The Washington times., 1924-02-19

his mind.
"Tex told me, however," says
propositions that would interest
this afternoon.
Meanwhile Dempsey is complet-
ing his triumphal tour Of the South.
He ends his exhibitions at Wash
1ngton, D. c., this week and win
hurry to New York. Kearns says
the champion IL in wonderful physi-
cal fettle and pulling out large
crowds everywhere.
Jack would like to find some
thing to do between now and the
summer season." declares Kearns.
I'VE win even take a fight at
the Garden If Richard can dig up
an opponent. However, the sort of
against Dempsey on short notice
would not do, I'm afraid. We would
be accused Of taking on a 'set-up'
70 get some easy money.
dempsey is anxious to defend
his title at least three times next
summer. am not kidding when
I sRy he could take ON any Of his
Challengors within three weeks.
He is In good fighting trim, aS
he has been boxing almost every
night and taking ON all Corners.
We wouldn't want . long siege
Of training"
Since the departure Of Kearns
and Dempsey six months ago, there
has been practically no talk Of q
match between the champion and
Tom Gibbons here early next sum-
nnar.
Eddie Kane said he had accepted
terms for Gibbons, but Kearns has
ton. Gibbons and Kane dropped
of the pugilistic map suddenly and
there hasn't been a peep out OF
them since.
II Rickard promotes this match
% his first big heavyweight show,
he probably will stage 1t in New
Jersey. The general opinion, how
ever, is that Gibbons will not get
the first crack at the champion.
Certain political angles, it is be-
Neved, will kill off any prospect
Of a Dempsey match in New York
before the national Democratic
convention. They would not, how
ever, prevent Rickard from doing
his stuff in Jersey. Tex insists he
has not the remotest notion OF
going into Connecticut, building az
arena there and flirting with nut.
meg politics. He has taken the
Jersey cure for that.
Kearms Is not keen about .
al
doesn't think Tom will be an at
''Gibbons had a great chance to
build himself up as a real con-
tender after he stayed fifteen
rounds with Dempsey" declared
Dapper Jack. Instead Of that he
quit fighting, went into vaudeville
and hid himself. In the East they
have almost forgotten Tom because
he hasn't done any fighting since
last July. He used to be quite a
busy fellow. Now he mas let a
great chance slip away from him.
eff Dempsey is to have only
two big scraps next summer he
naturally prefers Firpo and Wills
as his opponents. I'll be fraak
with you. I don't want to see
Wills and Ftrpo come together, be-
cause that would spoil one fight
for the champ. That's our way
Of looking at 1t.
evils wouldn't be as good an
attraction as FirpO unless he first
liked FfrpO. Even so, he is big
and clever, and many persons
would pick him to beat the cham.
~aAn,n I1~1 avaRir HNkRrN~
''NoW as to Gibbons. Tom ran
and hung on at Shelby. He made
Dempsey look bad, I'll admit. But
at no time did he figure to bring
the champion down. Gibbons has
stopped many bush fighters, but
II he were matched with Dempsey
again you would not find many
experts who could be persuaded
that he has even an outside chance
70 stop Dempsey. He is too much
Of a defensive fighter"
Kearns does not take any stock
IN the possibility Of Wills and Firpo
coming together early in the sum-
mer.
"Those promoters are shooting at
the MOON" he says. '"They are
talking ridiculous prices for the
fighters. Where are they going to
get the money to pay off? Richard
takes chances, but he declares that
q promoter who bids more than
100000 for Wills and Firpo is
taking a foolish gamble. Then sup
pose Dempsey and Gibbons were
matched to fight about the same
time. How would they make out
then? You've got to have a title
at stake for those big shots.
eff Richard makes us o prop
OsitiOn to fight Wills early In the
summer, I'll take il. Personally,
/ doubt whether that bout will
take place this year. There are