Dempsey Wills lawsuit

[QueensburyRules]

Have you ever seen a statement from Wills or Wills' team declining the Tunney fight? I haven't. I have seen a promoter, I believe it was, who claimed Wills offered Tunney a match that Tunney declined.

- - Tex offered Tunney as an eliminator against comebacking Dempsey as has been linked in the past infinitely.

Wills declined, and as history testified, Wills looked like you thereafter and Tunney beats Dempsey…yer welcome for the umpteeth time…

[travestyny]

- - Tex offered Tunney as an eliminator against comebacking Dempsey as has been linked in the past infinitely.

Wills declined, and as history testified, Wills looked like you thereafter and Tunney beats Dempsey…yer welcome for the umpteeth time…

Maybe you can learn to read. I asked if anyone has seen a statement from Wills or Wills team on the matter.

I know you haven't because you honestly know shlt about anything. Sorry, but just being honest. You're not good for anything here.

[Willie Pep 229]

Pick your poison. A little something for everybody's argument.

**********

New York Times, September 7th 1925

Gibson Says Wills is Dodging Tunney

Declares Negro's claim he must fight in Newark before bout here is subterfuge

". . . Upon his arrival here the other day, Wills and his manager Party Mullins declared that the Newark promoters have preference in the call on Wills' ring services. . . ."

**********

New York Times, September 9th 1925

COMMISSION HALTS WILLS-TUNNEY BOUT

Gives Oct. 12 Date Here to Sports Alliance, Upsetting Rickard's Plans for Match.

"Tex Rickard's plans for a heavy-weight ring struggle between Harry Wills and Gene Tunney for Oct. 12 went aglimmering yesterday when the Columbus Day date for ring attractions was awarded, at the meeting of the State Athletic Commission, to the National Sports Alliance for a benefit show for the organization, to be held at the Polo Grounds."

**********

New York Times, September 10th 1925

Wills Now Ready to Fight Tunney

Mullins says he is now ready to sign for battle later this month or early next month.

". . . Paddy Mullins, manager of the negro boxer, announced yesterday that Wills was ready and eager to fight Tunney. Mullins said he was ready to sign the match as soon as certain obstacles are removed. . . ."

**********

Re the September 9th Article: I am surprised Chairman James Farley (NYSAC) blocked Tex Rickard's effort by pre-booking the Polo Grounds for a charity event.

After years of promoting a Dempsey-Wills fight Farley decides to block the venue just as it looks like a Wills-Tunney title elimination bout was about to happen.

Was he protecting Wills from Tunney?

Pure speculation on my part but an odd thing for Farley to do.

[Willie Pep 229]

Is it possible that Fitzsimmons was telling Mullins to blow off the Tunney fight?

It is right at this time that Floyd Fitzsimmons has Dempsey out west talking to the Chicago people about a Wills-Dempsey fight.

It woud be a sad irony if Mullins avoided the Tunney fight because Fitzsimmons was telling him he could deliever Dempsey.

Again just speculation. But the timing is right. If Will's people know that Fitz has Chicago money backing him and is talking to Dempsey, just maybe, the Tunney fight is an unnecessary fight for Wills; not a smart move for Wills.

Fitzsimmons did promote the Miske defense and was Dempsey's friend. If Fitz was talking Dempsey-Wills in Chicago, I can see Mullins, stalling Tunney. Makes sense.

P.S. This was the fall of 1925 when the whole 'bounced check' blew up in Fitzsimmons' face.

[travestyny]

Pick your poison. A little something for everybody's argument.

**********

New York Times, September 7th 1925

Gibson Says Wills is Dodging Tunney

Declares Negro's claim he must fight in Newark before bout here is subterfuge

". . . Upon his arrival here the other day, Wills and his manager Party Mullins declared that the Newark promoters have preference in the call on Wills' ring services. . . ."

**********

New York Times, September 9th 1925

COMMISSION HALTS WILLS-TUNNEY BOUT

Gives Oct. 12 Date Here to Sports Alliance, Upsetting Rickard's Plans for Match.

"Tex Rickard's plans for a heavy-weight ring struggle between Harry Wills and Gene Tunney for Oct. 12 went aglimmering yesterday when the Columbus Day date for ring attractions was awarded, at the meeting of the State Athletic Commission, to the National Sports Alliance for a benefit show for the organization, to be held at the Polo Grounds."

**********

New York Times, September 10th 1925

Wills Now Ready to Fight Tunney

Mullins says he is now ready to sign for battle later this month or early next month.

". . . Paddy Mullins, manager of the negro boxer, announced yesterday that Wills was ready and eager to fight Tunney. Mullins said he was ready to sign the match as soon as certain obstacles are removed. . . ."

**********

Re the September 7th Article: I am surprised Chairman James Farley (NYSAC) blocked Tex Rickard's effort by pre-booking the Polo Grounds for a charity event.

After years of promoting a Dempsey-Wills fight Farley decides to block the venue just as it looks like a Wills-Tunney title elimination bout was about to happen.

Was he protecting Wills from Tunney?

Pure speculation on my part but an odd thing for Farley to do.

This all jives perfectly with what I was referring to. Wills had to put on a show in Jersey, which had been discussed here previously. It was that fight that a promoter said was offered to Tunney, and Tunney / Tunney's team declined. Wills wound up fighting Floyd Johnson.


The Seattle Star Nov. 4, 1925

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[Dr. Z]

Have you ever seen a statement from Wills or Wills' team declining the Tunney fight? I haven't. I have seen a promoter, I believe it was, who claimed Wills offered Tunney a match that Tunney declined.

