The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-09-11
SOCK
LIKELY To
DECIDE It
Dave Walsh Wary Of Naming
Winner in Big Bout
Tonight
BY DAVIS ]. WALSH.


NEW YORK, Sept. 11.-Luis
Angel Firpo, alleged wild bull,
and Harry Wills, so-called black
panther, are scheduled to appear
in a twelve-round frolic at Jersey
City tonight for the edification
of those who like their blood
served red, rare and flowing. and
knowing all there is to be known
about the principals, the man who
tries to pick a winner must have
a frayed cuff in his family closet.
In the accepted sense Of the
terms, Firpo is no more a wild
bull than Harry Wills a panther.
The titles are libelous to the ami
mails in question.
The bull doesn't live that cannot
accept a wound for what It may be
worth and come on for more. The
writer is pleased to believe that the
same doesn't apply to Firpo. And
what may be said for a panther
with broken claws and a weak jaw,
such as Wills is repnted to feature?
From all appearances, 1t win be
a meeting between two big. tremen-
dously strong men who can deal out
punishment but cannot take Il.
Theirs apparently is the theory that
It is more blessed to give than to
receive. It will be question Of the
man landing the hardest punch first,
and in spite Of Wills cleverness,
he cannot be staked to preference
in this respect without first proving
that he rates that distinction. The
same goes for Firpo. There will be
a winner tonight but the writer
knows him not.
The loser? II may be our Mr..
Richard. Favored by excellent
weather and an attraction that
has the sharpshOoters divided
against themselves, he may have
to accept financial loss on the
venture, owing to FirpO's Difficult.
ties with the law.
Failing in their efforts to have
the senior deported before the bout
and in a subsequent attempt to
have the fight outIawed, New
Jersey reformers are threatening
the arrest Of Firpo under the Mann
Act and will seek a warrant for
his arrest before Federal Judge
Runyon in Newark today. The
possibility that Firpo may be
arrested in fighting toys, as he
climbs into the ring, has added to
the gaiety Of the occasion but not
to the gate receipts.
Those benefited not at all by
Firpo,s troubles, which have caused
the customers to abstain from
ticket buying on the theory that a
buck in the hand is worth two in
the box office. They feared q
postponement or cancellation, and
in consequence, the advance sale
has not exceeded 100000. OF this,
Wills is supposed to draw $3.50, 900
and Firpo a guarantee Of 500 900,
with the privilege of cut in the
receipts.
However, our Mr.. Richard looks
entrances today and tonight, and
has made arrangements to care
for a crowd Of 60 900.
1t will be a cosmopolitan gather.
ing, II ever there was one. Albert
Edward, the Prince Of Wales, viii
appear in person. 40 viii Jack
Dempsey, the king Of heavyweights,
with whom the winner may be
matched. Both are royalty, the
first by divine right, tho second by
force OF circumstances. They repre-.
sent only one of many contrasts
with which the gathering win
abound.
All In all, IL will be q spacious
occasion, the most significant, IN
fact, that pugilism has known IN
recent seasons, barring Champion
ship fights. It will furnish Wills
his chance for shot at the biz
money and possibly the cham.
pionship; 1t will stake Firp.D %
the chance Of redeeming his two
round knockout at the hands VI
Dempsey.
And all caulinower alley, from
one end to the other, hasn'+ the
slightest idea OF the winners
identity, say what it might. A
symposium Of the experts this
morning showed as many picking
wills as picked Firpo. ard none
could give a logical reason for his
choice.
They only know that both men can
nit; that Firpo carries the most
menace with right that may never
land; that Wills punches more &C.
curately but has hands as fragile as
wine glass; that Wills is in ex.
cellent condition and that Firpo's
difficulties have not been conducive
to the proper serenity of mind, vet
that Wills is comparatively old and
has not made a good fight in years,
including his sorry exhibitions with
Madden and Glenn Johnson. while