The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-30
CAPT. ROPER AND LOHMAN SIGNED FOR FIGHT HERE
Athletic Club Promoters Fi- nalIy Get The Match
 Settled

A bout between Joe Lohman and Captain Bob Roper emerges from the hope-for class and becomes a reality for Birmingham. These two slug ging stalwarts have signed a con tract to meet in the roped arena in Birmingham the night of october s, rain or shine, and every man for him. self. The argument is to be played over ten-hoIe course, providing one
 man does not sink the other for a putt before the arrival of the tenth gong. Announcement to this effect was made Saturday morning by Sig nor Dave Evans, matchmaker of the club, who rushed to and fro at the B. A. C., frothing at the mouth and his hair standing on end. with a flock of telegrams in his hand, and yelling, They've signed! The bouts onl"
 The cause of MT. Evans fervor was ris tirelesS efforts of the past two weeks to land the fight for the Bir- mingham Athletic club. Dave has spent so much money for tG1egrams that he feels like he owns half in terest In the well-known Western Union by now. Ever since two weeks ago when the announcement was made that Roper and Lohman would probably meet in a Birmingham ring, Dave has been as busy as a earm- ed man at a betting party Several times 1t loked like the bout was as good as clinched and then either Ro- per or Lohman would kick in with a telegram demanding this or that, and Evans and his buddies would go in to another siege of profanity.
 The truth of the matter is that Roper is leery of Lohman and Lon- man is leery of Roper. and each wanted to get as big a guarantee as possible out of the bout which will be staged here the night of october 8. It will be remembered that the two battlers first came into contact with each other in an Atlanta ring about 8 month ago. On that occa- sion they fought a fierce ten-round engagement which ended in a draw. The Atlanta press stated at the time that it was the fiercest fistic battle ever fought in Atlanta's ring history. That's the main reason the men were hesitant about signing for Birming- ham. Each realizes that it's a toss-up as to who is the best man, and should one be able to put over a kayo In the ten-round engagement the drawing power of the other from an attend ance standpoint would be killed in the south.
 It was Roper who finally spiked the deal for time, demanding a huge guarantee and transportation for his party of five. The club of ficials were finally successful in whittling the guarantee a bit and making an agreement to furnish transportation for a party of four. Roper announced his willingness to come for those terms Saturday morn ing by wire, and the receipt of this telegram cause quite a hubbub at the club.
 Roper's record Is known to Bir- mingham fans. He has knocked off some of the best heavyweights in the country and about a month ago he made his debut in Birmingham. This was against Tom Berry and Tom proved an easy set-up for Captain Bob. Local fans wondered how he would look going against real com petition and they will have the op- portunity of seeing this October &, when the two men meet in a local ring. Roper at the present time is helping Young Stribling for his bout with Mike McTigue, in Columbus, Ga, october 4. Roper has been placed on Strlbling's board of strategy and is also taking daily workouts with the Macon boy to help him out and also to do his training for his fight here with, Lohman. After the Strib- ling McTigue fight Roper will ship for Birmingham with his party and will finish up his training here.
 Lohman, aside from furnishing Roper the stiffest competition of his career, has been successful against other good heavies as well. His biggest achievement In the prize ring was polishing off Floyd John son. Floyd at one time was picked as Dempsey's next foe. but Jess Will lard spiked arrangements for such q bout by beating Johnson through his knowledge of ring generalship. Loh- man will meet Homer Smith in At lanta Tuesday night and local bugs will have their eyes glued on the outcome of this scrap. Immediately after his Atlanta engagement he will ship for Birmingham to continue his training for his bout with Roper here.
 Club officials figure that it Is the best card they have ever booked and state that a capacity house is assur- ed when these two heavies step in the B. A. c. ring against each other.