BONING.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1924, Page 4

BONING.

WEMBLEY TOURNAMENT PROPOSED. (By Trevor Wignall in ‘‘Daily Mail.”) LONDON. Dee. 19. If certain plans that are at present being discussed come to anything London is likely to have more than a customary share of world’s boxing championships next summer. 1 have heard of three projects which are remarkable lioeause of their magnitude. and while 1 fear that two of them, for various reasons, will flicker out, T also feel that the third has a real chance of big success.

It is proposed to run tins latter at Wembley during the time ol the Exhibition. The details are as yet very much in the initial stage, hut il it is correct that a famous, tlu-atreal manager, who knows all there is to h ‘ known about, organising important boxing bouts, has volunteers! bis se*---,-i-e-. b may be t.-ik"i’ l‘>r gr.--.ni something will I- promoted ilia' will make London the centre of Hi' pugilistic world for at least a week. DEMPSEY COMING. The main contest, of course, will be between Jack Dempsc-y and a selected opponent. Dempsey, according to pro sent arrangements, is due to arrive in Engl.nd in time for Mr Harry Preston’s charity tournament next March. Tie will remain on this side for some months, and I believe it. is his intention to light for his title—if sufficient money is offered for a purse—in 4ul,v. The financial difficulty will not easily he surmounted. Dempsey has made such a huge fortune out of his fists that Ids ideas of an adequate purse are somewhat inflated. If*' is reported fo have staled that for Ids next appearance he will demand one million dollars. T do not credit Ibis, but it is nevertheless moderately certain that he will not snilf at anything less than a guarantee of £50,033. Call wo, 'lll this side, grapple with boxing on such a colossal financial scale!-' That, is the whole point. Al this moment- il. is absolutely certain that we could nut : but next year L guing L uiie one oi the biggest, lrom an entertainment, point of view, that this country lias over known. The coining ExTiibitiun lias been so extensively advertised, especially in Australia. New Zealand, Smith Africa. Canada, and other places, that A has become a common topic oi louversa lion. A relative who recently relumed from over-seas: has told me ihaL il indications arc not false there will be an influx of visitors from May onwards that will astonish everyone. l(j;U"K) CROWD. I am 111 iiv ilived that big boxing i« a greater attraction than anything o!,-o ihai. call be staged. There i-- an appeal about a champion-hip conies! that is peculiar to it.-• ■ Si. and I bar,- m> doubt that if Dempsey is put into the ring with a mar. who posse- -es a chance of defeating him that a crowd of IOO.UOd could be induced lo alteud. If that is so. am! if fair prices were charged —say £l3 to his— an amount Would be taken that would satisfy both promoter and boxers. The £!') seats would of course he at 11, - - ringside. There are hundreds who would buy them in London alone. The Ids seals would be snapped up b_v thousands. \Yo eu this side have little idea of tin- immense sums that are spent in the United Stale- by hexing followers. | doubt whether more than -Sfil,o!H' ha... ever been taken at a light in England. Probably the most mic. c-t-ful cn’.tl, sis were those iii whi'-ii Carp.-n----t icr was engaged; but ihey pal insignificance when loinpared with some of th- New York albur Dempsey after boating Fiiv-a. picked up over £|!!!).!:;u and the total that was handed him after he knocked out Cnrpentier was only a little less. I Tow many people know or that it Stales authorities that in one your - ending last July- over si.vie mi million dollars was spent by the American public at- the gates of boxing hall - A \Ye shall never he able to compete with amazing figures like that, hut the coming summer is so sure to llootl London with tourists that lights on the largest scale could unquestionably he arranged. I understand that iho - who are interested in the Wembley tournament are anxious to spread it over several days. That i-. a g-id notion, but Ihe event should certainly culminate in a contest- for the world’s h.-nvv-tve'.gut championship. A Saturday afternoon light would probable find Wembley a ■ it was when the last Cup final was played. In the mail; r of at tendance, that is to say.

I)FA11 3 S KV‘8 0 Pi’OX F NT's,

The four fighters who are named apossible opponents for Dempsey are Marry Wilts, the negro ; bonis Angel Firpo, the Argentine; Oorgo« Curpeiiticr. and -lack Tlloondicld. Wills, T think, can he dismissed I >r the reason that it is questionable . whether the Homo Secretary would permit black-and-white fight. Ckirpentier D a very douhi.fi.il preposition because hi s prospects of victory arc hardly worth mentioning. lie would be a good “draw." but he would not win. Bloomfield's recent performances, do not entitle him to much consideration. His chances are on a par with Carpcntier’s—it Dempsey lought as lie did last September, neither would last much more than a minute. I hat leaves Firpo. tie is undeniahly the man, il lie can be 1 obtained. But financial considerations will again obtrude here. Firpo will want a big guarantee for himself, and that, perhaps will pul him out of court.

T!io promoters. therefore. are Up against an obsiarle right Irom the start. They ran gel TJenipsov, but their real trouble will be i.i discovering an antangoiiist for him. Tt will be no good putting on a fight that will be little more than an exhibition: that will merely be a pleasant alternoon for the champion. Tl' the' affair is to be worlliv of the exhibition, and of the vast crowd {Tint- will buy seals, someone will have to bo selected who stands a fair chance of winning. Bloomfield and Carpontier do not. and it is as well that that should 1.0 said at once. We have had a sufficient number of farces and fizzles to last ns the rest of our lives. It is in the power of the people behind the Wembley project to assist British boxing very materially. They can do so by eliminating evertbing that looks like a foregone conclusion, or that is calculated to expire before spectators have been given time to breathe. It is hoped ihey will not Pail.