BOXING.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1921, Page 3

BOXING.

DEMPSEY-CARPENTIER MATCH. THE REFEREE SELECTED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received May 29, 5.5 p.m. New York, May 28. The New York Sun learns that, the New Jersey State Boxing Commission has selected Mr. H. J. Ertle as referee in the DempseyCarpentier fight. Mr. Ertle refereed in the Carpentier-Levinskey bout.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.'

THE FRENCHMAN TURNS £20,000 DOWN. SAYS IT IS UNINTERESTING. The following cablegram 'appears in the current issue of the Sydney Sunday Times: — “London, Friday Night.—A Paris message states that Carpentier, when interviewed on the eve of his departure for America, said he was delighted to be meeting Dempsey in a few weeks. “ T am not the least afraid of thi% terrible killer of men,’ he said, ‘but am fully determined to prove that I am not always as meek ns a lamb. I don’t want to prophesy as to the duration of the fight, but my metlibd is to find a weak spot, in my opponent as quickly as possible.’ “In an interview by the Australian Press Association before leaving for America to prepare for the Dempsey fight, Deschamps said He regretted having to refuse the Sydney Stadium offer of £20,000. Carpentier was very anxious to visit Australia, but there were two reasons against it. The first was that the present time was inopportune, and the second was that the financial terms were not interesting. Carpentier could get the same amount • for one match in Europe as 1 was offered from Australia.” Things pugilistic have come to a prettj ‘ pass when an offer of £20,000 and expense? I for three contests in Australia can be referred to by, even Carpentier, as having no interest for him (says the Sydney Refeise). j The New York Boxing Commission nevet ! did, and never will do, a wiser thing than! when they decided that, no higher charge for admission to a boxing contest in the hoi ugh of Manhattan than 15dol. —less than £3- j should he made. The pity of it that <»tl.«i j States do not follow suit, or even go fur- j ther, In bringing prices down. • It is the only way to unake men of the Carpentier and Dempsey type amenable to •eason. They—particularly Carpentier—have beer 1 v.m ered until they have completely forgotj ter. hemseives. 1 -ould. nauie a dozen a?

not. remote past, who fought for infinitesimal sums, compared with what the champions of the present time are getting, who could have licked xthe heads off a succession of Carpentiers and Dempseys, one down, t'toher came on, with a day’s rest in between. It makes my heart ache when I recall that when Peter Jackson fought George Godfrey for the colored heavy-weight. chanipionsHp of the world, the remuneration for both was 1500dol.—less than £3OO. Billy Murphy, with the belt, emblematic of the feather-weight championship, of the world in his possession, met Griffo in Sydney for a £2oo' purse. ’ p hey could fight, those fellows. I have not a ; greater opinion of Dempsey and Carpen tie,, as heavy-weight champions. They appear be the best of their time, but these are de-, cidedly decadent pugilistic days. It is only just over 12 years ago since Mr. ; H. D. Mclntosh amazed the world, and flattened out all other bidders, by giving Tommy Burns £6OOO to meet Jack Johnson at the Sydney Stadium. Burns demanded that sum because he felt, convinced no one would be game to give it. The Australian promoter's pluck astounded Tommy, as much as it astounded everybody else. The alleged “dead game” promoters of America “quit cold,” as they might put in themselves.