San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-04
That's the Dope in View Of
Scheduled Firpo and
Johnson Bouts.
MUST CUT HIS PRICES
If He Has Sense, Champion
Will Quit Talking in +
Fortunes.
By SPARROW MGANN

Copyright. 1873. by The San Antonio Llsht.
New York, Feb. 3.-Tex Richards
statement of withdrawal from any i'm
mediate effort TO promote a fight in
volving Jack Dempsey, and the stand
of Chairman Muldoon of the New York
State Athletic Commission against Mil
lion dollar" fights were the two chief
developments of the week in the heavy
weight situation. A complicating in.
cident was the announcement of the
chairman of the New Jersey Boxing
Commission that jess Willard would be
permitted TO fight Dempsey in that
states unless he can get himself into
condition"
1t should not be gathered from all
this, however, that Dempsey will not
do battle next summer. So far as VIII
lard and Wills are concerned, there
probably will be nothing doing now.
But the fact that Luis Firpo is today
on his way to this country to fight
Bill Brennan and that a week later
Tommy Gibbons and Floyd Johnson
meet may be taken to mean that sooner
or later in 1923 the best man of the
four above named will face the champ
ion.
That it, he will face the champion
provided Dempsey does not want all
the money in the world for fighting.
Probably he will be more moderate in
his demands than he has been. He
will If he has any sense.
Too Much Money Talk.
Nothing has occurred TO place box
ing so greatly in disrepute as the verbal
financial orgy that has characterized
Dempsey's visit to this city. 4 little
more and something definite will pc
heard from Albany.
No one wants Dempsey to fight for
a song. Everyone is willing TO have
him capitalize his reputation and his
ability. But there is Il limit.
If New York blows up on the policy
of astounding purses. New Jersey aud
other states most certainly will follow
suit since the fashion in purses WAS
set by the Empire State and promoters
of other states had to keep step as best
they could or get out of the game. In
many cases the promoters have chosen
the latter alternative. But with Null
doon's ideas prevailing here, there is
certain to be general deflation through
out the country.
The writer has held throughout that
a Dempsey-Willard fight was a bad pro-
ject. In many communities the race
question is a slumbering issue and 4
mixed battle would be an awakening IN.
fluence not agreeable to contemplate.
And assuming Wills should win-ths
writer does not believe there Is a great
chance of this, but he might-well,
the country has had the experience Of
negro champions and does not wish to
repeat il. And, in any event, the in
cidental publicity to such a bout would
bring pugilism actually before the gen
eral public in an unfavorable way.
Just Circus Publicity.
As for Willard. there is the suspicion
that jess was looking for advertising
rather than a fight He has received
this now in full measure and can drift
back to the circus route fully assured
that he has rehabilitated himself as a
drawing card without the price Of
marred features or broken ribs.
If Luis Firpo beats Brennan he viii
loom big rs a rival to Dempsey willis
Floyd johnson can get all sorts Of
acclaim by slowing Tommy Gibbons
away. Thus, as far as material is
concerned, the heavyweight contenders
situation can do very well without VIII
lard and without Wills.
While the situation is thus indefinite,
Kearns, McKetrick and all the other
managers and promoters are wearing
the bewildered injured expressions Of
men who have had their iron hats
knocked in without knowing just how il
happened or who did il.