DEMPSEY TO FIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 151, 29 June 1927, Page 10

DEMPSEY TO FIGHT.

SHARKEY HIS OPPONENT. CONTEST TO TAKE PLACE ON JULY 21. BOTH IN TRAINING. (Received 9 a.m.) NE\V*YORK, June 29. Denipsey and Jack Sharkey, who a rescheduled to meet in a fifteen-round bout on July 21 to determine who is to fight Gene Tunney next September, have began active training, Deinpsey at a watering place near New York, and Sharkey at a local gymnasium. The ex-champion weighs about 2flolb, and after preliminary training in the mountains on the Pacific Const, is said to be in fine condition. Boti. lighters went through light sparring sessions yesterday and to-day and during the week will take on heavier sparring partners.

It is expected that threo weeks will be ample to put both iu excellent shape.

The fight, which will be held in an openair arena within the city, is exported to draw a crowd in excess of 90.000 and gate receipts of £230,000. The price of ringside seats is fixed at five and α-balf* guineas.

Jack Derupsey lost his title ou points to Gene Tunney, and his show was so poor that many people averred afterwards that he had been doped. Dempsey, however, gave a prompt denial to this. Undoubtedly he did not fight with anything like his usual power and "devil," nnd able critics expressed the opinion that his "easy life" as a movie picture artist had been his undoing. Probably the fact that Dempsey was . suffering from blood poisoning had also something to do with hia poor display.

Sharkey came right to the top with defeats of Jack Delaney and Mahoney in Tex Rickard's eliminating bouts, promoted for the finding of a challenger to pit against Tunney. He will undoubtedly be a stiff obstacle for Dempsey to surmount. Like him he is a fighter every inch and a terrific puncher.