Norwich bulletin., 1922-11-15
DEMPSEY MILLS BOUT
 MAY BE STAGED JUNE BOTH

New York Nov. 1.-The proposed worlds heavyweight championship battle between Champion Jack Demp- sey and Harry Wills, New Orleans negro challenger for the title, will be | conducted on June 90 if Tex. Rick | ard is the promoter of the important ring tilt. Rickard on Monday said he was prepared to hold the contest on | the Saturday before Independence Day. The promoter denied knowledge of plans to hold the proposed bout | on July next and added that he l had done nothing definite as yet in | signing the match.
 '"The situation with regards to a meeting between Dempsey and Wills is now just as it was before the cham pion left on his theatrical tour," said Rickard. "As far as I am concerned and as far as I know, there have been no new developments I am prepared J to hold the bout if the public de- mands it and if I can get the boxers l to sign for any amount within req l son. But if I hold the match it will not be on July 4. I had enough ex- perience with July as a battle date |! in the venture at Toledo in 1919. That experience convinced me that the best summer date for an important box | ing match is the Saturday preceding | July A."
 Rickard said he would hold the bout
 in his huge arena in Jersey City if it was at all possible. The promoter de- clared emphatiea11y that he would not | undertake to erect a stadium in Man | hattan or the suburbs. An attempt to | sign his match probably will be made | some time in January or February in
 the event that conditions justify pro
 0eeding with negotiations for such an important ring contest. Unless, | however, there is every guarantee
 that the match will be permitted with
 out official interference, Rickard said he would have nothing to do with it Whether there is another promoter
 or syndicate, seeking the match ' could not be learned. It is the gen
 eral belief, however, that when the
 contest is signed Rickard will be the
 promoter.
 The situation, so far as could bt
 learned, now is no further improved
 than it was last summer, when there
 was extensive discussion on the like.
 ihood of Dempsey and Wills meetine before the expiration of the 1922 out. door season. Wills has challenged Dempsey through the State Athleti, Commission, and the champion ha,
 signified in writing, his willingnes;
 to box Wills provided suitable induce mentS are forthcoming. Dempsey il compliance with a demand of tn, i: State Athletic Commission, accepted ; Wills challenge. It is now up to promoter or syndicate to find a To
 cation for the match, guarantee tn, bout against official interference. sub init financial terms which appear t, the champion and challenger and theI the match will be a reality.
 Dempsey is travelling thru the coun
 try on theatrical tour which will con clude on Dec. A at, San Diego, Cal !. The champion. and his manager Jacl Kearns, plan to spend the Yuletid
 holidays with their folks in Califor
 mia, returning here early in Januar prepared for whatever awaits then
 Maybe it will be another trip to Flu rope with possibly a bout in London ! Or, 1t may, be another, swing over tn : vaudeville circuit or a moving pictur
 enterprise And maybe it might b
 some definite developments in the wa ' of battle between the champion an 3 Wills. z Rickard just now is devoting his at f tentIon to an international struggl, . which Tom Gibbons. St. Paul light
 heavyweight, will engage Joe Becket
 Eng1and's heavyweight champion. Thi
 match ss contemplated for late mex
 month with the possibility that tn D victor will get a bout in Madiso
 Square Garden against Dempsey 2 January. .Rickard has Gibbons conser ! to this, meeting or any other bou the promoter can clinch. He now
 awaiting word from Beckett on the of
 fer cabled the English champion.