Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
BROUGHT BIC COIN
THAT NOW IS BANE
Heavyweight Division Hurt
as Fighters Turn Down
Moderate Purses.
BY SPARROW McGANN.

ACk DEMPSEY . name VIII Ut
listed among the rings immor-
tails. His feats in the squared
~ circle will be remembered along
with those of the mighty John
L. Sullivan, Jim Jeffries and others
of that day. While Dempsey was re-
sponsible for a million dollar era In
boxing, he in a measure is also re-
sponsible for the present dizziness In
heavyweight circles.
Jacks long absences from the ring
coupled with the enormous purses he
exacted as the title holder. brought
about the demands for huge guaran-
tees from the big fellows today. This
situation gives one or two big clubs
the whip hand over other promoters
who wish to stage heavyweight con-
tests. The little fellow is shut out in
the cold and must perforce be satisfied
with the lesser lights of the ring.
The idea that boxer can retain
his form by engaging in one or two
fights year is wrong. Gene Tunney
realized this and went to the extent
Of offering to fight good heavyweight
IN private and pay him well for his
services If only to get a hard fight
under his belt. The gradual loss OF
form that Dempsey showed in his later
fights disproved the theory that hard
campaign of training was sufficient to
put him in proper condition to defend
or regain his crown. Dempsey realized
his error too late.
Want Too Much Coin.
The present high price of heavy
weight eXtravaganZaS Is the reason why
there is no ruler of the heavyweight
class. If, as in the older days, heavy
weights did not place too high price
on their services and settled the mat
ter between themselves in the smaller
clubs throughout the country, we
would now have an outstanding con-
tender for the title. Such a series OF
Examinations would produce two leaders
to fight it out, and the winner would
be generally recognized as the cham
pion.
AS it is, we have had the big fellows
rushing into print with challenges
against each other-and when 1t came
down to brass tacks the money demand
ed was more than any self-reSpecting
promoter cared to pay. The officials OF
Madison Square Garden attempted to
hold two heavyweight Journeys, and the
results were far from satisfying. Each
man in turn was beaten by an opponent
previously defeated, so that the fans
could hardly figure out who was of
championship caliber. Tex Richards
first tournament wound up with the UNI
usual spectacle of a second-rate fighter
meeting the title holder, and the result
was a foregone conclusion. In this case
the fans refused to take the bout Seri-
ously and the promoters lost plenty on
the venture.
Sharkey a StandOut.
Jack Sharkey stands out as the best
- tot
over the fast-Stepping Tommy Loughran
established his right to titular honors
The general public is not willing to ac-
cept Sharkey on the basis of that show
ing, and the suggestion of William Null
doom, dean of the local boxing commits
sion, is worthy of consideration. Null
doon's plan is the most logical offered
so far.
"Sharkey should be proclaimed heavy
weight champion of America" says Null
doom. "a match between Phil Scott, the
British champion, and Max Schmeling,
the German title holder, would produce
winner of that contest pitted against
Jack Sharkey would produce the worlds
champion without any question of
doubt"
Schmeling has a better claim to
recognition than Scott. Max beat Pao-
limo Uzcudun, who was generally recog-
nized as the European champion. Pao-
limo had stopped Scott and Ludwig Hay
mann when the latter was ruler of the
German heavieS. Schmeling climbed to
the top of the ladder in scoring over
Paolino.
SCOTS chief claim to fame is his
designation as the British champion and
his victory over the Argentine, Vittorio
Campolo.
AS Bill Mudoon said, pit Scott against
Schmeling and the winner against
Sharkey That is the best way out of
the mess.
Sharkey is wiling to fight any one
whom the officials of Madison Square
Garden select as an opponent. Whether
it is Scott or Schmeling is none of
Jacks concern. He wants to establish a
clear right to the title, and wants to do
it before another IL months expire.