The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-03-01
OIL DEALS BRING
FORMER CHAMP
HERE FOR VISIT
Recalls First Battle With
Fink at Sapulpa; How
He Blocked En-
BY b. A. BRIDGEwATER.


still as the champion heavyweight
even IL Dempsey did deprive him
OF the title Of heavyweight cham-
sion, was waited into town Tuesday
morning on the wings OF the gentle
zephyr from the north.
Fight2 Say Where do you get
that stuff? Blg jess says the oil
game is all the opponent he cares
for right now. Man, us tougher
opponent than Jack Dempsey But
at that Jess AYERS he's been lambast-
ing the said o. q. on the Jaw with
monotonous regularity OF late and
expects to have II down for the
count pretty soon.
Jess is accompanied by Ray o.
Archer, his business manager for tho
last decade. They are here purely
on oil business, he soid, and expect
TO spend three or four days In Tulsa.
Might Tackle Dempsey.
Seriously In regard to fighting.
jess confessed that he MIGHT fight
again--but II he ever does his OPP
ponent must be Jack Dempsey. He
wowdn't think of fighting anyone
else.
They've been after me for Sow
eral months to 60 back 10 New York
and tackle Dempsey again" said
sion one way or the other. I don't
know--T might fight again-but I
wouldn't consider going through tho
rlgors of long. hard training tor any
body but Dempsey"
We talked with Jess for the bctter
Npart of an hour at the Hotel Tulsa.
where he has suite OF rooms. We
found him Just great big, good
nntured, friendly sort, ready to give
his opinion on anything from the
probability OF a cut in oil to specu-
| lation OIL who'll be tho next fly
weight champion--and he gives II In
such a stralRht-punching sort OF n
way that you know he means exactly
what he says and nothing else.
Just looking over the enormous
bulk OF the Kansan--noW q Calitor-
nlan by adoption--une can but mar
vel at Jack Dempsey's prodiglous
feat In. putting him down seven
times in the first round. Honestly,
you'd hardly think "A man could
take n medium sized sledge hammer
and knock him off his feet. We
thought he must be nearly rs big
as the Cosden building
Jess cannot be blamed for his do
cision to fight none but Dempsey.
Right now Willard would weigh
close to 400 .unds. II would take
at least six months of trainlng-six
months OF hard. grinding, dawn-to-
dark shaving In the gym and on
the road--to put him In anything
like the physical trim he'd have TO
reach before Ginning into the ring
with any formidable opponent. The
world IL dealing kindly with Jesg
He's well supplied with kale, and the
good old earth Is yielding more and
more OF Il to him every day. SO
why should he bother about bruislng
up some chappio or being bruised
himself?
or course TO fight Dempsey would
be different. Not only would ne
pick up hundred thousan- iron
men or so. perhaps more, but he'd
have chance to get sweet revenge
on the Salt Lake party for that little
occurrence at Toledo some time
back. Jess still carries somo marks
as souvenirs OF that encounter
some OF the very few he has to show
for n campaign that took him "a
the pinnacle in pugllJsm.
Jess was over at Ponca City a
couple of days ago. and while there
called on his old friend. Colonel NIL
ler, of tho 10i ranch. who was in
terested with him In the show busl'
ness In the good old days before
Dempsey got 10 he 80 prominent
lie said that reports that he went tC
consult Colonel Miller about return
Ing to the ring were Just bunc.
Before Jess told uS his ideas re-
garding q possible temperance n
the squared circle, we tried to rib up
n meeting here between him ant
Carl Morris. We told him his ole
friend, Carlos, was within easy
reach, right over at Sapulpa, and
hut hA ola 81
see them come to blows in Tulsa.
"Old Carl. he's still fighting
unused Jess, probably thinking of tn,
time he mussed up the Sapulpan In
Hereunder In New York before h,
gained the titlo from johnson. g.
wish him the best Of luck. but a.
for flghtlng-no, / couldn't thini
of It,"
Jess then let us In on tho secre
that IL he ever donncd the gloves
again 1t would be TO swap taps with
Dempsey,
Speaking OF Sapulpa, Morris
home, reminded Jess that It was II
the now western suburb OF Tulsi
\ that he fought his first ring battle
THAT was with old Louis Fink,
said Jess. II didn't know a thni
except 20 hit. when Fink SAILED
into me l just shut my eyes ant
blocked all his blows--with m!
head"
Wizards fight with Fink wa
Just n short time after he first ap
peared In the gymnasium OF box
ing club in Oklahoma City, a greer
country boy and announced that m
was going to save tho honor of TN
white race by whipping the negro
:. Johnson.
The blizzard Tuesday cooped Jes
up In the hotel, and he spent mos
OF the day tanning with acquaint
ances and admirers. Guests in IN
lobby marveled at his immens
stature as he passed among then
end he was soon identified
Jess was photographed severa
times, once with william Gibbs Nc
Adoo. Jr., son OF the former secre
tary OF the treasury, who IL no,
engaged In the oil business here
willard was told of the negr
boxing card to be given Thursda
night al Convention hall, with Bat
tllng Gahee and Brad Simmons 1
the main event.
"Gahee used TO spar with you |
training, didn't he?" we asked Wi
lard.
mo. sir, no nigRers ever helne
me train" said he. II guess tn
other boys all use 'em--but no
for me-"
Jess indicated he would accep