New-York tribune., 1922-03-05

TO fight Harry Wills, the coored
plans to hold the battle on the secon
on the Saturday before Labor Day.
The Dempsey Wills encounter will be
fstic program ever staged in the
history of boxing.e No promoter of
sporting events ever conceived in his
widest dreams tho extravaganza that
Mr.. Frazce proposes to place before
the public
The program will witness tho decid-
ing OF three and possibly four worlds
championships.
Leonard lightweight champion of the
world, and Lew Tender. of Philadel-
phia, together in the semi-fnal to the
heavyweight championship battle.
Tender looms as the greatest figure in
the lightweight division to-day. with
the exception of Leonard himself.
Johnny Buff. American Ayweight
champion and holder of the worlds
bantamweight title, will meet Jimmy
Wilde, of England. worlds fyweight
champion in the opening contest.
Middlewcight Division to Fall Back Upon
If orc of these proposed preliminary
matches should fall through it is Mr.
Frazees intention to substitute an
other worlds championship battle
which will feature Johnny Wilson. Of
Boston. middlcweight title holder,
against an opponent who has not yet
been selected.
The announcement that he had made
this unprecedented offer to Dempsey
was made public by Mr.. Frazee last
night just before he left this city for
tho training camp of the Boston Red
Sox in Hot Springs. Ark. He stated
that he had been in conference with
Jack Kearns. Dempsey's manager, but
that no signed agreement had been
reached. He intimated that this was
due to the fact that his baseball affairs
demanded his presence in Hot Springs
Immediately. Further negotiations in
connection with the proposed Demp-
sey-Wills battle will be carried on to-
day over the telegraph wires.
The news Of the Frazee proposition
struck New York's sporting fraternity
last night with the shock of thunder
bolt projected from serene skies. 1t
came as the first move toward another
heavyweight championship battle that
really could be taken seriously. The
given anything like serious considera-
tion was that of William A. Brady,
theatrical promoter, who offered Demp-
sey 100000 to fight Wills.
The Frazee offer beats Mr.. Brady's
offer by $150,0O0 and exceeds the sum
earned by the heavyweight champicS
last July in his battle with Georges
Carpenter by $4,000. 1t is the largest
amount ever offered to any fighter in
world Mr.. Frazee refused to make
public any figures in connection with
the Leonard Tender fight, but seemed
to feel assured that this match could
be arranged despite the lightweight
champions reiterated declaration that
he would never fight the Philadelphian.
He also made a secret Of the sum to be
offered Buff and Wilde.
When the news of Frazee's plans be-
came known along Broadway and in
other sections Of the city where sport
diately raised as to where Dempsey
Wills fight co1ld be held. The owner
Of the Red Sox made it plain to the
writer that this important detail had
been carefully though out and practi-
cally settled before the Wills propo-
sition was put up to Dempsey and
Kearns.
Three r2aces Under Consideration
Mr.. Frazee said that three places
were under consideration. One Of then,
is his own ball park in Boston. Fen
way Park, the home of the Red SO
could seat 10000 persons II tempo
rarily converted into fight arena.
A site in this state is under conside
Grafton, and also one in New Jersey.
Jack Kearns and Dempsey were in
drome when Mark Luescher, connected
with the management of that house,
carried to them the news of the Frazce
offer. Kearns appeared to enthuse over
the proposition, but asked that he be
given time before making formal
statement in connection with it.
"Mr. Frazee's figures certainly break
all financial recordsls SO far as the ring
is concerned" saidoKearns. at goes
without saying that we must give the
proposition serious consideration. As
I have said before on numerous occa-
sions, Dempsey Is willing to fight any
body. We ask only that there be a
public demand for any match in which
Jack is to defend the worlds title. II
there is a public demand for the match
and a place can be found in which to
stage it. why. we will be there to do
our bit"
Kearns added that he would not per-
NIT Dempsey to enter into any arrange
ment that was not backed by repu-
table and able promoter.
Harry Frazee appears to fill this bill.
He is the man who staged the Jack
Johnson-Jess Willard fight in Havana
on April s, 1915, which was the con-
test in which Willard acquired the title
that he subsequently lost to Dempsey
at Toledo. Since then he has fostered
successful theatrical enterprises that
have made him famous both here and
abroad. Frazee declares he is prepared
to post sum twice the amount Demp-
sey and Kearns will re reouired to pro-
vide as a guaranty of good faith.