Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-05-10
HANDICAPPING HARRY WILLS.

HANDICAPPING HARRY WILLS.
It is announced that Jack Dempsey
the heavyweight champion or the
world has been matched to fight the
wonderful black heavyweight fighter,
Harry Wills, commonly known as the
Black Panther" of New Orleans. In
the arena of heavy-weights, this re-
markable ,'son of Ham" stands preeml'
nent outside Of Jack Dempsey himself,
who occupies the throne" 1t is easy
to see that the public demand for this
match Is accentuated by the hatredl Oh
the American Legion, which organi"a-
ton dubs Jack Dempsey, a Stacker
and the leading members desire to see
Dempsey Inundated, even though a
colorsd man is the only person in the
world today qualified to accomplish the
tssk. lt,l-'- -.
But we are primarily interested in
present day conditions and the require
ments staged in order for Harry Wills
to Gift the title" Win or lose, so la
as it applies to the fighters themselves,
both will win for the money consider
ations are staggering. Tex Richard
the greatest promoter this country mas
ever produced is playing in favor OF
Jack Dempsey, by staging the affair IN
New Jersey, where the title cannot be
lost to Dempsey without a knockout,
the count of nine upon the floor OF a
ringed arena and Dempsey must pc
lying upon that floor.
In order for Wills to win, he must
have a prolonged contest, say fifteen
or twenty rounds. It Is an open quest
ion as to whether he will be able to
land the lucky punch" in the early
rounds. In order that he shall not &C.
complish that task, it is arranged that
he must engage in an elimination
bout with one of two South Americans.
Richard and Dempsey were more than
anxious for Wills to meet Luis Firpo.
who knocked Dempsey out of the ring,
but Firpo is evidently shy of Harry
Wills and money seems to have had no
effect upon him from the amount he
was offered to enter the contest. He has
given out an emphatic, No; let
Dempsey tackle him.
Still, Harry Wills and his manager
are ready to submit to the test and TO
meet Jack Dempsey under the hand!'
Gaping conditions imposed and with
the full knowledge that Dempsey must
be knocked out and be unable to rise
during the count of nine. Those. who
! know Wills best believe that he will be
able to meet the requirements. Can q
citizen of color win the championship
again? Will the spirit of fair-play exist
ent in the American public assert 1t
self? This is the over-shadowing ques
tion.
AS for the white men, most vitality
interested, the question of color is not
the consideration. 1t is question OF
money. To them, it is about the same
proposition as fight between a white
and black bulldog, white and a
black bull in Spanish arena, a white
and black rooster IN barn-yard
Race forms no part Of the contest. II
is which of these magnificent human
animals will provide the best sport for
the people, who are willing to pay the
price of admission.
Colored people will be vitality inter
ested all over the country. White peo'
pie South will laconically say, should
Dempsey be defeated, he got what he
deserved in fighting Negro and as for
the American Legion they will say that
one more Stacker got his deserts. ALI
of them are wrong however, for 1t is a
contest of one American citizen against
another and all good sports will quiet
ly remark, MAY the best man win"