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HEW EVENINO BgZETTlIsCONDUCTED* BY AL 8PINK*t a * isira-1 alelr \er-eentheinle'sthexv-byofho;hetc.jreP-ic-salits*s-adnddoo-fineilleac-1-1-Who will win the big fight?”I have asked tjutf question of several this week, men who ought to know, men who have had on the gloves with Willard and Dempsey m their lime and whose opinions should, be worth something*Followers of the 1o\mg game the world over consider Mike Gibbons the brainiest man in the business. He is undoubtedly the trickiest and. best boxer in the world today.I met him with his manager, Eddie Kane, in the Morrison hotel one day last week and ^\e discussed the big fight from all angles. Gibbons, like myself, doe* not beliete that either Willard or Dempsey can beat the other in twelve rounds with the gloves on, Mike was not knocking the battle at Toledo. He is a staunch friend of both Willard and Dompsev nrfd his opinion that the bopt at Toledo will result in a draw was simply an honest one.Cut, he added, “they are very badly matched when it comes to size When they strip in the ring it will look llko a giant jutted aguinst a schoolboy.'Xo. I do not think I will be able to see the fight. Fourth of July is generally a very busy day for me, and I will have some fighting of my own to do on that day.”with him to Toledo to become a punching bag for Jack.“Me a punching bag for Dempsey,” said Wills, “Why I can lick either Dempsey or Willard easily. They would be pie and cream for me.”“If that's the way you feel about it,” said Kearns, Fib take you tp Toledo and you can take on Dempsey every day in the week. If in that time you prove yourself a better man than Dempsey, he will step aside and give you the Job of whipping Willard. Are you on?Wills said he would think about it, but he is in Chicago yet.Sam Langford is in Chicago now. He has dropped the idea of going to Mexico to fight Jack Johnson. The “Boston Tar Baby” picks WJll.ird to win “JVfllard, Tam afraid.” said Sam, “is too big, heavy and rough for Dempsey. Don't believe all the stones you hear. Willard is pretty near as good today as when lie met Jack Johnson, and believe me, ho went some that day.“But don't think for a minute that I am belittling Dempsey. Jack is a great fighter and lie may surpii.se me and a lot of others next Fourth of July. Cut I hardly think so, because WJllatd is a very* difficult pioposition, a \ery diffi-cut—you know what I mean.”Harry Wills, who 1ms fought Langford early and often and who is considered one of the best of the colored heavyweights, is boxing in the gymnasiums in Chicago with tlio “Boston Tar Baby.”Jack Kearns, Dempsey's manager, ran Into both of them the other night flnd^ Keamn suggested that Wills goJack Ileinen. the big ironworker who has been in Chicago awaiting Willard and who will be the latter's sparring partner in Toledo, thinks the fight will be a cake walk for the big fellow.Jack is a great, big, husky individual and has met many of the best of the heavyweights. But although big, ho is also fast and clever and boxing with a partner like Jack should help Jess greatly in getting in first class condition. One pf Heinen's friends who talked as though he knew said this time Willard would fight for true, putting on a full head of steam and going through with It no matter what happened.Since August 22, 1913, when Willard fought and killed Bull Young, according to Heinen, Willard has never hit his hardest. The Young match, it will bo remembered, neaily wound up Willard's career..Willard knocked out Young in the eleventh round and the latter died without coming to. Young had not trained properly and he was out of condition,.and the doctors declared unanimously It was his heart that had gone back on him and that Willard's blo\y was not responsible for his death.: This was a great relief to Willard because he likej, Young very much. He says he was a good, clean fighter.Kver since Young's death Willard has insisted on having his opponents submit to a medical examination before entering the ring to find out whether their hearts are strong enough to stand It.It^wlil be remembered that Bob Fitzslmmonp.killed his sparring partner, Con Uiorden, In an exhibition bout. Kiorden had been drinking regularly.
Newspaper Details
Reno Evening Gazette
Reno, Nevada, US
Mon, Jun 02, 1919
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 09 Jul 2019
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