The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-07-21

New York, July 2l.-(P)-Morc than
$4,000 persons from all over the Uni
ted States will gather in the Yankee
Stadium tonight to watch Jack Demp-
sey Of Los Angeles stake his hitting
power against the youth, speed and
ring cleverness Of Jack Sharkey Of
Boston in the Is round bout that is
to produce the challenger for Gene
Tunney's heavyweight championship.
Betting odds were quoted variousiy
- to 5, IL to 10 and 2 to l, with
Sharkey, the favorite. Several bro
kerage concerns reported . shortage
Of Dempsey money.
Is FavOrite
Without question Dempsey will es-
say the comeback role as the great
est sentimental favorite in ring his
tory. That partly explains why the
former champion goes into battle on
the extremely short end Of the wager
ing. The heart Of the crowd will be
with the ManasSa mauler, and it he
overcomes tonight what q majority
Of boxing critics think is mighty
obstacle. he is assured tremendous
acclaim, far greater than any he ever
knew as the champion.
Dempsey is 80 years old. Sharkey.
whose real name is Josef Paul
Cukoschay, is rs. He is of Lithu-
anian ancestry.
Dempsey's return to the ring after
his miserable showing against Tun-
ney at Philadelphia last year is the
magnet that is to draw the third
largest crowd in ring history, the
Tunney- Dempsey and the Dempsey
Carpenter bouts alone eclipsing it.
In both Of those a championship was
involved.
Arrives from Saratoga
The former CHAMPION and his man.
ager, Leo p. Flynn, came to New
York last night from Saratoga, con-
fident that the outcome OF the classic
would be satisfactory.
Still, it is the question OF Demp-
sey's condition that adds to the ~, un-
certainty regarding the outcc-.- The
Dempsey Of Toledo. most observers
are convinced, would dispose OF the
Sharkey of today without much dlf-
ficulty-but Demnsey is much older
somewhat slower and there IS grave
doubt as to whether he can hit as
hard.
While Dempsey's triumph or his
downfall will nrovide the soul-sear.
ing drama of the night, Sharkey's
perfor~ ance will decide once and foi
all the mooted question of his class
The Bostonian's hackers are cock-sure
df him. Those who lean TOWARD
Dempsey discount Sharkey's victories
over Mike McTigue, Harry Wills and
Jimmy Maloney. If Sharkey beat.
Dempsey, he will have established
clearly his claim to pugilistic great
ness, If it has not already been es'
tablished.
will Get $2so,0eo
Win or lose, Dempsey will ge1
$250,0OO on percentage arrange
ment with Promoter Tex Rickard
Sharkey is signed to contract which
gives him % 1-2 per cent OF the
gate receipts, and the largest purse
Of his career. The admissions are
expected to total $l,250,O
Any number of business, social and
sporting notables have engaged ring.
side seats. Among them are Com.
; mander Richard E. Byrd, Archie and
Kermit Roosevelt, Clarence H. Mac.
Kay, Rex Beach, Irving Berlin. Babe
Ruth, David Belasco, William A
Brady, Charles NJ. Schwab, Gene Tun.
ney, Benny. Leonard and Peter J
Brady
The crowd that watches the fieht'
ers will constitute only small min
ority Of those who follow the pro
eress of the contest. Under the great.
est radio hookup ever attempted the
fight will be broadcast through ol
stations reaching approximately 80.
OOO, 900 listeners. The largest pre-
vious hookup for fight or any othel
sporting event was for the Dempsey
Tunney battle with 80 stations partic'
ipating.
The gates at the Yankee Stadium
were ordered opened at 4 o'clock this
afternoon. The first Of the prelim'
mary bouts will start at S:15 p. m
eastern daylight time. The main con,
test will begin not later than Il
o'clock, n accordance with the box
ing commissions regulations.