Evening star., 1928-08-01
NEW ELIMINATION
SERIES IS PLANNED
Dempsey, RiSko, Heeney,
Pauline, Sharkey. Hansen
and Scott Are ContenderS.

By The Associated Press.
"a yEW YORK August 1.-The
~ acavyweights lacked king to-
VI 6ay. but the machinery for the
selection of a successor To the
tfrone was set up and reauy
Cor action, -.
Bv voluntary abdication rather tnan
hv force Of a foenan'S fists. Gene Tnn-
ney who rose from the ohScuritF Of a
hank clerk 10 the prominence tnat
awaits the king of fighters, has Vacateo
his throne and returned 70 private nte, ~.
He hacomes the second heavyweight
tItle-holder to decide that the ring holos
nothing more for him, but unlike the
confusion that followed the retirement
of Jim ,JeffrieS IN 1905. Gene leaves oe-
hind him. as a heritage, well oruereo
plan designed TO choose from all tne
contenderS q logical successor 10 the
crown.
into the hands Of the Tex Rickard
the retiring champion has placed tn@
responsibility of conducting an elmina-
ton tournament, international IN scope,
out of which. he hopes, will come tne
man most fitted to wear the now ulS-
cardco robes Of f1Stic royalty. AS an
other nartins gift. Tunney will place III
the hands of committee of 26, headed
by Rickard and William Muldoon, 81
vear-old New York State athletic conf
missioner, a trophy on which VIII DC
inscribed the names of each predecessor
and successor to Genes crown.
Dempsey Again in Picture.
Even as Tlnney's retirement became
known the shadow of the old ManaSsa
Mauler. Jack Dempsey. fell once more
across the heavyweight plctare~-an om-
incus sight for other front-rank con-
tenders
Beaten twice by Tunney. Dempsey
announced his owr retirement from the
ring some months ago. but with Ttlnney
his Nemesis no longer as an OBJ
stscle. there we're many who Thought
that the great Slugger would reconsider
and that before another year has passed
the conquerer of Willard, Flrpo. Carpen-
tier. Brennan and Gibbons once more
would be found IN his corner, scoWling
feruciously at an opponent.
There are few who seriously doubt
that Dempsey. despite his age, still can
defeat virtually every heavyweight con-
tender now On the horizon. When the
ManaSSa Mauier decided upon come
back after he was relieved Of his crown
hy TsInney at Philadelphia in 1926. he
was pitted against Jack Sharkey, then
considered the man most likely to knock
Genes title from his head. Dempsey
knocked out Sharkey in seven rounds
and came within an ace OF regainlng his
title from Tunney at Chicaco, flooring
the champion in the seventh round the
first time Gene ever had been knocked
down.
Just now Dempsey Is tied up in q
theatrical venture with David Belasco
until Spring When that contract Is
fulfilled there is at least a chance that
he will ret1grn to the ring and see If
his second come-bac., can not terminate
more successfully than did his first.
Six Outstanding Contenders.
Rickard plans TO begin his elimina-
ton series next month, drawing his
candidates from among such fighters
as Johnny Risko, Tom Heeney. Pauline
uzcudun. Sharkey, Knute Hansen and
Phil Scott. EA M
Just now there are about Eix 0llt-
standing heavyweight c0ntenderS IN The
country said Tex. Il will set them to
uork in September in the first of the
series of eliminatiors. In the mean
tine I want the entries of at least 20
other heavyweigllts throughout the
country. All viii get chances TO prove
their worth In eight or ten round
bouts. I viii have until next September
10 find the pair TO fight in the final
for the title.
II have no idea yet who viii start
the show although ] may pair Sharkey
and Pauline for match some time in
September. Risko must be considered
along with H1cney Hansen and Scott.
1T is very likely, however, that the
eliminations or the regular trend of
boxing throughout the country will
produce two men the public hasn't
heard of vet The heavyweight division
needs new blood. This is the best way
TO get it,
Tommy L0ughran Left Out.
Rsckard apparently has left one man
cut of the picture VINO Is determined
TO crash into it--Tommy Loughran.
light heavyweight title-holder. Tommy
announced at wildwood. n. j.. that he
would file with the New York and
Pennsylvania Boxing Commissions his
claim for the vacant title He added he
would be willing to fight through any
elimination tournament that might be
staged
All these arrangements for filing the
title contrast sharply with the situation
that existed after Jefiries retired. The
boiler maker passed his title TO Marvin
Hart but Hart was beaten by Tommy
Burns. the Canadian. Then came Jack
johnson, the great negro boxer, 10 win
the championship from Burns and re-
tain IL until he was beaten by jess
willard at Havana. IN 1918. Jefries,
called out Of retirement TO restore the
title 70 the white race, was knocked
out b. the clever negro On July 4, 1910.