San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-01
Heavies, Light-heavies and
Leonard's Bunch in
Center Stage.
SOME CHANGE In YEAR
Dempsey Accumulates Con-
siderable. Opposition,
for One Thing.
BY SPARROW M'GANN.

Copyright, by The San Antonio Light.
New York, March 31.-Interest in
the coming months of outdoor boxing
will center chiefly in the heavy, light
heavy and the lightweight classes. 1t
is particularly worth while now to
consider the change in the heavy
weight situation which a year has
brought.
Twelve months ago Jack Dempsey
stood pretty much alone in his di-
vision if we exclude Harry Wills,
who, because of his color, has not
been at all good prospect with the
promoters. Since then, more than
one promising contender has been de-
veloped, so that today it but remains
to be seen how the candidates for
the worlds title stand after the pro-
moters, mOtivated by the New York
State Athletic Commission, have
staged their elimination bouts.
The present situation is very much
rs it was after Corbctt returned from
his European rip, following his bat
tie with Charley Mitchell. When Cor
bett sailed overseas there was not
contender in sight, but when he got
back, Fitzsimmons, Jeffries, Shar-
key and Gus Rubin were all emery
ing as logical aspirants for the worlds
championship.
Ranks Jess Willard First.
Just now. jess Willard, Floyd
Johnson and Luis Firpo are outstand-
ing, in the order named. Wills, Of
course, remains. but it is difficult to
figure him out. Underground re-
port has it that he and Dempsey are
hooked up with some sort of an I'M
derstanding-which would account for
the strange silence of Wills and his
manager, Paddy Mulins-but just
what it is no one can ascertain.
Further in the background is a
new heavy named Jack McAuliffe, a
resident of Detroit. who has made n
great hit out on the west coast. Any
athlete. fighter or otherwise, who
comes East with the sanction of the
Pacific coast fans may be relied upon
as a real performer but just how good
he is probably will be determined May
II, when he meets Firpo.
Then there is "Tiny" Herman. an
other much-talked-of Western fighter,
who may eliminate some other as
pirants.
Willard and Floyd johnson will do
battle on May - and one or the other
will pass out of the limelight. tenn
porarily, at least, and the same ap-
plies to Firpo and McAuliffe. Any
way. it is good betting that Dempsey
will engage in at least two battles be-
fore the snow flies again.
McIfgus Iivens IL.
The Electromagnetic situation has
gained luster through the winning of
the worlds title from Sikh by Mike
McTiguc.
&. The best thing in the way Of
battle in this class from the stand
point Of promoters is McTigue versus
Carpenter. And the up and up is
that there will be fight between
the two staged in this country this
summer Carpenter still has his
right and McTigue will do well to
look out for it. The winner OF this
battle against Tunney, Tommy Glib
bons or Greb rounds out an allur-
ing outlook.
In the lightweight class, Benny
Leonard-the best drawing card in
the. country aside from Dempsey
probably will fight three times. II
looks MS though his battles would be
with Ray Pryall, Sailor Freedman
and Lew Tender in order. Tender
hasn't been heard of lately and il
looks as though he were playing a
sort of Harry Wills role.
All in all, there should be enough
scrapping in the open months to sat
isfy the most insatiate fan.