Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-01-03
lack FORMS AXLE
7. FOR JACOBS WHEEL
Something's Pilot Plans to
Cash in on Popularity
of Ex-Champion.
BY SPARROW McGANN.

IN
NJ Still the big noise when
Y ever it comes down to box
ing and real money" No
other term could be applied to
Jack Dempsey, and that is what
the wise ones along Caulifiower
Row are saying as the amazing
plans of Joe Jacobs are slowly
taking shape. The manager of
Max Schmeling has his eye on
Dempsey as he makes his plans
for 1882. He would be a fool if
he didn't, seeing that he draws
down one third Of the earnings Of
the heavyweight champion.
Jacobs was brought up in hard
school, and his outstanding trait is
shrewdness Every time one reasons out
the ways and means he has in going
after things the conviction persists that
he was bitten by fox before he cut
his eye teeth.
Joe has been tanning the breezes with
talk of match between his own Max
and Mickey Walker. The match is Sc
lected for Miami, for the simple reason
that Jacobs wants the big guns behind
Madison Square Garden to foot the bill.
He played along with Nate Lewis of the
Chicago Stadium and with Jack James,
who represented Los Angeles sports en-
thusiaSts They withdrew because Joe
made terms he knew they would not
meet. 1t was good publicity, neverthe-
less, and that is what Joe wanted, just
at the time when Schmeling was on his
way to America.
MAX is scheduled to go on tour soon
w after he arrives. The German
fighter, however, will not fail to
look over the stupendous sums that
Jack Dempsey has attracted to the box
Office and then do some thinking.
Dempsey got going in August with
his exhibition tour, and wound up in
December. The gross intake was close
to half million dollars. This against
nondescript battlers and with Jack
wearing 16-ounce pillows in his exhibit
tons Does Schmeling think he can
come anywhere near that figure? 1t
would be folly for reigning hampton
to be placed in the pale by man who
was defeated twice in a ti1ulsr bout
and has been out of the ring four years.
Jacobs has no aversion to going to
Miami with a Schmeling- Walker fight.
The fact that he is willing to work on
percentage basis can only signify that
he does not think Walker Is in the came
class with Schmeling. Then again, Joe
says he is willing to have Max fight
Jack Sharkey in June. One cannot help
thinking that he Is throwing out q
smoke screen when issuing this state
ment. The champion has had more
than one chance to fight the sailor and
has not grabbed 1t. Why the sudden
change of face?
THE only answer to this is that Joe
l. wants to appease the wrath of the
New York boxing commissioners,
who insist that Sharkey has first call
over any other challenger. He does not
have to do this He is not licensed by
this commission and can do as he
pleases until the time comes when he
wants to appear in the Empire State.
But Joe Is born politician and knows
how and when to speak soothing words.
Certainly he agrees to box Sharkey. It
is the logical thing to say. If the name
OF Dempsey Is proposed-and Dempsey
also happens to be outside the commits
sions authority-the argument will be
that Jack scored knockout over
Sharkey and supersedes the Bostonian
as the outstanding challenger for the
title. Simple if you know the ropes
and can argue like sea lawyer.
The paramount question is: Will
Dempsey come back? Thousands of
fight fans would like to know the an
Swer. JACK has been kidding the public
long enough and his statement that he
will fight again eff he decides that he
is in shape to make a winning fight"
is hardly satisfactory.
DEMPSEY is going on tour again this
H. month. Is his reply meant solely
for the consumption of those who
might be attracted to the gate? Jack
Is the only one who knows.
One thing alone is sure. Unless
Dempsey feels that he has a fighting
chance to dethrone Schmeling, no
amount of money will induce him to
enter the prize ring for a legitimate
contest. Jack thinks too much of his
personal following and pride and would
not risk a crushing defeat for all the
gold in the world. Those who know
what he has turned down to capitalize
his name readily realize this
1t would be tragic to see Dempsey
come back after four years of inactivity
and be beaten down by a fighter like
Schmeling. Jim Jeffries was in the
prime of life when he retired for lack
OF suitable opponents. Always a clean
liver and a man of the earth, Jeffries,
after six years away from the wars,
was pitiful wreck when he faced Jack