WILLARD RETIRES.

NZ Truth, Issue 692, 21 September 1918, Page 8

WILLARD RETIRES.

According to the scant information that comes through these days concerning ring matters' on the other side of the world it looks as though Jess Willard is a fighter, of the past. The proposed WillardPulton bout for Independence Day fell through because no promoter could be found to give a big enough purse, and more Important perhaps, public feeling did not seem favorably disposed towai'ds champion boxers being boomed m days when first consideration should be given to the prosecution of tho war. Willard may have become piqued by the many taunts hurled at him, for he stated* his intention of retiring from the game, and now we have word that Jack Dempsey and Fred Pulton met recently for the world's championship, and that the flrstnamed was successful. Fulton may have had first claim to tho title, by /reason of his challenge to .Willard, but no good judge of boxers would have him as a world-beater. Anyhow, Dempsey seems to have settled Fulton's pretensions to the highest honors, Dempsey has been regarded as a suro-oomer for some time, but his most enthusiastic supporters hardly expected to see him bo soon carrying the mantle once worn by such fighters as Pitzslmmons, Jeffries, Johnson and others. Dempsey, by the way, seems to have been fortunate m being able to meet Fulton, for a recent message from America read as follows: "The world has been .very cruel to Jack Dempsey of late. . Jack can't move a step without seeing the iron hand of one Jack Reisier being raised against him. Reisier got out an injunction some time ago restraining Dempsey from . fighting unless under his management, Jack Kearns, who has been handling the Westerner's affairs, has offered 15,000 dollars to Reisier to lay off Dempsey, but the barber insists on the "ante" being raised to 20,000 iron men.. Unless this tangleU situation Is straightened out, things will go upside down for Dempsey. The barber is boosting Dempsey to tlie skies, which sends his claims for Jack's services higher. One thing is certain that Dempsey will fix on some kind of settlement rather than lose Jack Kearns, who has been responsible for the Westerner's advancement m pugilistic circles." Whether .Dempsey will ever be a real front-ranker time alone .will tell. In May last he failed to stop Billy Miske and his Westerners were prepared to lay extravagant odds on Dempsey. But Miske is not an easy. man to put down, and' he fought a draw. Miske has proved a tough customer to many a heavyweight aspirant, and Dillon, Morris, Fulton and other big fighters know it to their cost.