Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1922-10-14
SIJxrS VICTORY IN PARIS MAKES
DEMPSEY HAPPY,
(Preston News Service.)

ont situation Of affairs in pugflsm
the one thing - happen recently "
make Jack Dempsey happy was tfe
victory Of Battling Sikh over Georges
CARPENTER in Paris last MONDAY
night. Dempsey had about run TO tie
end of his string of excuses Tor nov
meeting Harry Wills in title bout.
Skis victory has given Dempsey a
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 Richards
terms to fight somebody in New York
City OH November goth. Last FRIDAY
night Richard announced that ne had
definitely concluded arrangements 10
import Battling Sikh, the Senegaleso
here for bout with somebody OH
Thanksgiving Day. Followers OF the
rugid game of fisticuffs are speculat-
ing as to whom Sikh will meet
All that can be gotten from Rickard
is that he does not know just who Will
be Silks opponent, but that he can as
sure all that it will not be a "set up
He said. "therc are three or four high
class men in tire light heavy weight
group in this country and l will Sc
lect one of these men after the fore,G
her arrives here"
Some arc inclined to think that his
first opponent will be Harry GreD U,
Pittsburgh, others contend that he
should meet Gibbons, or Miske, and
still others contend that Sikh should
meet Kid Norfolk, first. In fact No
rfolk has deposited a forfeit Of $4,000
binding Il challenge to Sikh and will ba
entitled to first consideration as an
opponent Of Sikh OH Thanksgiving
night. The challenge is for the light
heavyweight championship now held
by Sikh.
The New York Boxing Commission
issue statement last Friday night TO
the effect that If 1t verifies the reports
that Sikh Is coming to the United
States under contract for very large
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 a chal
lenge, issued by Kid Norfolk and sup
ported by q forfeit Of $4,000 for tho
light heavyweight championship helu
by Battling Sikh. This means that If
Sikh comes to this country, it will DO
In line for him to dispose OF this chat
d lenge; first either to accept or de.
cline, and IL 1t is true that he is COM
ing here under contract for the very
large sums that have been mentioned
III the newspapers recently, neither no
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
main bouts must work on q percent.
age basis"
. 1t is reported that Sikh has heen off
. cred $4,000 to fight johnny Wilson,
middle weight champion in Braves
, Field. 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 $500. Johu
: son was asked to pay 81 900 on account
! by Gerrard's counsel and johnson re-.
piled:
"You fellows ought to wait until
{ tackle that man Sikh. He looks just
| like the man I want to fight, and
when get through I'll have money
enough to pay YOU" Johnson then an
nounced that he was sending cha,
/ lenge to Sikh.
Harry Greb. Of Pittsburgh, annoolnc
ed on Saturday that he was willing u
| 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
j through the long list OF American c3n
tenders and then finally to Harry
Wills. by this means contest be
tween Wills and Dempsey will be post
poned for considerable time. The con.
tlnued stalling Of Dempsey in refer
ence to bout with Harry Wills has
gotten on the nerves Of the sport writ
ers of practically all the big white
daily papers throughout the country
Close observers of the tactics being
used by the various persons interested
directly in the fight game see clearly
that Dempsey desires to hold his tltls
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 .
duct 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 a man who would not act in
manner to- disgrace the race. Wills
IS 1ul!y aware Of the existing conds.
lions between the races in this coun-
try and makes 1t rule Of his life to
40 nothing to Increase the difficulties
which now confront his race.