New Britain herald., 1926-01-02
RICHARD PREDICTS FOUR NEW CHAMPS.
Tex Says Dempsey Will Defend
 His Crown Twice This Year

New York, Jan. Pl-TcX Rick lard predicts that American pugil- ism in 1926 will bring forth four new worlds champions and two heayywcight title battles in which Jack Dempsey will face Harry Wills and Gene Tunncy, in an article to- day, in the Evening World under his own name.
 The titeholders to lose their crowns, Rickard forecasts, will be Harry Greb, middcweight, Rocky Kansas. lightweight, Louis Uiid) Kaplan, fcatherweight, and Charley (PhiD Rosenberg, bantamwcight. The first two. he explained. must give way 10 youth. while the feather weight and bantam champions must combat the handicap of weight making"
 Rickard continued:
 Next 10 the crowning of new champions, the most important fea- lures of the year, to my way of thinking, will be the unusual num- Der of newcomers who will make good in New York, also the pass ing out of the picture of most of the all too numerous outdoor tistic arenas. Outdoor boxing. with it's uncertainty as 10 satisfactory weather conditions. also the dearth of the kind of attractions necessary to outdoor matchmaking, will find itself under q handicap, now that the new Madison Square Garden is realized fact with all-year-round boxing feature.
 My new arena, with seating capacity of close to 20.000 has a capacity greater than that of any of the open air boxing centers, aside from the Yankee Stadium. Polo Grounds and Doyles thirty acres. , "L know of only four possible matches right now that would eX' ceed the capacity of Madison Square . Garden. The matches in question are the return meeting of Paul Der , lcnbach and Jack Delaney, Pau Berlenbach vs. Gene Tunney, ant , Jack Dempsey in bouts with Tunne. 7 and Harry Wills.
 l q am positive that Dempsey vii defend his heavyweight crown twic , this year and will take on both Tun l ney and Wills. l expect to promot { the matches in which Dempsey vii make his rcentry in the ring. As have not predicted change in tn heavyweight division, ] must admi that figure Jack will successful defend his laurels."
 Rickard expressed the opinio that tho light heavyweight crowr held by Pauil Berlenbach, lis eve more firmly set than is Dempsey Berlcnbach's only serious threat Jack Delaney, while Dempsey mus combat his long period Of idlcnes from the ring. l am inclined to rat Berlenbach as far greater fightt than he is generally given credit ft being"
 Rickard predicted that tse weltel weight king Mickey Walker, wouI have his hands full if he gay worthy challcngers opportunities lift the title, mentioning Tommy Mi ligan, the European titleholdcr, an Willie Harmon of New York as col tenders that must be rechoned wit
 Strong opposition from kansa he declared, could be expected frol Phil McGraw, Sid Ferris, Samn
 MandelI, Jack Bernstein and Jimn Goodrich, among others.
 It was Richards opinion th
 Kaplan will make q worthy co' tender for the junior lightwcig
 honors, recently won by Tod Morga
 "Kaplan is q champion at heart ar
 at 13O pounds will be even mo
 tireless than he is at the feathc
 weight limit" was the promoter
 view.
 Rickard forecast that Fidel
 Barba, new fyweight champio
 would strengthen his hold on q
 title. My one view of this youngst
 was enough to convince me tn
 here is a great little fighter, one WI
 will be even greater within anoth
 six months" he asserted.