BOXING IN AMERICA

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1929, Page 7

BOXING IN AMERICA

lIISENF.Y ON Til 10 WARPATH

SAN I'M? A NCI SCO, November 00,

Whether Tom Medley, the sturdy Now Zealand pugilist who was the loser in (lene Tunney’s last appearance as world’s heavy-champion, retires from the ring depends on his opponents more than anything else. In his first interview sinee he reached New York, liconcy said that lie was very uncertain about continuing his ring caiecr, bin t.iat ite would like to keep on if he could light only men suited to his style. “I would like to keep on if ! .mild light men suited to me and my style.” I looney explained “! don’t mean that 1 want to pick opponents. Hut what 1 mean is to light men near my own style—fellows like Sharkey, Bisko, I’aolino, ami Dempsey; any one of the four or all four of them. That would he hot lor than if I fought somebody like Tunuey, bigger than me, and given to boxing rather than light-

ing.” A conference with Tex Rickard in .Miami, Florida, shortly after Christmas, will determine when, if at all, .Jack Dempsey is to light again, the former champion stated upon hi,s return to Hollywood from New York.

‘‘You shouldn’t he surprised if 1 go back for one more battle,” was the nearest Dempsey came to a definite statement about his plans. The Tia Juana race i/rack just over the Californian boundary in Mexico will claim part of Dempsey’s time during the winter. Jack Sharkey, Boston heavy-weight, lias signed a contract with Tex Rickard, the leading boxing promoter of America, for three fights, opponents to be named later. The first light will be in January, the second in February, and the third in Al.arch, Rickard said. It is possible the New Zealander, Tom llecuey, will enter the ring as one of the opponents of Sharkey, as be is recognised as the strongest drawing earth in American ring circles at this stage. Dealing with the speculation as to the next world’s heavy-weight boxing champion, it may be of interest to New Zealand entlmsiaists to state that one of the strangest wagers ever made in sport was recorded in Tex Rickard’s private offices in Madison Square Garden in New York, while outside o.i the ice tiie Rangers and Alarcons battled in their tense game of international hockey before a tremendous crowd of fans.

Seven wealhy sportsmen organised a 1 hi o 1 oil the next heavy-eight champion of the world. Each wrote his choice on a slip of paper tossed a large wad of American bills or a cheque into a hat. and agreed that the victor should collect the entire spoils.

Strangest of all were the choices. Rickard placed his money on Young Stribling. Dempsey had a supporter in John AlcEntee Bowman. Tex warned Bowman that the odds on Dempsey were long enough without adding the uncertainty surrounding the former champion’s plans, hut Bowman stuck to his choice. James J. Bush also favoured Stribling, which paired him with Rickard. AYalter Chrysler chose Knutc Hansen, who was the selection of Colonel Hammond also. Bernard E. Gimbel placed bis hopes in Paulino. Richard Hoyt selected Jack Sharkey to succeed to Gone Tuiinoy’s crown. Rickard and Mush still teamed together, took the field—all the remaining heavy-weights of the individual wagers. The amount of thi' iniliviiiual wagers. The amount