Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-14
DEMPSEY THROUGH
CHAMPION THINKS
Expects Elimination Bouts to
Produce Challenger for
June Scrap.
BY SPARROW McGANN.

NEW YORK. February i4.-Cham-
rion Gene Tuaney believes that Jack
Dempsey is sincere about retiring. This
means that the match that Tex Rick
ard had Intended for him Is Cancelled.
Tuarey thinks the winner of the De-
laney-Iieeney contest and that between
Jack Starkey and John Risko will pro-
6uce q suitable opponent for June en-
gasorent Beyond that, he is unwill-
E.c tc 50 or record.
With Jack Dempsey out Of the reck-
onlng. The fed is narrowed TO mere
pa.-. or, rather. TO one man. This is
an uausua! situation. Going back a
scora al years. investigators Will find ii
this casts o: previous champions that
they always had more than one good
man w1o was conceded 10 have a
chance Of taking the champions title
Champions had to duck III the good
o!d days instead Of hunting for oppo-
Eents. ss ST present.
After clincting his claim TO the
heavyweight crown by whipping Marvin
Hart. Tommy Burns. for example, had
his own troubles lodging Jack johnson.
Burns and made the most OF his oppor-
tunity.
johnson Dcdsed Lansford.
Then it was Johnson's turn to dodge.
He GIG not want any part OF Sam
Larefo-d. The big black stevedore took
-unout pill on LangforG. and no
amount Of persuasion could get him
into the same ring with Sam. One ex-
perience before Jack held the title was
enough
Johnson coasted along taking Phil
ade!paia Jack O'Brien. Tony Ross and
Al Kaufman. Stanley Ketchell. the
r?!66ieweight champion. made gallant
effort to knock johnson loose from his
title, but the heavier man came on to
win after he had been knocked down.
Then started quest for the white
hope. in other words. white man who
could restore the title 10 the pale skin.
Many good ones were uncovered. espe-
cially Gunbost Smith. Pelky. jess VIII
lard. Luther Mccarthy Carl Morris and
others, teo numerous to mention.
Pelkey and Mccarthy met their deaths
doubt but that Luther Mccarthy might
eventually have attained a match with
johnson and beaten him. He was with
Out doubt the worthiest Of the crop.
willard Did Little.
lin JeEries came out Of retirement
end GIG his noblest. But why talk
about a shell of q once mighty fighter.
coping with big strong black man in
th2 prime of life and undoubtedly the
creates; defensive boxer the game has
ever known?
Jess willard got a crack at the title
10
t9os him IS rounds TO turn the trick.
T+1w II was done and why 1t took SO
l-~- Is not to be argued at this date.
Thu tile belonged TO jess willard and
Re r9eart IN keep it perpetually. That
s.. Il CT: IS 10 Judge by the amount Of
fr21fine ne cid While the champion.
Ct..rf1e Of his bout with Jack Dempsey.
s. With ne los. the title. willard per-
q <~rre>i cnce in four years. That
s~ainst Fran. Moran, IN l0-rcund
es0~'ticriess go.
There we're others coming up during
t',a tif,7e Willard held the title. Jack
v-nt through the list of contenders
s'~h a. Gunboat Smith. Fred Fulton.
Cz~l Morris and others before he got
ice bg opportunity.
Many After Dempsey.
Dur:T~ Demptes's reign there was
J. r" wills pounding after him. Charlie
W nert Eli Brennan. Billy hfiske.
J9r'i rcrault. Luis Angel Farpo Georges
C3-1rreseT. Fiord johnson. Tom Glib
hrs ard. .. course. Gene TQnney.
DeTproY obliged most o. them by
FF.@"king them over and fattening hls
b~rk roll. He beat Gibbons. but was. n
tim. bes5en b. Gene Tunney.
"7T Ie have list Of contenders
E;~n ~ JACK ShaYkey. JACK Delaney.
,-c-.1 Eeenef-. JOHN Risko. paolino Uzcu-
CO., George Godfrey ard possibly
1c-,51> 11Jehraa " Leo LoT7ski.
Gre u them viii furnish opposition
IL cr7e boat Where Is the other che
tc'raj7c from?
The s.e focl: cf Young 'urs az
r-.r f.:e coJrtrr Armand Emmanuel.
- H.; C"rrer Tns,e~to Robert. En-
;~,-t' Isr~o Big Ber Pound. Msck
1'~.sT~. D2 Bc% Peterson. etc. TIE
71-< ere ~. q them. There Is 10
.i:'ce&l Fl t!7e.r getting In the big
t@te t..-s .ec:, N3y5e !4ext. Or vii
is,a~ IA! b. the wsys,oe and De forget
toH a. tEose IN the days u Tommy
Pms tack Johnson, Jess willard ard
.'-cs DcEp.e!?