Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-12-28
OLD 1922 HAD
BUSY BOXING YEAR

New York, Dec, 28.-ln furnishing
a big ring spectacle, the year 1922 fail
ed in its duty. While there was moth
ing to interest the world like another
Dempsey-Carpentier affair, there was
enough doing of domestic Importance
to make it go down as an interesting
and successful year. .a
Jack Dempsey was idle for the en-
tire year, not that he was not will
ing. perhaps, but because the one
available "million dollar" opponent
was Harry Willis and the hands that
direct boxing around the big money
centers considered this year, with cleo
lions and other things, as an map
propriate time to cause any racial dis
cussion with mixed bout for the
title.
Dempsey's rather cool reception of
the suggestion for a bout with Willis
was interpreted in some circles as fear
of the colored man but it is a fact
that Dempsey was told yhecould not
fight Willis this year and that the bout
could be staged next year in New
York.
Dempsey also is good enough busl-
ness man to know that It would help
to steam up the bout if he allowed
the impression to prevail that ne was
afraid of Willis.
While Dempsey was rather out of
the spotlight, his friend, Georges Car
pentier stepped into plenty OF the cal
cium. Georges lost three OF his titles
when Battling Sikh tapped him on the
law and knocked him out, thereby
becoming European heavyweight ana
worlds light heavyweight champion
Skis glory was short lived. Inc
adulation of the French people spoiled
him and he became such a nuisance
to the Parisians that he was suspend
cd for nine months and his titles were
taken away from him.
Removing of title by legislation Is
novelty in pugilism and although he
NAV not be considered three-way
champion in France, he will be looked
upon as such by the ordinary fan until
he is bumped on the chin.
The same assumption of the super
;oritv of the pen over the first on the
mart of the New York Boxing Com
mission was one of the features oil
the year. 1.,
Because Johnny Kilbane and johnny
Wilson refused to defend their titles;
the commission Ordered them beaten
and named Johnny Dundee as the
featherweight champion and Dave
Rosenburg as the middelweight title
| holder. 4ho
Things went all right as far as the
featherweight tangle was concerned
hut the commish got itself into ter
rible jam by mixing in the middle
weight tangle. -, 1obnrv
Dundee and Danny Frush. who haa
challenged for the title to fight 1t out
and Dundee became the featherweight
champion by knocking out Frush.
BEFORE he had won the American
liobf heavyweight championship from
Gene Tunney, Harry Greb had done
! much taking dOout AoiNi.'S ~
with Johnny Wilson and when wilson
refused to fight him, the commission
ordered his title removed and suggest
ed that Greb and Dave Rosenourg
meet for the title. Greb refused anq =
was suspended. Rosenberg ran out Oh
a fight with Mike O'Dowd and ne was vas
SUSPENDED. Finally Rosenhurg dld get
in the ring with o'Dowd and lost tne ne
decision, the title and all OF his purse
on foul.
Johnny Buff was the champion loser
Of the year He dropped his bantam
weight title to Joe Lynch, former
champion and his American fiyweish'
champion to Poncho Villa A.
Jack Britton finally succumoed 10 tn ;e
handicap of old age and ne los! I'm, MS
walterweight championship to Mickey
Walker. a young New Jersey LAD. ;.
Benny Leonard managed to retain In
bic lightweight championship but he
lost = lot of his prestige.