WILLS 30 POUNDS HEAVIER THAN JACK. Robert Edgren As for Hairy Wills there's a fellow big enough to give Dempsey trouble, and he Is boxing all the time and doesn't lack experience. Wills outweighs Dempsey thirty poundu or more. He Is 4 Inches taller and blgger in every way. He's a good boxer. He isn't of the Jack Johnson type. Until recently Wills worked as a stevedore on the New York Wharves. He never figures In the police news. He's no speeder outside the ring. If Wills hasn’t much of a record it is because the most advertised boxers kept from him. Fred Fulton was bold enough, to take a chance, after beating Sam Langford without much trouble, Sam being far gone In fat. Wills beat Fulton not within fifteen seconds as Dempsey did, but quickly enough. Sam Langford used to knock Wills out occasionally but when Sam became too ancient Wills had his turn. Wills made a poor showing with Bill Tate a while ago, losing the proud title of "colored champion" to Willlam, but there was a ***** look about that match. Bill Tate never figured as a world beater and Dempsey used to knock him out every day or two In the training camp. There's one thing about the Dempsey-Wllls match that makes It a doubtful proposition for a promoter. Wills has often been accused of holding and hitting and other stunts hardly In accord with the Marquis of Queensberry's code. In a championship match a capable referee would Insist upon fighting according to the rules, and if Wills has any careless habits they might crop up In a round or two, which would lead to a quick disqualification and a short show. But on the whole, the only objection to a Wllls-Dempsey match Is that It's a "mixed match," of the sort that has been prohibited In the past by the New York and other Boxing Commissions because of the race rioting and other disturbances that are likely to follow. Apparently, the New York Commission Is willing to shoulder the responsibility for the small detail..
:good D, this article buttresses what I have been posting of the FEAR that promoters had in matching black and white heavyweights for a title fight, following the riots and deaths which occurred following the Jeffries/Johnson fight in Reno, Nev. Growing up I would read about this very often, so this article reinforces the valid concerns State boxing commissions across the U.S. had...The lack of responses to my past posts addressing this fact, is certainly telling in itself...Because I believe this fact doesn't fit the "agenda" of some Dempsey haters...
Is that so? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_race_riot http://www1.assumption.edu/ahc/raceriots/ http://www.blackwallstreet.freeservers.com/red summer riots.htm
I am resolute in the theory that a) Jack wasn't fond of fighting Wills and b) Jack would have been a huge favourite.
Back on the serious note .... Elaine, Arkansas was another very serious episode, still obscured to this day. The "red summer" of 1919 I believe.
