April 18, 1926
Dempsey Advises Young America To Care For Health, Strength
__
SPENDS BUSY DAY
__
Heavyweight Champion All Set For Match At Juarez Coliseum Today
__
Greeted and cheered by young and old El Paso, on his arrival here yesterday, Jack Dempsey, world’s champion heavyweight, spent a busy day winding up with a visit to the Country Club last night.
Between shaking hands, refusing cigars and drinks, and changing clothes, Dempsey was kept on the jump from the time he alighted from the train at the Union depot, coming directly to the Times-Herald office, where he wrote a story and assisted in making up The Herald sport pages.
“Don’t – if you would be a champion – smoke cigarettes or drink liquor,” Dempsey advised El Paso newsboys in a talk given before a mob of youngsters and grownups at Hotel Paso del Norte.
“A clean body and mind is the first thing to be considered in any championship material. Remember first to be good boys and keep your health and strength while you work or play. If you do this you are made of championship material.” Dempsey advised his young admirers, whose faces glowed with pleasure as the champion gripped each small hand in his own powerful right “mitt.”
FEELS RESPONSIBILITY
“I never used to think much about drinking,” said Dempsey afterward, “But when I got the championship and began to realize how small boys were regarding me, it gave me a sense of responsibility that I never dreamed of having. That’s the real reason why I don’t drink or smoke. If I have to set an example I’m going to set a good one.”
During his two mile training joust yesterday morning Dempsey called on his friend, Harvey Wilcox, at the Lone Star Motor Car company offices. A crowd of big eyed youngsters kept him company.
Following his talk to the newsboys he drove around the city, going to Juarez at noon where he and members of his party were guests of S.G. Gonzales at luncheon. Included in the party with the champion were Floyd Fitzsimmons, Michigan City prize fight promoter; Mr. Grant, Dempsey’s legal adviser; Jerry Landeau, trainer; Gus Wilson, Curley Morgan, County Clerk W.D. Greet, John McIntosh and Detective Sergt, Charles Matthews.
After luncheon Dempsey was the center of attraction at the Popular Dry Goods company store, where he again greeted young El Paso with hand-shakes, cheery smiles and championship advice.
GOES TO RACES
Following the reception at the Popular the champion was a guest of honor at the Juarez race meet opening. Along with Gen. E.B. Jackson and Mayor Almeida. Dempsey was honorary judge of the revival handicap, feature event of the racing card.
After the races, Dempsey returned to his hotel in El Paso, dressed for dinner and was again the guest of Mr. Gonzales for dinner.
Immediately after dinner he motored around the city with friends and was the guest for a short time of El Pasoans at the Country Club, leaving early and retiring for the night at 10:15 p.m.
His schedule for today included a five-mile walk early this morning, followed by a shower and rub down by his trainer ad the playing of several social calls on El Paso friends.
__
THOUSANDS OF FANS ARRIVE FOR MATCH
Thousands of fight fans from all sections of the southwest are making El Paso and Juarez their Mecca today to see Jack Dempsey, heavyweight champion of the world, step ten rounds with Farmer Lodge, the St. Paul heavyweight, and two of his partners and Marty Cutler, who trains with Lodge.
The fight marks the opening of the new Juarez Coliseum, a fight stadium that seats 12,000 people.
Dempsey will enter the ring about 5 o’clock this afternoon while the first bout on the program gets underway promptly at 4. The champ will be escorted by the same entourage that has accompanied him on all of his recent trips.
Lodge In Good Shape
Farmer Lodge, his husky opponent, is in the best condition of his career, according to his manger, Lloyd Stannard.
“The big boys eye is entirely healed up and I am sending him in there to give everything he’s got,” Stannard said last night. “He is familiar with the champion’s style and I am confident that he will be there at the finish. Lodge has been promised a fight in the Coliseum on May 30 if he makes an impressive showing against Dempsey.
“Lodge trained with Dempsey formerly and established the record of being the only sparring partner that the champ never knocked out. Lodge also went 15 rounds with Firpo in Buenes Aires without being knocked off his pins.
“The St. Paul boy’s problem is condition and I am satisfied that he is right on this score. Hard work will get Lodge up among the real contenders. I regard this Dempsey tour as the first step toward a hard campaign.”
Dempsey Visits Track
Dempsey’s opinion of the Farmer was indicated yesterday when he slashed to pieces the schedule made for him by the El Paso promoters and arranged his affairs so that he could get as much rest as possible.
Indications were last night that the bowl would be crowded to capacity before the champion entered the ring. The best seats are practically sold out and the ticket office literally swamped with orders last night.
Ample parking space will facilitate the handling of the crowds and people will be on hand to take care of the cars.
Instead of being three men as originally intended Dempsey will battle a quartet of fighters in the Juarez Coliseum this afternoon.
Lodge, who is the big number of the afternoon, meets Dempsey in a four-rounder, Cutler, another heavyweight will fight the champion two rounds, Jack McGuire and Marty Farrell, two members of the champion’s camp, will also step two rounds apiece with the champ.
A last minute switch was made in the semi-final because of an injury to Mike Vasquez’s foot.
Jose Rivers will get a chance to even matters with Sammie Sandow, the featherweight champ of the southwest, in this number.
Jack McDonald will referee the main event and Cip Payo will split up the preliminaries with bob Smith.
Dempsey’s own story of the plans which he wrote on his arrival yesterday, follows:
By JACK DEMPSEY
Heavyweight Champion of the World
I intend to defend my title in September, even if I have to stage the bout myself or fight one of my own sparring partners. There has been a good deal of talk about the heavyweight situation in recent months. Promoters have bobbed here and there who made a lot of talk about staging a fight for big money, but when it came to putting up the guarantee, none of them was able to deliver.
I’m frank to state that I am disgusted with the situation. The first real fight that comes along, I don’t care who it is with, I’ll take it. I have been running around the country, seeing first one promoter and then another, without having any luck, and I have about made up my mind that I will quit worrying about it.
Tex Richard, I understand, is on his way to see me. We will probably meet in El Paso. I expect him to make me an offer for a Tunney fight, as I know that he is not interested in a Wills match. If he does so, I will gather possible that the papers, at least my share of them, will be signed right here in El Paso.
Either Will Do
It makes no difference to me whether I fight Willis or Tunney first, so long as I get a fight.
When I leave here Monday afternoon for Asheville, N.C. I will probably take Tillie Kid Herman with me. The El Paso boy is fast and a tough puncher – just the type of man that I need in my camp at present.
We will work for one month in Hendersonville, a little town outside of Asheville. George carpenter will have his camp there at the same time. By the end of the training period, I expect to be in the best condition of my life.
In addition to Herman, I will take Marty Farrell, McGuire and Joe Stosel to work me out. McGuire has and I intend to find out how tough he is Sunday afternoon in Juarez.
Wants To Sign
I would like to sign for a fight before I enter the Hendersonville camps, as that would give me something to work toward.
This Farmer Lodge, whom I meet in Juarez Sunday, is a tough man when he is in condition. Lodge has plenty of natural fighting ability and is a hard puncher. His only handicap is difficulty in keeping down to weight, but I understand that he has shown rare condition in his El Paso workouts.
The St. Paul boy has an extraordinary amount of speed and can make any of the heavyweights extend themselves.
I’m glad to be back in El Paso. I’ve always had a warm spot in my heart for this town because El Paso people are so cordial in their greeting. I would welcome an opportunity to defend the title in Juarez or El Paso and the opening of the Juarez Coliseum may pave the way to such a match.
Comments