New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-03-09
DEMPSEY WILLING
TO MEET ANYONE
Former Champion Places Future
in Hands Of Tex RiCkard

New York, March a.-tPl- Jack
Dempsey's pugl!istic future rested
today in the hands of Tex Richard
The former heavyweight champion
has empowered Richard to match
nm against any opponent In the
elimination tournament now under
way at Madison Square Garden.
Return of the former "Manassa
Mauler" to the ring he forsook after
Gene Tunney whipped him in the
rain at Philadelphia last fall COM
pletes the string of challcngers now
grooming for the champions first
title defense in September.
Dempsey wired the promoter yes
terday from California that he was
ready to fight any contender Rick
ard might choose and that it made
little difference to him who that
contender is. The recent infection of
his hand and arm. result Of a finger
scratch, now has left his system, he
said, and in week he expects 10
start training in a mountain camp.
Richard. elated at the return to
lists Of the most c03orful drawing
card in fistiana, Immediately laid
plans for two Dempsey matches.
The first would bring the former
champion against Pauline Uzcudun,
another entertaining mixer, at the
Yankee Stadium the first week in
June, The matCn will hinge on the
Spaniard's showing against Tom
Hecney, of New Zealand, in the last
indoor match of the series March
%.
Then II Dempsey proves he again
is the weaving battcring figure that
ruled the boxing kingdom for seven
years after crushing Jess Willard at
Toledo in 1919, Eickard will match
him against the winner of the Jack
Sharkcy-Jimmy Naloney battle
scheduled for May 10 at the Yankee
bail yard.
The possibility also appeared that
Jack Delaney. who lost a fierce
struggle 10 Jimmy Maloney, will he
given another chance to prove his
worth against Pauline or Heeney.
The LIGHT heavyweight champion
contonded that he fractured a wrist
in the Maloncy fight and entered
the ring with a bad muscle injury
received in training.
News of Dempsey's return 10 the
rcsined battlefield encouraged
Humbert j. Fugazy. Richards
Metropolitan rival in the promoting
field 10 send his matchmaker. Lew
Raymond 10 California with an Of
fer for the former champion TO box
at the Polo grounds here this sum-
mer, Richard, however, is under
stood to hay" an agreement cover
ing Dempsey's ring activities.
The tall Texan is "tickled TO
DEATH TO hear Of Dempsey's deci-
sion. Il have felt all along that
he would try to come back but
while the doubt has existed my
plans have been up in the air. Now
| can go ahead and complete the
program with the assurance that
all the contenders will have a
chance 10 battle for the right TO
face Tunney." he said.
The promoter also is convinced
that Dempsey, once again close TO
ms former fighting power, is a more
formidable contender for the title
than any of the present crop.
II" won't be harassed legally
and otherwise this time as he was
before the Tunney fight" Richard
SAID, Free from worry and serious
" applying himself 10 conditioning.
| believe he will have an excellent
chance of fighting his way back to
the title. One preliminary fight will
prove whether he has lost his hit
ting powers FOR good but at any
rate, Dempsey has answered the
critics who insisted he was not en-
titled to 3 return championship
match without first testing his
ability"
II Dempsey returns to the east
he is expected 10 train at Saratoga
Springs, where he conditioned for