Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-27

Maybe Richard knows Just how the
situation stands and for this reason
passed up Harry in favor of Tunney.
Some day the story will out, but Just
now all that can be done is TO pick
up tips and hints and plain gossip.
1t does look as though Dempsey
and Tunney would appear in Jersey
City. Richard has been renovating
the big wooden bowl on Boyle's Thirty
Acres and has been conducting bouts
there to pay for the repairs. He must
have had some good inside informa-
ton or he never would have defied
the New York Boxing Commission as
he did this week.
How Richard Can Proceed.
For one thing, the commission has
no control over Dempsey or Tunney.
since neither holds a license to box
in this State. Should the New York
board call on the Jersey board to
refuse sanction for the bout, the Jer
sey solons no doubt would rule that
they are powerless to act. inasmuch
as the fighters have violated no New
York ruling, since they are not under
the jurisdiction of the New York
body. This is ore way out of 1t.
Another would be for Richard TO
sell the contracts of both fighters to
a Jersey promoter.
1t is said that Harry Ertle. who
was the third man in the ring In
the Dempsey-Carpentie battle. is the
party who might buy. Ertle IS
political power in Jersey and great
friend of Mayor Hague of Jersey
City.
Despite all opinions to the contrary,
Richard has done nothing much for
the boxing game other than to In
augurate prohibitive prices for bouts
and to pay fighters unheard-of purses
Seats Climb From S. to $50.
Before the advent of Richard as
full-f1edged promoter SIS was con-
sidered a good price for a front seat.
and champions were willing to fight.
Now Tex thinks nothing of asking $50
for a ticket.
The public has been gulled and ban1-
boozled to an extent where 1t is will
ing TO pay for a "ringSide" seat at
battle with no assurance that the
fight can viewed.
The Dempsey Firlo battle is an In
stance. The ''ringside" seats stretch
ed on the level throughout the playing
field. and when the fight began and
fans stood up only those in the hrst
few rows could see what was going
on. And 81 or So was charged III
the farther reaches of the stands and
bleachers. where all that could be
seen was two indistinct figures mill
ing about in the glare of the cleo
trio lights.
Boxing Game Has Suffered.
The Carpenter Dempsey battle was
hunk from the start. Richard Is
responsible for the prima donnas OF
the game. The chances are that
Dempsey would have been real
fighting champion had not Richard
spoiled him with arter-million-dollar
purses.
So, with the big fellows getting un-
heard of purses, other promoters with
less backing have suffered and the
boxing game would be better today IL
Richard had kept out of 1t.
AS for Tunney, he has been idle
since November. when he fought
Johnny Risko, and a bad fight it was
for Gene. There is a likelihood that
he is under contract right now
which prevents him from fighting till
he meets Dempsey. This is another
practice of Richards and it has not
endeared him to the boxing gentry or
the fight fans.
Harry Wills has been shelved. He
| wanted Mullins to disregard Richard
and get him some bouts against other
men. But Mullins listened to other
counsel and now is out of luck.
(Copyright. 1926.)