The Washington times., 1923-12-17

boxing solons promptly repudiatt
Tom Gibbons evidently is stated
for the first shot at the title. Glib
bons has been saving himself fol
this affair ever since. he met Demp
sey at Shelby and succeeded in re
naming on his feet for the entire
fifteen rounds. He has refused te
enter the ring since that bout, run
ming no chances of meeting with a
setback at the hands of one of the
Oontenders.
Gibbons is following the example
oct by Bill Brennan. When old Bill
succeeded in remaining erect for
twelve rounds of a fifteen round
bout with Dempsey he thought he
had performed a remarkable feat
and that another highly profitable
return match would surely follow
While he was waiting for the
return match 10 develop Brennan
refused to take any chances. he
= remained idle for nearly year,
passing up many an easy purse,
and then i'm the end he was dis
appointed, for the Boxing Com
mission ruled that he was not
good enough to tackle Dempsey.
About that time the commission
also ruled that Gibbons was too
small to be allowed to battle Demp-
sey. The Shelby affair seemed to
prove that this estimate of Gibbons
was all wrong. Gibbons not only
remained on his feet for the entire
distance, but he never was in trou-
lie and he actually won four
rounds.
There are many who believed
Dempsey carried" Brennan for a
return match, and that he did the
same thing with Gibbons. 1t is
not likely that he did anything of
the kind. Brennan Jared the
champion many times, cut his
mouth and ear and treated hIm de-
cidedly rough. With a little luck
he might have scored a knockout.
1t stands to reason that Dempsey
would not risk bis million-dollar as
Get for the mere chance of getting
another match with q second rater.
Ii is incredible to think that he
ness ability. Taking chance is
49,
The Same argument applies to
the DEMPSEY Gibbons bout. Glib
bOns Is not the hardest hitter In
the ring, but he is capable Of
stopping any man he hits on the
right spot. The fact that he
knocked cut tWenty-One men in
succession shows that he can sock.
It would be a ridiculous proceed
ing for Dempsey to let such a man
take free shots at his chin. Cham
ptons do not take such chances
and it is only those who do not
understand boxing and the possibili-
ties that think they do.
In the boxing world any one who
can inject a breath of scandal con-
aiders himself a "wise ONE In
this case the wise ones" convict
themselves Of knowing nothing
whatever about what they are talk
ing about. Dempsey has confessed
worse things than merely carrying
IN opponent, but he is no fool.
He would be decidedly foolish If
he allowed two husky fellows like
Brennan and Gibbons to shoot for
his chin without shooting back.
Under such circumstances any Sec
an even chance to win, for Demp-
gey is not much of a scientist, as
he has shown again and again.
A much better explanation of the
outcome Of the Shelby affair is that
Dempsey was off form after a long
period Of idleness. The next time
he meets Gibbons the result is
likely to be great deal more de-
cisive, but the match is sure to
draw we'll If held in New York
next summer.
1t h not at all improbable that
Dempsey will wind up Gibbons
In q hurry. Gibbons had q big
advantage last time because he
had been fighting steadily and
was In great shape. This time he
will be the one In need Of work.
Dempsey and a long layOff will
do him far more harm than the
comparatively young champion.
The way Gibbons and Firpo have
retired from the ring while waiting
return matches with Dempsey is
something of an insult to the in
telligence of ring followers. They
expect the support of the public
ana yet tney are doing nothing to
help themselves. From their ac-
lions it is plain that both are more
interested in big losers end than
their prospects of winning the title.
Gibbons needs work to keep in
shape, but he does not need it as
badly as Firpo. who lacks expert.
ence. II Firpo really thought he
had a chance to beat Dempsey he
would not be wasting the winter
months doing nothing. 1t looks as
though Louis is planning to grab
one more big purse and then give
up the ring.
A story from Los Angeles saws
that Jim Jeffries will train and
coach Firpo for the Dempsey match.
The last time Jim entered the ring
he had a lot of veteran fighters
coaching him, but it did not do
much good. When the gong rang
for battle Jeffries showed that he
had forgotten everything that he
ever knew about the fighting game.
After thirteen years of retirement
It is not likely that he can teach
Firpo anything.