Evening star., 1924-08-03

Soon after this battle Tommy and his
manager, Eddie Kane. will ship to the
United States, as there are big things
in progress here. Chiefly, a match is on
the fire in which Gibbons will appear
against one of three men. Tunney, Jack
Renault or Harry Greb.
Doesn't Care for Gr~b.
Tommy, like other fighters. doesn't
care much for the Greb game The mid
dleweight king is too unorthodox in his
methods, and every fighter will tell you
that he had rather meet a s+ar who
works according to formula than some
freak, such as the Pitt windmill, who
does outlandish things and never can
De figured ahead of time Again. Greb
mas the uncanny faculty Of shooting I'D
nearly to 10 and being strong and
then dropping below l60 pounds with
out loss Of strength.
Harry would be right at home under
conditions insisted upon in Indiana. He
could slap and cuff to his hearts con-
tent and pile up a million points. Glib
pons would accept Tunney, no doubt
without loss of time. Tommy has al
ways been ready to meet Gene, who
has been the one to hold back
Nothing Gibbons has ever said would
suggest he holds the American light
heaVy champion very high Asked once
what he thought of him, he replied
laughingly that Gene uses very fine Eng
lish.
Iunney Is Coming Fast.
But Tunney has been coming along
fast OF late, and while those who like
him, including the writer, would quickly
recommend that he delay yet awhile be-
lore tackling Gibbons in a 15-roInd de-
cis1on contest there would seem TO be
no risk IN his going against the st
Paulian in State where decisions are
barred and where fighters realize that
knockout might jeopardize the fight
game in center that may soon become
lucrative place for the profession
In other words, Tommy and Gene
may be expected, if present arrange
ments go through, as Seems likely, to
put on very scientific, ntereSting
scrap, which will do a lot to help the
cause of pugilism in a State wherein
are contained many enemies to the
time-honored sport of hit, stop and
getaway.
AS for Renault, every one will wait
to see what he does with BARLEY
Madden on August II. Renault side
stepped Wills some months ago
pleading he wanted more time for de
velopment. But now he has become
warlike, and if he plasters BartIsy
good and proper he will probably
seek to meet the winner Of the Wills
Firpo fight of September IL.
Change Mind About Wills.
there has come a switch in the senti-
ment of those who are closest to the
fight game. For a time there was a
prevailing tendency to pick Wills as
almost a sure loser. But now the
wise ones are beginning to string
along with the writer, who has al
ways maintained that improper train
ing methods and gluttonous habits
have made of Firpo's midriff as weak
point as Bombardier Wells famous
glass jaw.
Harry is a hard body puncier and
Firpo will have to crack the negro
good and hard on the jaw early in the
fight if he hopes to get even an even
break.
Luis looks to be one of those bat
tiers who are in danger of going
down as fast as they have gone up.
The writer believes that Wills should
be favored in the betting and yet
realizes that Ffrpo's willingn ess to
take punishment and his ability 10
sock give him a. chance. The big
chances, the writer feels, are all with
Wills, and Wills should win. But as
said, Ffrpo has got enough stuff TO
apply to the outcome of the battle
that uncertainty which packs the
fight arenas with pop-eyed spectators.