The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-25

when bids for the championship bi
Jack Kearns in the Heidelberg b
The record offer that Tom
O'Rourke made yesterday afternoon
sets a new high water mark in
pugilistic purses. While fiat
guarantee of one million dollars
was not stipulated. yet the proceeds
from the three fights that the Re-
public A. C. matchmaker has in
mind would no doubt draw gates
large enough to give the titleholder
q cut of at least one million dollars.
These scraps would bring to-
Kether the champion and Harry
Wills Jsss Willard, Tom Gibbons or
Joe Beckett. O'Rourke was of the
opinion that any three selected
from this quartette of fighters
would draw gates large enough to
bring the total receipts well over
two and one-half million dollars.
He figures with Dempsey getting
his proportionate share OF the re-
ceipts that the champion would
pocket at least one million dollars.
O'ROurke did not waste any
time i'm making his offer to Jack
Kearns. The latter arrived in
Gotham on the Twentieth Century.
After visiting his family he hur-
ried to his office where the vet
eran Tom awaited him. They
went into conference with Dan
McKetrick, associate business
manager for Jack Dempsey.
After an hours conference the
awaiting newspapermen were called
in and told of the record offer.
The only stipulation that O'Rourke
made <as that he would select
Dempsey three opponents. This ap-
peared to suit Kearns.
He stated to the newspapermen
that this was the first real offer
he had, received from a bona fide
promoter. He informed O'Rourke
he would give the matter consider
alton and that on Friday after
noon he would make some reply to
It, provided that he did not re-
ceive a more flattering offer from
Tex Richard or some other rival
promoter. O'Rourke agreed to this.
tom O'Rourke has just made
me an offer for three fights for
the champion to engage in, de-
clared Jack Kearns, after the news
papermen were ushered into his
private office.
mo stated sum was mentioned,
but If / am any Judge of the size
of the crowds that these fights will
draw I feel sure the share Jack
Dempsey will receive will be at
least 100000 The only right
O'Rourke reserves is his privilege
20 name the three men that Jack
will have to meet.
''The fights must be staged at
the Polo Grounds under the
ausuices of the Republic A. L.
They must be held between April
Is and October. This offer Is
snch a fine one that 1 told MIR.
O'ROurke to submit il in con-
tract form at 2 o'clock on Friday.
I'm the meantime 1 intend to get
In toucb with several other pro-
motors to see If they are willing
10 better the terms offered by the
Republic A. c. I have date with
Tex Richard tomorrow. The flght'
or fights, will go to the promoters
offering the best inducements.
what Jack Kearns has stated
An the fact" replied Tom ORourke'
who stood by while the champion
manager made his speech. leei
sure that the fans are ready TO see
Dempsey meet the best OF the heaVy-
weights.
I'm my opinion Harry Willis, Jess
Willard, Tom Gibbons ana Joe
Beckett are the logical candldates
to offer dispute to the utle-hoioer.
However, some one eise may
spring up in the meantime tnaI
the fans would consider a better
opponent for Dempsey. In such q
case 7 would substitute the peoples
choice for one of the four-nameo
ones.
Fighting is enjoying prosperity
In this country. / do not see any
reason why the champion should
not draw down as much for his
share as he can get.
Harry Wills would make an
ideal opponent for Dempsey. VI
course. the New York Boxing
Commission would have to put
their final @. X. on the men L
would select. i have no doubt
10 fight Wills. This fight would
he well satisfied to allow Dempsey
60 fikht Wills. This fight would
draw as great gate as did the
Dempsey Carpenter bout over at
BOyIe's Thirty Acres.
THE reception the fans gave jess
Willard down at Madison Square
Garden on the night of the Brennan
Johnson scrap was evidence enough
that the Kansas scrapper is still rs
popular as ever.
mo doubt IL a commission of com
petent physicians would examine
Willard and declare him sound in
body that the local officials would
give this match their sanction.
tom Gibbons or Joe Beckett
would be, in my opinion, the one
that the third selection would b'
made from. 10th are good fighters
Beckett is not the dub that some
think him. The fact that he is Eng
lish champion is in it's enough L
draw a crowd.
Maybe it would be that some o
the other boys that have been com
ing to the front would show enough
for me to substitute one of them in
stead of Gibbons or Beckett.
cit would be planned to start the
fights with a Beckett or Gibbons
match. II either of these fighters
gave Dempsey a stiff go the fans
would flock by the. hundreds to a