above the
level OF the surrounding countryside.
No decision to be rendered. because
Michigan prohibits IL, the worlds
heavyweight title can change hands
today only II Miske should score
knockout or Dempsey should be dis.
qualified for violation OF the rules.
Should Misko stick ten rounds and
win u newspaper decision on points. IL
would not be sufficient 10 give him
the title.
Two slx.round preliminarics are on
the card. the first starting at ao'clock,
central standard time. between Harry
Grcbs and Chuck Virgins. light heavy
weights Bill Tate, the giant negro
who helped condition Dempsey before
the bout at Toledo last year, and
again for today's main 20, meets Sam
Langford. the Boston negro heavy.
weight. In the second semi.final.
Dempsey and Miske were not due TO
step into the ring much before s:so
central standard time.
The third man in the ring chosen
early yesterday after an all night
session. which threatened for a time
TO send Dempsey and kearns out ol
town in huff. Is Jim Dougherty OF
Philadelphia. Dousherty was the
choice OF Jack kearns. Dempsey's
manager
The practice adopted at Toledo last
year OF having two judges has been
discarded, and Dougherty will be the
sole Judge. Walter Eckersall. OF Chi.
caro. will be the timekeorer. Elmer.
son W. Dickerson Of Grand Rapids.
Mich. president Of the Central league.
will referee the preliminaries.
l.
victory. but expects Miske to give him
a desperate battle.