The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-26
WHO shot AT JACK
AND WHO Will WIN
ARE FANS QUERIES
Promoter empse Twists
Event of Shooting Into
Novel Bal|yhoo
SHARKEY SLIGHT FAvORITE
StribIing Has South's Sym
pathy, but Sharkey Looks
Better in Ring
BY ALAN J. GOULD

ASSOCIATED Press Sports Writer)
Miami Beach, Fla, Feb. 26.-(P)-
The mclodrama Of Miami Beach is
moving toward its climax in a series
OF episodes to make the fantasy COM
plete.
It is strange, yet also true, in It's
tropically colorful background and in
its astonishing assurance Of financial
success but nevertheless 1t is still
mystifying. 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) Strib-
ling. the heavy weight pride Of the
south, and Jack Sharkey. the Boston
sailor. fight for 10 rounds to a
referees decision at Flamingo Park
tomorrow night.
Most Fantastic Of All
No heavyweight elimination" ever
has had SO fantastic a setting or q
succession of such preliminary events
as this, not even Tex Rickard, were
he alive to see his boom venture near
completion, would recognize the al
most finished product Of promotion
and ballyhoo. Tex never would have
seen anything like it."
There is q whole nest of mysteries
to keep up the old college spirit
whether one wants to know who shot
at Dempsey, and why-or what sig
nificance, If any, may be attached to
the acknowledged rib injury, and re-
ported hand injury to young Stribling
In a training mishap just week be-
fore the fight.
There are plenty of answers. just
as there has been plenty to talk and
write about outside the actual fight
itself. But the most conspicuous rea-
sons for 1t all are unquestionably Jack
Dempsey and the ballyhoo-Dempsey,
the old mauler, playing successfully
at his new role Of promoter; and the
ballyhoo, with new words and music
inspired by the balmy zephyrs Of
Florida's shores.
South's First Spectacle
This is the south's first heavyweight
fight OF national interest since the
palmy days Of New Orleans as a fis-
tic center and few of those in the
gathering here can recall that. This
is also major bid for fame by Will
liam Lawrence Stribling, 24-year -old
Macon youth.-the son Of an acrobatic
father and the father of an acrobatic
child, who has helped cnliven the
training proceedings.
Stribling, because he is to fight be-
fore q southern gallery of friends,
relatives and admirers, is the senti-
mental favorite. but Sharkey, the
hard-punching sailor, is the choice of
most Of the assembled experts to win.
Yet there is wide divergence Of
critical opinion. not only because Of
SO many conflicting developments in
training but also because Of the I'M
certain evidence in the records Of the
two fighters.
sharkey, especially during the past
few days, has appeared to better ad.
vantage than Stribling in the daily
workouts. The Boston Tar's punches
have seemed more effective. He is
probably 10 pounds heavier and ap-
pears in better all-around condition.
But Stribling, If he feels no Ill effects
from his rib injury and has nothing
the matter with his right hand. has q
variety Of weapons at his command.
Always q skillful defensive boxer,
Strtbling's punching power seems
greater. They are both fast and re-
sourceful, though the Georgian is
more apt to do the unexpected.
Sharkey has poundage and experience
against good men in his favor but
Stribling has fought, rather than
trained himself into condition.
Betting Almost Even
The betting, such as there has
been Of 1t. ranges from odds Of 6 to
S on Sharkey to even money. II
there is any change In wagering SEN
timent It probably viii be in shar-
keys favor.
Flamingo Park, the new octangular
shaped wooden arena built especially
for the fight will seat nearly 5000
spectators. It may or may not be
filled to capacity but the higher
priced tickets. SIS each for the ring
side." have been sold. The gate
probably will be near $3.50, 000.. The
bout will be broadcast over an extern
sive network Of the National Broad
casting company. starting ct $50 p.
m, eastern standard time. The main
bout. to decision BY Referee Lou
Magnolia, Of New York. is scheduled
Tor 10 p. m.