The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-12
MACKS MELANGE
r EAvYwEIGHT boxing circles

:" EAVYWEIGHT boxing circles
IT continue to become more mud
died with the passing of each
week. With Jack Dempsey occupy
ing the highest perch in pugilism.
and continual claims being made
that today there is no one good
enough for a crack at Jacks cham
pionship, fandom eyes the situation
rather uneasily. for chances seem
dim for titular bout before the
middle of the summer, or later.
Jess Willard yesterday worked
out before a gathering of scribes and
promoters and press reports stated
the big Kansan is in better condition
than he WI month before that ia
nous July Fourth battle not so
many summers ago, when Jack the
Demp knocked the crown from the
graying head of big Jess.
Will Brennan Friday night will
meet Floyd Johnson, western bat
tier, in the first big bout of the year
at Madison Square Garden. Boxing
fandom has been showing an I'M
usual amount of interest in this
bout and it is regarded as highly
important in the clearing up of the
heavyweight proble-..
Dempsey's next opponent may
be decided by the Brennan
johnson bout. If johnson should
slip one over ON Brennan, he
would surely be groOmed for an
immediate bout with Jack. II
Bill should happen to show sen
sationaI form against johnson,
he and willard would more than
likely be matched in an elimina-
tiOn bout to determine Demp-
sey's opponent.
Fandom seems inclined to rule Joe
Beckett, Harry Wills and Tommy
Gibbons out of it for the present.
so far as bout with Dempsey Is
concerned. Beckett has been proven
of only second rate ability. while
the color question has hindered
Harry Wills. Promoters seem to
think Gibbons all right in his way,
but not weighing enough. where
Dempsey is concerned. Gibbons and
Jack are the same type of fighters,
one might say, and Dempsey is con-
sidered to have it over Tom in both
speed and punching ability.
Has Prexy Dunn, of the BaIti-
more Orioles, made good on the
promise he is reported to have
madef international league mo-
guls claim Dunn promised to dis
pose of some of his stars, and
press dispatches from Boston
state that the Red SOx will get
two of the brightest of these stars.
maybe Shortstop Boley and Out 1
fielder jacobson. Max Bishop.
infielder. ~sas also mentioned as a
probable Red Sox acquisition.
Just what status the Barons occupy
in relation to the major leagues. with
the new major minor draft ruling in
effect, is not exactly clear yet. Prexy
John D. Martin, head of the Southern
league. a few days ago issued a states
ment to the effect that the Southern
would work in accord to Judge Lam
dis rulings and major-minor agree
ments. That means, of course, that
the Baronial club must do as the rest
of the league does
Birmingham is getting Danny
Clarke from Detroit this year. Other
players will more than likely be sent
to the Barons by major league outfits.
The new ruling. which went into eff
feet Wednesday. means that the big
league clubs from whom these new
Barons come have first claim on their
cervices, and can recall them via the
draft.
Only five leagues-Pacific Coast.
International, American Association.
Western. and Three Eye-are in open
rebellion against the new ruling,
claiming that it is merely another
way of enforcing the draft. on the
minors.