The Washington times., 1921-08-06

How the Thing Works.
In the beginning-and in the end
Carpenter did not figure on form,
past performances, size. or anything
else to have a chance against Demp-
sey.
The fistic public knew that. and
the fistic public said so-in the be-
ginning. But presently the build
up" commenced.
Carpenter went into secret train
ing. Rumors of his. prowess began
flying around. Arguments opened.
and many men argued themselves
into believing their own arguments.
The sentiment which is always i'll
favor of the fighter the fans regard
as the under dog soon had some Of
the fight followers blind to all the
discrepancies of form.
The promoters did not have to lay
another brick in the process Of
building up" the match. The public
did II all. The sentimental phase
figured in this bout more than any
thing else. taking the interest in the
affair beyond the hardened fight
fans.
However, the build up" was so
beautiful that some of the veteran
ring observers found themselves.
doubtless to their subsequent amaze
ment. half convinced that form was
about to be upset.
Some Other Build Ups"
Long before the Dempsey Carpen-
tier affair there were many notable
pugilistic build ups" There was the
Jim Jeffries-Jack Munroe match, for
instance.
Jeffries was touring the country
with a show, meeting all corners in
1902, and in Butte, Montana, he failed
to stop Munroe in a four-round ex-
hibition. There was nothing in Mum
roe's past record as a Tingman to
indicate that he would have the
slightest chance against Jeff in a
real fight. but the boys began tho
build up"
In a few months, from being a joke
Munroe began receiving serious con-
sideration in some quarters. He got
a match with Jeffries, and II is re-.
corded that at least a few persons
thought he had a chance to beat
the boilermaker, but Jeff bowled him
over in two rounds.
The Jack Johnson-Stanley Ketchel
match was a good example of the
build up" Ketchel was a great
middleweight, but II required a con-
siderable stretch of the Imagination
to see him beating Johnson. Johnny
KiIbane, the featherweight champion.
was built up to a meeting with
Benny Leonard, the lightweight king.
when horse sense should have told
everyone who follows the fight game
that 1t was silly match.
Now for or Jest.
RuIy Miske, at best a fair light
heavyweight, who had been practi-
cally an invalid for months, was
matched against Jack Dempsey at
Benton Harbor not long go.
On the face of the thing IL was a
Joke match. yet Miske was gradually
built up." Before the battle we
were reading how well he looked and
how much he showed In training. lie
lasted three rounds.
Now for oil Jess Willard, the Pot
tawatomie COW prodder. Presently
the match will be made. and Jess will
go into training, although II Is not
planned to hold the fight until winter.
Presently we will be hearing how
nicely jess Is coming on in his work
and what a good opportunity he has
of regaining his title.
Right now no one believes that Will
lard can lick one side of Dempsey.
But that's right now. The build up"
has Just started. They haven't COM
menced recalling that second round at
Toledo when Jess plunked Jack on
the chin and almost upset him after
taking a fearful plastering In the first.
They haven't commenced issuing
Jess statements Of confidence, or