South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-08-25
+. GIBBONS SIGNS
ARTICLES FOR GO
WITH O'DOWD HERE
ST. Paul Boxer Not Anxious to
Face New Yorker But
Finally Agrees.

Tommy Gibbons Of st. Pau signed
articles yesterday 20 meet Dan
O'Dowd. OF New York, in a ten
round bout at 5priugbrook park. il
was announced last night by Eugene
Kcssler. It developed at the same
time that the match was hanging
fire all wednesday morning. because
Gibbons bucked Kessler's choice Of
n his Labor Day opponent.
>~When the local promoter drst
signed Gibbons IL was with the pri-
vibege OF matching him with any
heavyweight with an open date the
first Monday in September. From
a number Of prospects kessler Sc
lected O'Dowd as the man promising
Gibbons the best fight When the
latter leaned this he endeavored 10
secure a release from his contract
Lloyd FItzsiinmOns, Kessler's match
maker. prevailed upon him. 10 sign
an agreement binding him 10 a match
with the New Yorker. Pressure
from other sources I'm Chicago was
also brought 10 bear upon Gibbons
and his manager. Eddie Kane. as a
Gibbons-O'Dowd bout touched the
fancy Of the Windy City fight chas-
ers
Dempsey Says He'll Referee.
kessler talked TO Jack Dempsey
over the telephone yesterday after
noon. and the heavyweight champ
ion promised TO referee the match.
OF O'Dowd he said:
Dan is one OF the toughest men
l ever boxed"
1t will be recalled that ODowd
helped train Dempsey for his bout
Nth Bill Brennan.
Chicago fans are delighted with
the opportunity 20 see Gibbons in
action. and gossip already has il
that the ST. Paul heavy has engaged
20 meet a man who will push him
TO the limit II he does not beat him.
Defeat would be a disastrous turn
OF events in the Gibbons camp with
the Carpenter bout all framed UP
for early next year. and il is this
possibility which is supposed 10 have
used Toms reluctance 10 meet a
tough youngster like O'Dowd. He
would have preferred Billy Miske
Harry Greb or some other veteran
without youthful aspirations. ODowd
Is just coming up, and the chance
at Gibbons IS tho opening he has
been looking for.
O'Dowd's Record Good.
O'powd's latest and most import
ant achievement in the ring was his
recent victory over Fighting Bob
Roper at New York whore he was
awarded official press decision after
cutting Roper TO ribbons over the
ten-round route. Roper is an eX-
perienced heavyweight who is hard
10 heat. and has a decision over Bob
Martin, a. Z. =. champion who has
been widely acclaimed as the next
worlds title holder. although he is
not yet IN a position 10 ask seriously
for chance at Dempsey.
O'Dowd also includes in his rec
ORR an eight round draw with Bill
Brennan. who gave Dempsey q
mighty battle for twelve rounds.
Eddie Kane Is expected 10 bring
Tom Gibbons TO South Bend mex
Tuesday 70 continue his training
Gibbons has been roughing il il
Aporthern Minnesota for two months
aad does not anticipate much trouble
in getting into shape. Kane estab-
lished a wide circle Of acquaintance.
when he was interested in local box
Ing nine or ten years ago. and vii
have many personal friends TO sup
port him and his protege.
O'Dowd is supposed TO arrive here
next Monday with his manager
Jimmie Murphy. He will make
SpringbroOk park his training quart
ers, where local fans will have AT
nr,rnrt.nrlt-. ~ InnL--..-- IL, --.----