The Washington herald., 1922-11-20


Be put on.
And. II II ever came to pass that
the boys staged their tussle on Gu
ban shores they'd be sure of q fair
deal and q square deal. For sports
manship reigns in Havana, even
though Jack Curley, Harry Frazee
and a few others involved In the
Johnson-willard aqair of 1915 came
close to dealing 1t body blow.
Summing up, as regards Dempsey
and Wills ever getting together:
Europe is out Of the question.
There's no definite interest among
the Europeans in the sight Of an
American white man and an Ameri-
cAa negro settling their fistic differ
snces. II one or the other was a
European. and the fight took on an
international flavor. then 1t would
be different.
But both are Americans.
Tia Juana, Mexico. is out of the
running. despite Jimmy Coffroth' q
spasmodic talk about putting on the
battle there.
MIGHT STOP CONTEST.
Canada can't be consideration
several reasons. One is that hte Brit
ish government might step in and
halt the duelling largely because It
figures that the staging Of a white
r1an-negro battle on British soil
might have a left-handed effect upon
the negro population IN India-espe-
cially II Wills won.
And, secondly. il Is hardly likely
that Canada would offer enough
money to make things attractive
for the fighters
Shifting to the u. s. A:
New York is the logical battle
ground. The battle would draw tre-
mendously. 1t would do the same
thing in New Jersey. But there is
much undercurrent opposition right
now. and. il the match ever were
made, il Is likely that ministerial
unions and blue law folks might put
the btngo upon the melee.
At this moment it's about 10 to I
and your own money back against
the fight being waged in the United
States.
HAVANA LEFT ALONE.
And that leaves Havana.
There's the spot-if ever there
vas one.
Ten years ago Cuba knew but
little concerning the art of fisti.
sudden, II awoke to the fact that
the boxing game. properly con.
Quoted, was a real sport. It in.
vited the mitt singers.
When overtures were made con.
cerning the Willard fight,
Cuba extended a welcome. The
people Of Havana went a million
miles out of their way again-and
agafn-and yet again-to be courte-
ous and kind to the fight party
OF 1915. No race Of people ever ex.
tended a more gracious welcome.
II Curley. Frazee, Dick Klegin
Larry Weber, Tom Jones and the
others who were involved in the
promotional end Of that melee, had
only given to the Cuban people as
square a deal as Cuba gave to
them. Havana today would be one
OF the greatest fight towns in the
world.
THEY SICKENED CUBANS.
But Curley and some of the 9th.
ers committed acts that could
leave nothing but feeling of nau.
sea among the Cubans. They made
promises-end broke them They
conducted themselves in such a
way that the good people of Ha.
wanna murmured never again"
And the nstic sport was dealt
q terrific body punch from which
Il 10 just recovering-a recovery
which is due to the discovery in
Cuba that all the folks involved
in the fight game do not conduct
themselves as did Curley and Fra
Zee.
In the years since 1915 Havana
has become one Of the greatest
winter resort cities in the world.
1t 10 tarnmed with American tour.
lists from December until late in
March. And those tourists are
pleasure loving-ever looking for a
thrill. A fight. with a worlds
heavyweight championship at stake,
would be treat of treats for them.
Havana is just a two-day jump
Philadelphia, Washington, Pitts
burgh. Cleveland. Chicago and other
big fistic centers.
CROWD WOULD ATTEND.
And that means that II Havana
did want to put on the fight there
II could count on at least 10, 900, per-
haps $4,000. making the special trip
for the fight alone. Add to that the
hAACAlNdh anu duu
also at least $4,000. perhaps 10000.
Cubans. and 1t would mean an out
pouring Of 10000. perhaps $4,000.
Dempsey perhaps would want
$500, 900 to fight Wills. The latter
might be satisfied with $50. .0O0-or
certainly 100000. Inasmuch as the
Cubans would use the race track, in
case Of emergency, its other ex-
penses beyond the money for the
fighters would not go much beyonc
500 900.
Havana could get prices from IS
to $50 for the affair. II it packed in
. 10000 crowd. which seems reason
ably certain, the intake would be
around $1,000, ,000-against a gross
outlay Of $500 900.
III they're only serious about want
ing that fight in Havana, and IL
there are Q few souls there who are
willing to take a flyer on the thing,
II looks like q sure cleanup Of any
where from s150.0O0 to $500, 900 for
the promoters.