Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-08
|CHAMP runs OUT
Of Wills MATCH,
n. Y. WRITER SAYS
Dempsey Left for California
When Offered Bout
in Canada.

New York, June Jack Dempsey
holds the title of heavyweight champ
ion of the world, but he has deliber-
ately run out" of a match with Harry
Wills, negro challenger of whom there's
no longer a doubt that he is afraid,
says a sporting authority here. Tex
Richard stood ready to guarantee a
huge purse for a championship battle
Wills had eagerly accepted Richards
terms, but Dempsey left for California,
evidently in a hurry, at the same time
declaring that he needed more time to
train properly for the negro and, for
that matter, was tied up with engage
ments that would keep him out Of the
ring until September.
While in Europe, Dempsey stated
that he was ready to fight Carpenter
at any time the Frenchman might Sc
|lect. But Carpenter, when a return
match with Dempsey had been arrang-
ed, put off the date until next year.
Dempsey returned home in excellent
health, but when he heard of Rick
ards plan to pit him against Wills.
the only heavyweight who has an even
chance to win the title, Jack suddenly
discovered that he couldn't get into
first class fighting trim inside of five
weeks.
July Best Month for Fight
Canada is the only country outside
of England and France. that will stand
for Dempsey-Wil scrap, but Septem-
Der is too late for the meeting because
of the cool weather that prevails at
that time of the year. Richard pro-
posed to hold the bout out of doors
on July l, when weather conditions
would favor the assembling of perhaps
10000 spectators and nearly 81 900 1000
in gate receipts. Yet Dempsey pre-
ferred to side step the match with
the New Orleans puglist rather than
run the risk of defeat.
So Wills must wait for an indefinite
period before he can hope to force
Dempsey into the same ring with him
while the world champion continues
to talk about alleged fights with Car
pentier. Willard and Brennan. The
heavyweight crown. it will be remem-
bered. was worn BY Corbett. Fitzsim-
ons. Jeffrfes and Willard, all of whom
fought colored men in response to
popular clamor.
New Jersey has closed the door on
a Dempsey-W Willard fight and also on
a Dempsey-Wills battle. Louis J..
Messano. chairman of the New Jersey
boxing commission. who is Gov
ernor Edwards personal selection for
the position. came out ~flat-footedly
days ago and declared that under
no consideration would Willard be al
lowed to be offered by Tex Richards
any one else as a sacrifice on the
Dempsey altar at Boyle's Thirty Acres
or any other place in the state of New
Jersey.
New Jersey Bars Willard
"It would be nothing short of a crime
to permit such an encounter" declar-
ed Mr.. Messano. 1T would not be sport.
II would be a sin against boxing. Any
one who has any idea of applying for
a permit to stage a Dempsey-W Willard
bout in New Jersey better get that idea
out of his head right off. We believe
in personal liberty and we want the
public to get what it wants. One thing
hat the public does not want is any
sporting murder staged under the guise
Of a Dempsey-Wiliard match"
Incidentally. Mr.. Massano also de-
that no permit would be granted
for a Dempsey-Will match in New
Jersey. He acknowledged that it would
De a great sporting attraction. but
automatically said he didn't see any
great public demand for it. In other
the powers that be in New
do not want to have to combat
political issues that might be rails
I'd over a Dempsey-Wills encounter.
-Nr ,yCaI Nv tho pnfnn I