The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-01-04
HAS SURPRISE
FOR MADISON
SQUARE M0GUL
Considering Offer Of $4,000
More Than Richard
Can Give
CONTRACT IS LEGAL JOKE
Gentleman Gene Will Explode
Surprise Package Before
February l
BY EDWARD J. NEIL

BY EDWARD J. NEIL
ASSOCIATED Press Sports Writer)
New York, Jan. 4.-lP,-Gene
Tunney came home from the south
land today with double barreled
surprise for Tex Richard and in.
creased determination to defend his
heavyweight championship twice in
1929.
Vigorous after tw0-week So
journ in Miami, Fla, the champion
with light topcoat opened and whip
ping about in the bitter winds Of a
northern cold snap, stepped from his
train and Immediately opened fire
on the Madison Square Garden pro-
moter.
"Tex Richard has q genuine SUR
prise awaiting him on February !
when he is due to post 100000
under a clause in the optional
agreement he holds on my services
as heavyweight champion Of the
world" said Tunney. "He will find
himself in a nice predicament.
Fright now / am considering an
offer that amounts to $l25,OOO more
than Richard will give and from a
promoter who can stage a heavy
weight title match anywhere in the
United States. It is sure to 60 over.
He is not Jim Mullins, the Chicago
promoter, although / also am con-
sidcring a proposition he has made"
Promoter Is Mystery
While refusing to NAM the pro-
nloter. Gene would not deny, either,
that the man was metropolitan
rival of Richard. Nor would he ad-
init that Humbert J. Fugazy, who
has announced plans for q $4,000, 900
indoor arena here, had named the
sum he admitted was cnticing. On
the basis that Richards preliminary
agreement for 1928 with the cham
pion calls for financial return SIM
liar to that received by Tunney for
his title defense against Dempsey
in Chicago last fall, the rival figure
would aggregate approximately ST.
11ey0O0 Tor = single fight. Richard
paid Tunney 1891 900 for his serv-
ices ct Soldiers Field.
"The option Tex has on my serv-
ices is = legal joke and doesn't pre-
v6Sst uAS ASVuA AA8hsHLh ViSHSI AuSS
for some one else or later" Tunney
said. THE basis of law is common
sense, the fundamental principle of
= contract is equality and just re-
turn on one side for privileges re-
linQuished on the other.
1.-THE finest of legal minds have
told me that Richards contract
does not cmbody these principles
and is worthless. Besides, there is
q clause IN at option that Tex has
overlooked. 1t says my opponent
must be agreeable to both Richard
and myself and can be named when
the promoter posts his forfeit on
February l."
Has Surprise for Tex
This, Tunney animated, was the
shell that held the explosive he in
tends to loose on Richard when
time comes for fulfillment of early
provisions of the agreement. The
champion believes the contract,
which Tex declares gives him an ex-
elusive option on the marines serv-
ices until October /, 1928, is incquit-
able in that it fails to make any
financial provision for him if Rick
ard fails to produce challenger by
October /. Tunney said that if the
finalists in the promoters elimina-
ton series, through poor showing,
should eliminate themselves from
public acceptance as challengers
then Richard rould not be obliged
to stage q title match this year.
Tex. Richard is managing enough
fieltets now and he never will man.
are me-" Gene said as his color
mounted. "In the future, shall
protect Gene Tunney's interests and
his alone. have had a rough time
getting where ! am today-if / am
anywhere. l shall not be ruled by
people with the interest OF others at
heart"
Gene returned to New York for
the sole purpose Of attending the
'all-champions" banquet of Tex
Richards 1000 millionaires" club
tonight. If called upon to speak, he
will discuss only the history of box
ing and some Of it's lighter phases.
He plans to leave January 10, for a
Today stay 1t Dover Hall, Ca, be-
fore returning to Miami to set up
lieht training quarters with several
speyring partners already on the
ground.