Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1922-10-14
SIKI'S VICTORY IN PARIS MAKES
DEMPSEY HAPPY.
fPreston News Servico.)

cnt SITUATION OIL allailS ia P"S'
the one thing - haPpen reHentlS "
make Jack Dempsey happy was tre
victory of Battling Sikh over Georges
Carpentier in Paris last MONDAY
night Dempsey had about run TO the
end of his string of excuses Tor no|
meeting Harry Wills III title bout.
Skis victory has given Dempse!
new line of defense to keep out OF the
ring with Wills for sometime at least
Excitement among fight promoters is
at fever heat here now and Sikh is the
most talked of man in the world today.
According to latest dispatches from
Paris Sikh has accepted Tex Rackards
terms to fight somebody III New YORK
City on November goth. Last FRIDAY
night Richard announced. that he had
definitely concluded arrangements TO
import Battling Sikh, the ScncgaleSe
here for Il bout with somebody Oh
THANKSGIVING Day. Followers OF the
rugid game of fistiCufls are spcculAt-
ing as to whom Sikh will meet.
All that can be gotten from Richard
is that he does not know just who Will
be Skis opponent, but that he can rs
sure all that it will not he Il "sct up
lie said. there arc three or four high
class men in Tire light heavy weight
group in this country and | will Sc
lect one of these men after the rorelG
ncr arrives here"
Some arc inclined to think that hi'
first opponent will be Harry GrcD q,
Pittsburgh, others contend that he
should meet Gibbons, or Miskc, and
still others contend that Sikh should
meet Kid Norfolk, first. In fact No
rfolk has deposited a forfeit Of $4,000
binding n challenge to Sikh and will ba
entitled to first consideration as an
opponent OF Sikh on Thanksgiving
night. The challenge is for the light.
by Sikh.
The New York Boxing Commission
issue statement last Friday night to
the effect that if it verifies the reports
that Sikh is coming to the United
States under contract for very largo
sums, neither he nor the men to whom
he is under contract will be permitted
to operate in this state.
The commissions statement follows
'"There was filed ut the Office OF thu
state athletic commission today chnl
lenge, issued by Kid Norfolk and sup
ported by forfeit Of $4,000 for tho
light heavyweight championship hclu
by Battling Sikh. This means that If
Sikh comes TO this country, it will DO
In line for him to dispose Of this chai
lcnge; first either to accept or de.
cline. and If it is true that he is com.
ing here under contract for the very
large sums that have been mentioned
IN the newspapers recently, neither he
nor the men to whom he is under con
tract Will he permitted to operate in
TINS state. One Of the rules in this com
mission StipulateS THAT all boxers In
mann bouts must work on percent.
age basis"
1t is reported that Sikh has been off
cred $4,000 TO fight Johnny Wilson,
middle weight champion in Braves
F1eld in Boston on October rs.
Jack Johnson, former heavy weight
champion is reported to have sent a
challenge to Sikh. Jack was hailed into
court in New York last Thursday on
account Of debt he owed Barney Ger
rad, theatrical producer for seven
years. The amount being $4,000. Johu
son was asked to pay 81 900 on account
by Gerrard's counsel and Johnson re-.
piled:
"Ym fellows ought to wait untn
tackle that man Sikh. He looks Just
like the man I want to fight. and
when I get through I'll have money
enough to pay YOU" Johnson then an
nounced that he was sending a cha.
lengc to Sikh.
Harry Greb, of Pittsburgh, annonnc
ed on Saturday that he was willing /.
meet Sikh, any time, any where for
any reasonable amount of money. Greb
is the American Light heavyweight
champion.
What Jack Dempsey is most anxious
about is to have things so turn on.
that Sikh will have to fight his way up
through the long list OF American c3n
tenders and then finally to Harry
Wits. BY this means contest be
tween Wills and Dempsey will be post
poned for considerable time. The con.
tinucd stalling of Dempsey in refer
ence to bout with Harry Wills has
gotten on the nerves Of the sport writ
crs of practically all the big whito
daily papers throughout the country.
Close observers IF the tactics being
used by the various persons interested
directly in the fight game see clearly
that Dempsey desires to hold his title
as long as possible and he fully real.
ICES that he is no match for Harry
Wills.
Colored people throughout the coun
try are exceedingly proud Of the con
duet of Harry Wills. He is a quiet,
sober unassuming gentleman and
should he got chance with Dempsey
the championship would fall into the
hands Of man who would not act in
manner to disgrace the race. Wills
IS fully aware of tho existing condi.
tions between the races in this coun-
try and makes it rule Of his life to
DO nothing to increase the difflculties
which now confront his race.