The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-09-13
By FRED s. HUNTER.
Staff Correspondent The Omaha Bee.

starr Correspondent The Omaha Bee.
New York, Sept. 12.-Here's one for
those superstitously inclined. In each
of the four titular fights which have
been staged this year at the Polo
throned by the challenger.
Johnny Kilbane lost to Criqui. the
battle-scarred veteran of Verden;
Jimmy Wilde, the British flash, was
shorn of his laurels by Pancho Villa,
the brown-skinned puncher from the
Philippines: Johnny Dundee. the
Scotch wop, snatched away Criqui's S
newly won belt. and Johnny Wilson.
the unequaled false alarm, was peck
ed to pieces by the ambidevterous
Harry Greb.
Rather a foreboding record for Jack
Dempsey to behold as he prepares to
defend his championship against the
Terrible Torredor of Terra Del Fuga
in the same ring that witnessed the
passing of four other titleholders.
Will Watch Corner.
It has never been recorded that
tious, so no doubt, he Is a firm believer
in the potency of the wallop as oppos-
ed to the hoodooing jinx. But we'll
risk a new hat, that the champion
and his manager take particular pre-
cautions to select a corner other than
the ones used by the previous hapless
holders.
The training period for the rival
foemen is over. Their sparring part
ners are filed with mixed emotions.
They are thankful that they won t
have to take more beatings. but they
are sad because their pay checks have
ceased. The life of the sparring part
ner is tough one. When he's work
ing, he gets beat up; when he's idle,
he don't eat.
You will be advised by the experts
according to box office records more
than 600 Of them have applied for ac-
comodations in the working press
that both Dempsey and Firpo are in
wonderful condition to undergo a
gruelling battle. Which is as may be.
There have been ring battles before
in which the opposing gladiators were
presumably in perfect condition, but
after round or two had passed, one
or the other went f1oundering help
less to the canvas because he wasn't
in shape" His physical condition was
o. X. but his mental prerequisites
were all wrong.
A similar situation may unfold IT,
self Friday night. Not likely on the
part of the champion, of course. In
past battles, the champion has ex-
hibited his courage and stamina. But
these qualities have not been thorough
clips on the chin, the Argentinian may
decide that the allurement of the
worlds championship is not so radi-
ant after all.
The ost important uncertainty I'm
|cenneetien with this championship
imbroglio concerns Firpos capacity
to Withstand punishment. What will
he do when he gets hit? F'irpo has
appeared in some fight in this coun-
try. He won OF them by knockouts
Once he was knocked out by Joe Nc
Caunn, whom Luis Angel now easily
pummells into submission. But, In
none of those &c fight Was Firpo up
against mauler. He has never been
hit as Dempsey will hit him-and so
saying, we consider Dempsey who
can hit no harder than he did against
Gibbons. And what will be the reac.
tion in the Firpo mind? Answer that
question and you win be able to tell
whether Firpo has a chance.
Satellites Arrice.
The usual coterie of satellites Is TO
be found in the Dempsey camp. The
principal characters are Wild NJ
| Lyons, the exotic Colorado millionaire
given to exuberant attire and a love
of the spotlight: Mike Trant. the
gruff Chicago detective. who is the
champions body guard, nd most pic
turesque of all. One Eyed Connolly
the worlds champion gate crasher.
One-eye wears a green sweater with
| his cognomen stitched thereon In
white letters and has a personality
| about as retiring as Ziegfeld chorus
girl. He travels via the side door
coaches and it is his boast that he
has never paid his admission at the
gate. 1t was tough pull from
Shelby to New York but One Eye
finally made 1t and proceeded to ap-
point himself major dome of the
| Dempsey encourage.
| One-Eye has not revealed hsi plan
Of action in getting past Mr.. Rick
ards gate men.
| Observation-Disclosures
Firpo Is Confident.
Some idea OF the confidece ofn Flrpo
and his followers may be gained from
the fact that they have already
ord cred a dinner of jubilance to follow