Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-26
MIAMI BOUT
APPROACHING
IT'S CLIMAX
Mystifying Events Aid
Ballyhoo; Writer
Says Only Music Is
Needed
By ALAN J. GOULD
k~eeNrf1faN proen C~~~k u~~

BEACH. Fla, Feb. Is
P-The melodrama of Miami
Beach. that strange and mystifying
fistic affair left upon the sand
dunes here by Tex Richard. is NOV
ing toward It's climax in a series OF
episodes that need only a little soft
music. the stunning OF a few gui-
tars. TO make the fantasy complete.
1t Is strange. yet also true. In its
tropically colorful background and
in its astonishing assurance OF fl
anncial success: but stll mystify-
ing, in so far as who shot at Jack
Dempsey yesterday Just before the
dawn and what will happen in the
ring when w. L. Young) Stribling,
the heavyweight pride of the south,
and Jack Sharkey, the Boston sail
or, fight for ten rounds TO a ref
eree's decision at Flamingo Park Q
morrow night.
No heavyweight elimination" ev-
er has had so fantastic a setting
or a successor O. SUCH preliminary
events as this. not even Tex RICK
ard, were he alive to see his boom
venture near completion, would rec
ognize the almost finished product
OF promotion and ballyhoo- rex
never would have seen anything
like it."
Mystery Stuff N
It was the day before the actual
hoStilities begin beneath the pam
trees, the calcium lights and pos
sibly the moon, but the boys SUN
are walking around arguing. and
trying to find out what 1t Is all
about, and why.
There is a whole nest OF mysteries
to keep up the old college spirit
whether one wants to know VINO
shot at Dempsey. and why-or what
significance, II any. may be attach
cd 10 the acknowledged rib injury,
and reported hand injury TO Young
| Stribling In a training mlshap Just
a week before the fight.
How. to ask a few more questions
| has IL been possible to rescue an
apparent financial flop and make Il
now a certain money maker, with
a profit of $4,000 to 100000 as
sured: why has so much steam been
aroused over a bout between rivals
who have had several chances be-
| fore to establish themselves as po-
tential championship failed; how
has 1t been possible TO make a fight
| enthusiastic community out OF q
| SOPHISTICATED winter resort such a.
this, and, at the same time, draw
| the undoubted focus Of nationwide
| attention on a bout that. after all
| decides only whether Stribling OF
| Sharkey Is to continue as q first
flight contender.
Successful Jack
There are plenty or answers, 1usl
as there has been plenty to talk
and write about outside the actual
| fight itself. But the most conspicu-
| Gus reasons for IL all r unques-
| tionably Jack Dempsey and the bal
| lyhoo-Dempsey. the old mauler
| playing successfully at this new
role of promoter; and the ballyhoo
with net words and music inspired
by the balmy zephyrs OF FloridaS
| shores.
This is the south's first heavy
weight fight of national interest
since the palcy days of New Orleans
rs a fistic center and few OF those
in the gathering here can recall
that. This Is also q major bid fol-
fame by william Lawrence Strtb-
ling, 24-year-old Macon youth-tht
| son OF an acrobatic father and the
| father OF an acrobatic child. who
has helped enliven the training pro-
ceedingS
Stribling, because he Is to fight
before a southern gallery, Is ths
sentimental favortte, the hope oi
Dixie, but Sharkey Is the choice OF
most of the experts to win Yet
there Is q wide divergence OF crit
teal opinion, not only because OF SC
many conflicting developments ir
training but also because Of the un-
certain evidence in the records OF
the two fighters.
Sharkey Looks Good
Sharkey, especially during the past
few days. has appeared to better
advantage than 3tribling in the
daily workouts The Boston tar
punches have seemed more effect
I've. He Is probably ten pounds
heavier and appears in better all
around condition. But Stribling. II
he feels no III effects from his rib
injury and has nothing the matter
with his right hand. has a variety
Of weapons at his command. Always
O skillful defensive boxer, Strib-
ling's punching power seems greater.
The betting. such as there has
been OF IL, ranges from odds OF 8 TO
) Oh Sharkey TO even money. II
there Is any change IN wagering
sentiment It probably viii be In
Sharkey's favor.
Flaningo Park. the new octangu-
lar-shaped wooden arena built C.
pecially for the fight, viii seat
nearly 5000 spectators. II may or
may not be filled 10 capacity but
the higher priced tickets, SIS each
for the ring side" have been sold.
The gate probably viii be near
$4,000. The bout viii be broadcast
over an extensive network Of the
National Broadcasting company,
starting at $50 p. m. eastern stand
ard time. The main bout. 70 u de-
At~4-- - 49, ---- -