1926-In early 1926, Wills was offered $250,000 to fight Gene Tunney in a title eliminator, with the winner to meet the champion. Wills turned it down. Wills balked.

Ring Magazine annual ratings.

1924. Champion Dempsey. Wills at #2 at heavy, Tunney at #1 at light heavy
1925. Champion Dempsey. Wills #1 at heavy, Tunney #3 at heavy
1926. Tunney champion at heavy, Dempsey #2.

Wills had his chance for the fight with Tunney. He balked. He also avoided the top black heavyweight of the time in George Godfrey, so that's two ducks for Wills.

While Jack Johnson's antics and title reign made it tough for top-ranked black contenders, Wills blew chances by not risking more. Back in the 1920's there wasn't a huge size difference between light heavy and heavy.

[travestyny]

1926-In early 1926, Wills was offered $250,000 to fight Gene Tunney in a title eliminator, with the winner to meet the champion. Wills turned it down. Wills balked.

Ring Magazine annual ratings.

1924. Champion Dempsey. Wills at #2 at heavy, Tunney at #1 at light heavy
1925. Champion Dempsey. Wills #1 at heavy, Tunney #3 at heavy
1926. Tunney champion at heavy, Dempsey #2.

Wills had his chance for the fight with Tunney. He balked. He also avoided the top black heavyweight of the time in George Godfrey, so that's two ducks for Wills.

While Jack Johnson's antics and title reign made it tough for top-ranked black contenders, Wills blew chances by not risking more. Back in the 1920's there wasn't a huge size difference between light heavy and heavy.

Jesus Christ, do any of you read?

I asked if anyone has a statement from Wills or Wills' team turning down the fight. Apparently only Willie Pep can read and use simple comprehension skills.

I can say exactly the same thing as you.

Tunney was offered a shot at Wills but Tunney balked. Details already mentioned in this thread.

Tunney also avoided George Godfrey, as Tunney claimed he wouldn't fight any Black fighter besides Wills.

When Tunney won the championship, he suddenly changed his mind and said he would not fight Wills either.


Personally, I don't think Tunney ever wanted the fight with Wills. I don't think Wills cared either way, but he certainly knew the fight that he should have is Dempsey.

[Willie Pep 229]

1926-In early 1926, Wills was offered $250,000 to fight Gene Tunney in a title eliminator, with the winner to meet the champion. Wills turned it down. Wills balked.

Ring Magazine annual ratings.

1924. Champion Dempsey. Wills at #2 at heavy, Tunney at #1 at light heavy
1925. Champion Dempsey. Wills #1 at heavy, Tunney #3 at heavy
1926. Tunney champion at heavy, Dempsey #2.

Wills had his chance for the fight with Tunney. He balked. He also avoided the top black heavyweight of the time in George Godfrey, so that's two ducks for Wills.

While Jack Johnson's antics and title reign made it tough for top-ranked black contenders, Wills blew chances by not risking more. Back in the 1920's there wasn't a huge size difference between light heavy and heavy.

In early 1926 Will's people should have been talking to the Chicago Athletic Club who were in the process of signing Dempsey to a Wills-Dempsey fight in Chicago.

I don't see how Wills was in a position to turn down a Tunney offer in early 1926. He should already have been committed to Chicago until early July when Dempsey then publicly breached the contract.

Only then would Wills have been free, and by then Tunney was signed to fight Dempsey.

So I don't see how a Wills-Tunney could be a serious offer in early 1926.

The articles I posted above come from early fall of 1925. If someone made Wills an offer in early 1926 that would not mean much. Wills had to think, once Dempsey signed, he was going to get his shot at Dempsey, why take Tunney.

If you are going to claim Wills ducked Tunney you have to show an offer before Dempsey signed with the Chicago people, otherwise Wills was tied up, waiting to see if Dempsey would honor the contract. Which he didn t.

I believe what we see in October 1926, Wills-Sharkey was the elimination bout that Wills-Tunney was susposed to be back in 1925.

But I don't see how a 1926 Wills-Tunney fight was possible.

Can you post who made Wills an offer in early 1926?

[Dr. Z]

In early 1926 Will's people should have been talking to the Chicago Athletic Club who were in the process of signing Dempsey to a Wills-Dempsey fight in Chicago.

I don't see how Wills was in a position to turn down a Tunney offer in early 1926. He should already have been committed to Chicago until early July when Dempsey then publicly breached the contract.

Only then would Wills have been free, and by then Tunney was signed to fight Dempsey.

So I don't see how a Wills-Tunney could be a serious offer in early 1926.

The articles I posted above come from early fall of 1925. If someone made Wills an offer in early 1926 that would not mean much. Wills had to think, once Dempsey signed, he was going to get his shot at Dempsey, why take Tunney.

If you are going to claim Wills ducked Tunney you have to show an offer before Dempsey signed with the Chicago people, otherwise Wills was tied up, waiting to see if Dempsey would honor the contract. Which he didn t.

I believe what we see in October 1926, Wills-Sharkey was the elimination bout that Wills-Tunney was susposed to be back in 1925.

But I don't see how a 1926 Wills-Tunney fight was possible.

Can you post who made Wills an offer in early 1926?

You may need to subscribe for the NY times but I venture you can read the headline. Paddy Mullins, Wills manager speaks that Wills is ready to sign, but as we know he didn't. Tunney would have beaten Wills badly in 1925. And 1926.

https://www.nytimes.com/1925/09/10/a...d-to-sign.html

[ShoulderRoll]

- - No, he KOed JJohnson in Saskatoon for a huge fortune in gold bullion. JJohnson as the loser cleaned up plenty of bullion as well.

Why do you always feel the need to cloud the issue with obvious bullcrap? Stick to actual facts.