New Britain herald., 1927-09-19
.GRUDGE fight, IS
Being INDICATED
Dempsey Sends ''0pen Letter" TO
Gene Tunney

Chicago. Sept. ~ Pl-Wlth both 1
sladiators pronounced IN the pink
their training sieges completed eS-
cept for few light and artistic fin
ishine touches. the three-day inter- /
val before the Dempsey-Tunney
heavyweight championship battle
Thursday promised today to develop
into a battle OF open letters
The opening salyo of literary
broadsides, lending d breezer touch
to the "ballyhoo" for the greatest
ring spectacle of all time, came from
Jack Dempsey in the form OF an
open letter" 10 Gene Tunney copy
r!ghted and published in this morn
inS's issue Of the Chicago Herald
and Examiner.
Recalling gossip that the title
fight last September in Philadelphia
VAS fixed" but at the same time
admitting he was beaten fairly and
eduarcly," Dempsey's letter re-
yiyed discussion of the so-called bust
ness agreement made just prior to
the 1926 battle, in which Billy Glib
son, Tunney's manager agreed TO
( pay Max Goo Boo) Hoff, Philadel-
phia fight figure, % per cent OF Tun-
|poy'S earnings, providing the for
inner marine won the title, in con-
~iGoration Of a proposed loan Of
$20,n0o by Hoff to Gibson. Gibson
! however, did not get the loan and
Ioff did not collect the % per cent.
Dempscy's letter." as furnished
{ ny tn Herald and Examiner, de
voted most OF its approximately L.
G0o words 10 questions relating to
1.-THE Hoff-Gibson contract, talk OF al
LEGGED "heaNy pluuging' on Tunnoy
at Philadelphia by gamblers and Cos
sip of the fight being fixed for
Gene 10 win.
In Il 44-word reply, also pub
ushed as an open letter" Tunn"y
labelled pcmpscy's literary produo-
ton IS trash" questioned the for
.inor champions craftsmanship and
concluded with this postscript;
"P. s. ! might add that wrote
This letter myself
The Herald and Examiner an
,nounced that it would publish an
o.hcr remarkable open letter UNI
Idcr Dcmpsey'S signature tomorrow,
thus suggesting to the war CORES
Ipondents that more words than
blows may be exchanged before the
debate is settled in the ten-round
title bout at Soldier field.
Tunncy, however, is not likely to
reply TO any further communiQueS
from the challenger, The Champion
,ohyiously annoyed by literary turn
tof events not in harmony with ms
own tastes in such affairs. indicated
rather strongly to his friends that
he would let his fists finish the ar
gument in the ring.
The effect Of the open letter
.nisodcs today was viewed by the
rorroSpond,nts largely as a trans
parent attempt TO surround the
forthcoming titlc battle with a
"grudgc" aspect. This is in contrast
with the rather friendly manner, out
Of the ring. in which Jack and Gene
previously have treated each other
Attitudes OF mutual admiration
and respect had been shown by hotn
fighters before as we'll as after their
championship conflict last year.
While the battle OF the open l"i-
tors" was calling forth use OF "o-
noint headline type, Dempsey ana
Tunncy went through their last hard
workouts Yesterday. the challenger
before critical gathering of news
panermen only and the champion
. before IA crowd of 1000. Both gave
) brisk performances, marked by de'
: cisive punching, that aroused 10 en-
) tthusiasm most Of the assembled eN'
: pcrts. Both declared themselves II
| and ready for the battle.
| Tumcy's right eye, twice injured
and a subject of much concern
) seemed entirely healed but he VII
take no further chances with l
Iprior TO the light. Roadwork ant
hight exercising arc expected Il
comprise the tapering- off process"
OF the nest few days.