The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-08-19


after Dempsey was informed that
his fight with Tunney had been
shifted to Philadelphia, revealed
that Richard transferred the fi9ht
to the Quaker city at the cham
pion's insistence. It reads in part
as follows:
"Since the license committee re-
fused to grant me license, / sent
my manager, Gene Normile, to
New York to demand that Tex
Richard shift the fight to Phila.
delphia.
III will never again defend my
title i'm New York State. My
attorney tells me that / could
easily win in court and force the
committee to give me a license,
but n the Farley .PheIan-Wear
combination does not want me
surely will not intrude."
"Since I won the championship
In 1919 | wanted q bout with Wills.
The powers that be in New York
and the responsible promoters
throughout the country do not want
a heavyweight championship bout
with a negro and they have care
fully prevented 1t from taking
place. The Jack johnson mess
killed fight pictures and nearly
killed the game and the men who
control the sport are scared to
death of q repetition. Meanwhile
have had to be the goat and remain
silent while have been accused
OF running away.
"Thrse years ago when I fought
Firpo and Wills tried to tie W me
boxing commission with an in:linc-
ton, the commission openly stated
that no responsible promoter had
come forward to stage Wills bout.
That was true then and has been
true ever since.
THE commission did. not want 4.
antagonize the Negro race. Since
then, however, in so.-.e unknown
way, their hands have been called
and they have tried to cover up
and force me into a Wills bout
with some such promoter as Tom
O'Rourke.
II do not know anything about
O'Rourke's tie-up with the boxing
authorities, nor do care. II any
bulIdozing of the boxing authorities
has induced Tex Richard to under
take the job of promoting a Wills
bout, Tex knows he could have had
my signature to any contract he
wanted to write.
"For the past year / have
Travelled thousands Of miles and
spent much time trying to book
Wills for q fight. I have never
drawn the color line. Wills was
the only man ] wanted.
"In September Of last year
signed papers in Niles, Mich, for
Wills bout, but 1t fell through
because the promoters could not
put up the initial $125,00O that was
to be paid me on signing the con-
tract.
incidentally. got for Wills
$4,000 cash at that time which he
has never turned back to the pro.
moters. did not get a red cent
for myself.
I'm October, at Huntington. w.
Va, we again met, only TO see the
match fall through because the
would-be promoters could not put
up the necessary $4,000.
I'm March OF this year, at Los
Angeles. we went through the mo-
lions again and the initial and
necessary payment, this time $780,
600, was not forthcoming.
Finally, Richard came along and
offered me a match. He will tell
you wanted Wills-Not Tunney.
But Richard induced me to leave the
naming Of my opponent to him. I
did so and he named Tunuey as
the logical man. will keep faith
with Richard and with Tunney, and
we will fight it out In Philadelphia,
and when that is over I am going
to give some attention to Harry
Wills and his manager, Paddy Null
Inns.
"ThOse who have tried to pro.
mote the Wills match have real
lied that every possible wire in
opposition to IL Is being pulled
by every refOrmer and publicity
seeker in the country.
But that bout will take place If
I am still the champion after the
Tunney match. l refuse longer to
remain silent and be the goat. I
will fight or I will know the reason
why. 1 want everyone that is in.
terested to know that I am open
for bids for a Wills bout. to take
place not later than January I,
1927, to take place anywhere in the
United States or Mexico, except In
the State OF New York. If we can.
not stage this fight in the United
States, then We will take it to
Tia Juana.
For the benefit OF Mr.. Mullins
and Mr.. Wills, who have been such
favorites with the boxing authorities
of New York, my friend and man.
ager, Gene Normile, on my behalf
In AnAn,, donnaitnd