The New York herald., 1921-05-23
wiIInrd's Circus Costly.

willard was at his best when he met
johnson in Havana, and naturally dete-
riorated during his long years as cir
Gus owner
Nearly every heavyweight champion
who has lost pugilistic form has been
able 10 trace II to long abstention from
vigorous work in the ring. Some have
not obeyed the ordinary rules Of health
, and have paid the penalty In defeat.
In the case OF Dempsey when he steps
into the ring in Jersey City July to
defend his title against Carpenter. II
will be two wears since he won the hon
org from Jess willard at Toledo In the
interim he has engaged In two battles
one with Billy Mislte at Benton Harbor
September 6. 1920. and one with Bill
Brennan at Madison Square Garden De-
cember a. 1920. The champion stopped
Niske in three rounds and brought
Brennan down for the full count in the
twelfth.
Aside from these two bouts Dempsey
has done little in two years, except pose
FOR moving pictures and appear IN a
vaudeville act neither OF which is cal-
culated to inculcate stamina, although
each has pleasing financial advantages.
So far as the Miske bout Is concerned.
Dempsey appears 10 have performed In
a satisfactory manner. but IN his contest
with Brennan the champions physical
condition and performance in the ring
were below par.
He explained It by declaring that he
had become stale through long continued
training. Whatever the cause. Dempsey s
condition and his efforts In the ring
were very disappointing 70 those who
had seen him In action at Toledo
After another siege before the camera
on the coast. Dempsey returned East last
month and went to Freddie Welsh .
health farm to do the preliminary work
Of conditioning for his battle with the
Frcnchman.
Comparison Of Form.
A comparison OF how Dempsey looked
before he entered tho ring with Willard
IN 1919. and also how he looked when
ne began light training al the Welsh
farm possibly should be based on Demp-
sey's appearance when he completes his
preparation for the Carpenter bout. Yet
his condition when he began to train
for willard was irnmeasuraby superior
to his form as disclosed at Summit q
few weeks ago.
The question at issue. therefore. f.
whether the champion has lost a consid-
era bic amount OF vigor and stamina dur
ing his absence from the ring. This can
not be definitely decided till he reaches
the last week OF his training and is put
20 the test In hard bouts and sustained
work in other directions So far as can
be judged from outward appearances
Dempsey is strong, active and vigorous
and the added weight he carries will be
a help to him when he settles down TO
hard work In camp,
no gift Of prophecy IL required 10
reach the conclusion that II Dempsey
were unable to carry the fight TO tho
Frenchman with all the fury with which
no honrbarded the mountainous Willard
the ring gsneraiship and boxing skill OF
the European champion would be apt 10
overcome the American. For these rea-
sons there Is keen interest In the
progress Of Dempsey in his efforts TO at
ta In his best form.
Mike Gibbons Is In many respects one
OF the most remarkable boxers In the
history Of pugilism. There Is no dis.
count on his skill. and he Is one OF the
best behaved men in or out Of the ring.
Yet IN one particular his attitude has
been peculiar. Although he has been OF
championship calikre IN the middle
weight division fo1 many years he has
never held the Il ". Nor has he at
tempted to vFe the sn'mpion'hiD