San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-20
DEMPSEY WILL
FIGHT BEFORE
YEAR IS OVER
Kearns Says Champ Must
Stay In Shape and Fight
ing Only Way.
SIZES UP SITUATION
The-Holder's Manager
Talks Of Plans for the
Near Future.
BY ROBERT EDGREN.

BY ROBERT EDGREN.
Il Eyes, I've heard report that I'm
not going to fight for a year." said
Jack Dempsey when he came in from
Universal City, where he is getting
ready to train and take pictures
thorugh at least good part of the
summer.
That's news to me. Doc hasn't
told me about it. How about it,
Doc?"
DOC" Kearns laughed.
ITS news to me, too" he said. II
expect to have something doing by
Labor Day, at the latest. No fighter
can stay out Of the ring too long With
out going back. Fighting now and then
Is worth all the training in the world.
Jack hasn't any idea of retiring for a
long time. and he's going to take the
best that come along, as often as the
promoters show US something to fight
for.
It's no fault of Dempsey's and
mine that we aren't matched for a
bout, this spring. Everybody talks
about challenges and matches and
when you try. to pin something down
where you can get action there's moth
ing but more talk. The promoters
don't get anywhere. I'm q business
man and like to cut out the talk and
get action. There was no action in
sight that / could see, SO we fixed
up this moving picture contract to
keep Jack busy for awhile. Dempsey
lis one of the best business assets in
the world and its foolish 10 let him
wait around doing nothing while every
body talks"
"How about Firpo." Kearns was
asked.
Y Expects Luis to Fight.
Hell change his mind again." said
kearns. II expect to get him be-
fore the seasons over. You can't
blame FirpO for remembering that he
Twas socked on the button. but he'll
be back. Is he dangerous? Well, there
were moments when , thought he vas
dangerous last September. But Demp-
sey knows all about him now, and I
ion't think the next fight will go far.
~ we made any mistakes last time they
won't be repeated. Did you ever no.
tice what happens the second time
Jack meets man? There was Carl
Morris at New Orleans. Jack knew
every move Morris would make. He
got Morris with the first sock and
Carl fell on his face with his tongue
put so far they had to get the resin
off It with a scraper.
"Wills?"
There's been too much Wills talk"
said Eesrns. Jack is ready to take
him any time the public wants the
match and reliable promoter makes
p fair offer for it. Nobody knows
the complications, connected with
matching Jack up with Wills. When
he New York Boxing Commission put
I up to us to sign for Wills couple
Ipf years ago they never thought we'd
10 1t. We surprised them by signing
he moment they showed us the ar
ticles. We wanted that fight. But
he moment it was known Jack was
willing, politics stepped in and the
match making was blocked. It's been
blocked ever since. always something
The promoters couldn't get over. Wills
hasn't done anything in the last two
pr three years that makes the public
anxious to see him fight Dempsey.
For my part, I'd rather have Wills
ihan two or three others I could
lame, as far as taking chances is
Concerned. l knew Wills when he was
lighting Sam Langford and Sam Nc
Fey and other good men In California
en years ago. He was at his best
hen and he wouldn have worried me
{ | had Dempsey against him. Wills
fould punch in those days. Now he
pas to hold man to sock him. He
las slowed up. He's bigger than Jack.
ut he isn't as strong as Jack. If he
ought Jack / wouldn't care whether
he was allowed to hold and hit or
lot. 1t would be pie for Jack. Wills
an't fight without holding and IL he
ried to hold Dempsey he'd be torn to
ieces. Jack likes nothing better than |
ID have man itick close to him |
here he can dc little inside stuff. |
Wills gets away with it with men ne |
Rn handle. Jack is stronger in the |
rms and shoulders than Wills. and |
Willis would think he was trying TO |
old wildcat
Any Time He's Ready.
"Penault? He was a good sparring
nRrtner for Jack at Atlantic City and |
ve'ft coming along fine. He shoSs |
pod sense not trying TO get match |
18th Dempsey yet. He can have his
nance any time mes ready. Dempsey
pesn't bar anybody. the public wants. I
liz business is boxing and when he
Init good enough to hold the cham
ionshir the sooner we know it the
etter. Dempsey never will stall along
nd hold the title Ly lodging matches.
Hes in the same position today that
i'm Jeffries was after he beat Nun
be and there wasn't anyone in sight
= give him real battle Jeffries
Popped out and made the mistake of
Hating too long before coming back
Vto' the gene. Dempsey may not
1t fights as often as we'd like. but
Rs going to Keep in shape and be
krdv for anything that turns up"
Sure" said Dempsey. "Nobody's
fer going to call me a sheik because
take on picture or a theatrical
IN. That's just business that comes
handy when there's nothing doing
my real line. Boxing is the thing
hi interested in. l only wish they'd j