COMING PRIZE FIGHT.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 June 1919, Page 7

COMING PRIZE FIGHT.

i DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY. 5 Tex Rickard isn’t going to have the ‘easy time staging the .Dempscy-Wil-[Hard match that some people may : imagine (says the San Francisco K Chronicle). Already the clans are i gathering with the knocks against the l contest. On this occasion not alone the reform element that obpects "to the nla.tc'h on‘ general gro-unds- of being against prize fights, but a fair proporportion of the sporting people them-_ serves are looking at the bout with, avcrsion_ Public. sentiment always covnts; more particularly in recent years. If there were difiicultics in the path of Johnson and James Jeifries, some nine years back, how much more St‘: will it be the case at the present? M True, the boxing game has been on the upgrade, what with the attitude of the Government and the soldiers. But this -doesn’t relate so much to real fighting. ‘The reform folks are as strong as ever in their opposition to a prize fight, and they can be counted upon to roll up their opposition the country over. _ But the sports are going to hurt matters, and perhaps throw a monkey wrench into the machinery. WILLARD DOESN’T STAND WELL. Putting the situation as it stands, Jess Willard doesn’t stand well with‘ the sporting element. He ,(lidn’t make one move during the war t-o show his heart was right_ After a grand-stand play that he wanted to" do his bit, Jess reniggcd when called. In the matter of boxing exhibitions, the wide world knows what he didn’t, do. And much of the opposition is based on the ground that a chap who acted as did the heavy-weight champion isn’t . entitled to make money for himself. |

There is more to the situation. Rickard has selected Toledo as the site_ In Ohio 110 more than twelveround fights are allowed. You can’t

settle agchampionshig; in that limit»; not to the satisfaction of the fans. Now, doll’t misunderstand this. Many a. championship has been decided in less than twelve rounds. But it doesn’t look right. To put it ‘bluntly, fnany 3. fan already is figuring the -big mill in Toledo will be 3. “rvalk,” with a return engagement at some future time. The whole aifair ‘has a queer look. ’ But perhaps it will never happen_ Tex is going t ohave a lit of experience before he is through with this little aifair of "his. ‘