The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-03-22
RING CAME
OVERSEAS
GROWING.
BY Gene Tunney
vorld,s Heavyweight Champion

80. W Fl,
Almost all Of the American
boxing fans with whom I come
in contact like to comment
upon the fact that the heavy
weight title has rested within
the boundaries Of the United
States for q number of years,
and that it is now sure OF
staying here forever.
I do not like to dampen their
patriotic enthusiasm, but peHeVe
that the day when we will nave
plenty of foreign contenders IS not
many years away. BY that GO
not mean to disparage anybody
now in the limelight in this or any
other country. but I do mean tnat
from the signs ] can read plalnly'
there win be truly world mean.
ing to the title OF the heavyweight
ana other classes and I expect to
see frequent international bouts
held in all the larger cities OF the
world.
If those who believe that
America il going to retain the
perpetual possession of suprenl-
ncy IN the ring, they should
remember that everything has
been III favor OF American box.
lIie and other sports as wei
since the close Of the war.
Loyal British fans flocked back
to the fistic sport as soon as the
war ended. but most OF their
matches had to be held on shoe
string proportions which naturally
did not attract many newcomers
to the ring. Likewise, France,
which was less advanced that Eng
land In boxing, had to begin eau
tiously and It has only now put
the game on a basis where young
aspirants can expect to reach any
great heights.
Al lot of credit belongs to-
Georges Carpenter for this revival
Of interest in the game there.
Friendships he and his manager.
M. Descamps, made In America
were largely responsible for the
establishment of a. system in
France which neither the Amer
lean nor English control surpasses.
For example, In addition to the
ordinary routine system of control
by central. national commission,
there Is q rule to the effect that
any two contenders for ! title who
cannot come to terms with the
promoters Of the French Boxing
Federation. can be ordered to fight
out the claim In private before q
select band Of officials and sport
writer's and in such case there is
no remuneration for either man,
The rule may sound Q BIT
hard ON the fighters, but be- !
hind il Is the determination to
keep the boxing fans free
from temperamentaI boxers or
those who are boxing purely
for commercial reasons.
As to other countries; there has
been similar trouble in putting the
game back on its feet. There was
the problem everywhere abroad
over the terrific loss of man.power
and labor conditions which initiated
young men taking up sport sefi-
ously. There was general rum
down physical Of condition, too, in
all Of the larger countries and even
while America was holding the
Dempsey Carpenter fight with such
NDs"oAAnS AAS@AASAo~A ASSuAISs PoASt.
cal conditions were still barring
sport relationships among coun-
tries Of Europe.
But at the same time, the
countries which had never given
any particular attention to boxing,
began building up new foundations.
Germany, for instance, where sports
had always taken the form of mass
formations and drills, suddenly
awoke to the pleasure of individual
competition. So did Ozecho-
Slovalia, which had not existed be-
fore the war.
Copyright, 1928. King Features