New-York tribune., 1922-08-19

chief matchmaker. Mr.. O'Rourke il
Mr.. O'Connor denied yesterday tn
O'Rourke, but said he expected to ha
At the offices of the New York State
said that the deputy commissioner was
on his vacation and would not return
before next week. A rumor that he had
resigned from the commission in order
to accept the position as matchmaker
for the Polo Grounds was denied.
Mr.. O'Connor stated yesterday that
he had made no plans in connection
with the Polo Grounds and had no idea
as to when his first show would be put
on, or who the principals in the main
attraction would be. He said he was
anxious to obtain real championship
match for the first show and mentioned
the possibility of arranging another
battle between Benny Leonard and Lew
Tender,
"My first move will be the appoint
ing Of a matchmaker" said Mr.. O'Con-
nor. ~ have several men in view for
this job and probably will close with
one of them next week. don't know
anything about running boxing show,
but I will have several persons as
sociated with me who know the game
thoroughly
O'Connor Favorable to Tom
'I would like to obtain the services
of Tom O'Rourke, but there is some
doubt as to whether he could be in
duced to resign his job with the Box
ing Commission. know O'Rourke
we'll, but haven't seen him lately, and
haven't had an opportunity to discuss
this proposition with him.
"Jim Buckley, who has had great
deal of experience in boxing, will be
associated with me and will have some
thing to say in the matter Of match
making. 1t is my aim to put on the
highest tyne of championship matches.
have been considering Dempsey and
Wills, but doubt whether the cham
pion could be induced to go through
with this match before next year. I
shall make an effort to put on another
Tendler-Leonard match, as that one
seems to carry the greatest public in
terest with it. with the exception of
the Wills-Dempsey bout
We will also make an attempt to
have Johnny Kilbane defend his worlds
featherweight championship against
the best man in that division. expect
to be out of town for several days and
will not be able to take up the boxing
proposition seriously before next Tues
day"
Promoter Denies Report
In boxing circles yesterday it was
freely intimated that O'Connor was
merely acting as figurehead in the
Polo Grounds undertaking, and one re-
port had it that he had obtained the
license for Charles A. Stoneham, part
owner of the Giants. This was denied
by O'Connor, who said that he was act
ing solely on his own behalf, and that
if he had any associates in his ring
venture they would be men connected
with his publishing business.
He expects TO be able to seat $4,000
persons at the Polo Grounds, the base
ball capacity of which is in the neigh
borhood of $4,000. O'Connor has made
other attempts 10 get fight license
planned last winter to hold bouts in
the armory of the Twenty-second Engi-
neers, 169th Street and Broadway, but
was unable to get, the necessary permit.
Harry Wills, colored heavyweight
champion, finished training yesterday
for his battle next Monday night with
Buddy Jackson at the Newark Armory.
He said he was in better shape than
he was when he knocked out Kid Nor
folk at Madison Square Garden last
winter, and expected to have no great
difficulty in disposing of Jackson. They
are to battle twelve rounds, but, in
accordance with the Jersey boxing law,
no decision will be rendered.
Wills boxed q half dozen rounds with
several sparring partners yesterday
afternoon and seemed to be faster than
ever. Although he was obviously pull
ing his punches, they were hard enough
to make his victims vince when the
punches landed.
ment with Jack Dempsey, said he would
make every effort to end Monday
nights fght IN the early rounds.
jackson will finish his training to-day.
The semi-fnal to the Wills j acksofl
affair also will be sokalled '5nixed"
bout. It will bring together Willie
Herman, lightweight champion OF New
Jersey, and Bobby Manderville, who
claims the colored lightweight cham
pionship Of that state. There are four
other bouts on the card.
Babe Herman, whose prestige has
sunered somewhat since he was
knocked out in one round by Vincent
C"Pepper"l Martin at Madison Square
Garden, declares that his big come
back will be started on Tuesday night,
when he takes on Eddie Brady, of
Brooklyn, at Ebbets Field. His main
idea is to obtain another match with
Martin for the purpose of wiping out
the stain of their last meeting.
Rocky Smith, the Michigan contender
for Jack Britton's welterweight crown,
will be seen in the star bout at the
Oakland A. A. on Monday night. His
opponent is to be Harry Martone. They
are to go twelve rounds. Several
weeks ago Rocky Smith defeated K. o.
Phil Kaplan in furious battle.
Speed Boat Races
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