Evening star., 1925-01-31

In making claim to the heavyweight
title, Gibbons also announced he was
out OF the heavyweight ranks
and that he had withdrawn forfeit
moneys he had formerly posted for
matches with some of the men in the
light-h heavyweight division One of
the funds drawn down was for a
meeting with Gene Tunney.
Gibbons decision to eliminate him
self from the lighter division came at
the end of his training for the Her
man bout. In preparation for this
go, as an experiment he reduced as
far as he thought desirable and
dried OUT as much as possible. The
result was 1791a pounds. Some of
Gibbons trainers thought he had
drawn too fine for a fight even
against a man Of Herman's class.
Ready for All Comer..
Gibbons feels the experience OF New
York promoters, known to the New
York Boxing Commission, in attempt
ing to get some of the heavier men
into the ring with him for the bout
in which he eventually met kid
Norfolk is a part of the basis for
championship claims.
II have been open to meet any of
in making emphatic declaration that
he was open to meet any logical
heavyweight contender, "and l am
open now to meet any men of the
class who will get into the ring with
me. Wills probably is in the lead
for consideration for a. match, and
am ready to box him. Firpo and
Jack Renault are other possibilities
and l have been, and am, open to meet
them.
TT is not a crime 10 claim some
thing that is lying dormant, is it?
Gibbons commented. when asked il
his introduction before the Herman
fight as a claimant" of the heavy
weight title meant he was picking VI
the crown Dempsey was abdicating.
II may never be champion of the
world" was his parting shot after
he had made it plain he did claim the
title, but l want to tell you l have
five kiddies at home that are world
champions all the time"
Kearns Has His Say.
LOS ANGELES, Calf, January 81
When Jack Dempsey loses his punch
he will be retired as heavyweight
boxing champion, and Jack Kearns
his manager. will tell him when that
is, Kearns announced in an interview
giving his opinion of the hue and cry
recently raised over Dempsey's re-
peated admissions that he and Estelle
Taylor expected to be married May 90
and that he would probably quit
fighting" about the same time.
kearns admitted he was resigned
to the fact that Dempsey intends TO
marry the motion picture actress. He
expects to hear wedding bells, but
he cannot believe their Jingle will
sound the knell of Dempseys ring
career.
Il know Dempsey has talked about
retiring for a long time" he said
Just like doctors, lawyers. bankers
and others who get tired of the pro-
fession they are in. Jack has felt
that he wanted to pack his gloves
away in moth balls. He also has a
conviction that there is no one in the
game today capable of giving him a
real fight"
Kearns smiled.
But Dempsey is too young to re-
tire" he continued. He's only %,
and he has a lot of good fights in
his system yet.
Furthermore, think I'll retire him
when I decide that he is through as
a fighter.
Don't ever get the idea that our
contract is up when Dempsey steps
to the altar. l have no contract with
Dempsey for his services in the ring
except his word with me. It's been
good enough for both of US for eight
years. 1 guess it will be good enough
for some time to come.
when 1 said fight, Dempsey