New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-18
Dempsey Asked
BvRefOrmBodv
To Define Fight
international Bureau Also
Dares Rickard to Address
Meeting al Ocean Grove

The meeting Of the international
Reform Bureau, which was held YES
terday for the purpose Of taking steps
to prevent the Johnny Wilson-Bryan
Downey battle for the worlds middle
weight championship, resulted in a
challenge to Tex Richard and Jack
Dempsey to meet representatives of
the Reform Bureau at Ocean rove in q
debate, which may lead to a Clarifying
of the important question: what Is
a Prizefght?'
Herbert Clark Gibson, counsel to the
bureau, announced yesterday that he
had had a conference with the lead
ers Of the Reform Bureau and that {.
plan of campaign had been reached
with a view to blocking the middle
weight championship bout scheduled
for Labor Day at Boyle's Thirty
Acres.
Dr. Wilbur F. Crafts, superintendent
Of the bureau, was the one who issued
the challenge to Richard and Dempsey.
He said that he dared them to meet
him in Ocean Grove court for the rur-
pose Of determining whether the heavy
weight championship battle held in the
State of New Jersey, on July 2, be-
tween Georges Carpenter and Jack
Dempsey was a boxing exhibition or a
prize fight.
Dempsey Invited to Lecture
The Reform Bureau is to hold one
Of its meetings at Ocean Grove on
Friday and Dr.. Crafts said that Tex
Richard or Jack Dempsey would be
given half hour in which to address
that meeting and explain their views
When asked whether any move would
be made to arrest Richard or Dempsey
if they should decide to avail them
solves of this offer and visit Ocean
Grove, Dr. Crafts replied
"No, we would not do that We
would not do anything so unsports-
manlike.'
Two moves are contemplated for to-
day to prevent the Wilson ownev
fight. Officials Of the Reform Bureau
said that one or both light be taken.
The one most likely to be taken. will
bring the question before the Chancery
Court. The other will involve an &C
ticn against the fight officials before a
judge.
Little heed is being paid to tie ma
nolverlng Of the international Reform
Bureau on either side of the river. In
Jersey the reformers are being taken
less seriously than they were before
the Dempsey Carpenter fight In
Manhattan the wilson Downey fight is
regarded as a triing affair. and up
and down Broadway it was said last
night that it would not matter much
whether the Reform Bureau stopped it
or not.
To Finish Training Here
Meanwhile, arrangements for the
fight are progressing smoothly. Johnny
Wilson, the middIewcight champion of
the world. and Bryan Downey, his al
legged conqueror in recent fight at
Cleveland, have been notified to be in
this city on Monday They will finish
their training here. Rickard insisted
that both men be within fve-cent
ride OF the ring two weeks before the
date Of the fight Both men have said
that they will be here before 4 o'clock
Monday afternoon.
Downey mas been working for the
last week in Cleveland with Johnny
Papkc and Carl Tremaine. Wilson
has been training in Boston
Notwithstanding the mediocrity of
the men involved in this encounter,
there is great deal of interest in it.
Special trains will be run to this city
from Cleveland and Boston for the
battle