BOXING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 22 January 1927, Page 12

BOXING.

TUNNEY AND CHALLENGERS. DEMPSEY’S POPULARITY. Honouring one of the ancient traditions of the prize ring, Gene Tunney, newly-crowned heavy-weight boxing champion, intends to give Jack Dempsey, from whom he wrested the title, first chance at him to regain it, if he is able. Tunney recently stated that, unless Jack retires, or fails in his preparatory “come-back” fights, he will he taken on as the- first challenger, some time after March 23 next, when Tunney’s six months of idleness shall have expired. . At the time of writing it is not at all certain that Dempsey will attempt a ring come-back, says a New York periodical. Dempsey says he intends to try himself out with some light exercise before he makes up his mind whether to strive to. recover his crown or quit the fighting game, leaving the field open to the crop of rising young heavy-weights. He had, decided to return to California, where he would engage in some training routine to learn whether he still holds any semblance of his old fighting form or can regain it-. If he finds that he is “through” he won’t. bother Tunney or anyone else, hut will, embark in some other line of business than that of handing out and receiving “socks” on the jaw. In case Dempsey’s preliminary training endeavours inspire him with new confidence, he probably will engage in two or three tune-up bouts before crossing gloves again with Tunney in an effort to recapture the title. If he can’t improve over what he showed in Philadelphia he will only he wasting his time with Tunney or anyone else. Right now, however, Jack thinks he can defeat the former marine if he picks up some of his lost form.

Tunney, as stated, is entirely spontaneous "in his desire that Dempsey shall be his first opponent when he draws on gloves in defence of the heavy-weight championship. Besides wishing to abide by one of the oldest of l'ing customs —that of giving the conquered champion a return _ bout — Gene had a genuine admiration tor Dempsey, which was heightened by Jack’s gameness in their recent fight. As is well known, Dempsey stood up manfully under an unmerciful shellacking and then, at the finish, hanblinded, implored his friend. Gene Normile, to lead him across the ramsoaked ring that he might shake the band of his conqueror and' assuie him that the better man had won. Since that memorable night Jack has steadfastly refused _ to utter the faintest sort of an alibi, and has repeated! v denied foolish stories that lie was "doped” before the fight. Dempsey in defeat is more popular Ilian lie ever was as holder oi . the ’ championship, and this is due entirely ’ to his fine sportsmanship in not desiring to detract in any way from Tunney’s victory. ? In case Dempsey finds that he has ! not slipped bacjc too far in his fight- ! ing form, he mify be matched by Tex ! Rickard for a. xune-up bout this win--1 ter in Madison Square Garden witli Harry Persson, the vSwedish heavy- . weight, who fought a preliminary setto on the same bill with _ Dempsey and Tunney in the Sesquicentennial r Stadium. Persson is a rough, tough t customer, and if Dempsey. could dispose of him in anything like his old , annihilating fashion he would 'he sure ’ to pull a big gate against _ Tunney | next summer in some open-air arena. . Incidentally, Dempsey confided to [ an interviewer that while he is only 31 years old, he is a veteran of 16 years in the prize ring. He declared that he was only 15 years old when ■ he had his first light. That puts Dempsey in the same class' with

j Johnny Dundee and Jack Britton as a battle-scarred old-timer. In the event that Dempsey finds he cannot come back to the fistic wars, there are many ambitious young fellows who are more than anxious to storm the pugilistic heights. Most of them, too, think they can make things hum for Tunney. Certainly they are a “cocky” lot. First and foremost there is that good-looking young Pole, Jack Sharkey, of Boston, who erased Harry Wills, the coloured stevedore, as a heavv-weight menace. Sharkey already has filed his challenge to fight Tunney with the New ; York Athletic Commission, and posted the 2500 dollars guarantee required by that fistic body. Sharkey’s challenge is No. 1 on the list, and others will bo filed ill order of their receipt. Sharkey was hooked to box Tunney , right before Gene took the crown from Dempsey, but he stepped aside. Now ■ he i.s anxious for his big shot, and i certainly bis sensational victory over ■ Wills gives him the place of prefer- ■ ence. Then, directly on Sharkey’s heels, there are Jack Delaney and Paul Berlenbach, both of whom are clamouring > to enter the heivy-weight field. De- • Janey, who bolds the world’s light- : heavy-weight title, is said to have put • on a considerable poundage, and his • manager, Pee Reilly, is loud in liis • “ballyhoo” for the Bridgeport Frencli- ■ Canuck. Delaney, if entering the r ring around 180 pounds, would be l favoured by many shrewd judges of i boxing to defeat Tunney. Berlenbach, after a long rest in [ California, says lie has taken on i weight, and would fain mingle with ■ Gene. Then there are Monte Mnnn, Arthur Dekuh, Jack De Maw© and a i half-dozen lesser lights who would r take the big chance against the new i champion. [ From the way things shape up now Tunney can have plenty of action i next American summer when he steps l out to meet the challengers.