Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1919 — “WOW” BECKETT, ENGLISH HEAVYWEIGHT, CHALLENGES WINNER Of BIG TITLE BOUT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

“WOW” BECKETT, ENGLISH HEAVYWEIGHT, CHALLENGES WINNER Of BIG TITLE BOUT

W. Ck vV. Beckett, recent recruit to the regiment of pugilists who have knocked out Bombardier Wells, has cabled Tex Rickard that he wants to meet the winner of the Willard-Demp-sey fight. “Wow” evidently has had it explained to him that Rickard is paying Willard 20,000 guineas, quid or pounds for one bout. Doesn't Worry Rickard. Rickard does not consider that knocking out Wells puts anybody in line for the heavyweight championship, writes W. O. McGeehan in New York Tribune. Beaning the Bombardier has been one of the most popular sports indulged in by various French, British and American heavyweights.

It always has been considered a safe and sane pastime to hang one on the Bombardier’s jaw. The Bombardier lias dusted the rosin from his trunks more often than any heavyweight in the world with the possible exception of Arthur Pelky. Beckett's Backers Serious. Beckett’s backers take him very seriously, however, and the chances are that he will be flitting over this way very soon. The news of the $127,500 purse has caused some feverish excitement in the ranks of the British boxers and enough pugilistic immigrants will soon be on the wmy to take the places of the emigrants who have beat It through Ambrose channel to evade the long, dry spell to come.