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Show INTEREST IN FIGHTINTENSE ; Betting Odds a Shade in Favor of French Champion in London. COUNTRYMEN BACKING Clergyman Buy Seats in Arena American Present to Cheer Gunboat. London. July 15. Boxing experts here show a remarkably even division divi-sion of opinion as to the chances of Gunboat Smith, the American heavy-j heavy-j weight and Georges Carpentier, the i French heavyweight champion In i their twenty round match to be fought at Olynipia tomorrow night The bet-I bet-I ting odds today were perhaps a shade in fa'ur of the Frenchman, but this I was due probably to the enthusiasm of his countrymen great numbers of whom have crossed the English channel chan-nel to support their hero. They brought with them a great deal of money to back their compatriot whom they describe as a "fighting boxer." while they call Smith a "box ir.g fighter." and they contend that science Is bound to defeat the trans-Atlantie trans-Atlantie punch. Interest in the contest is enormous and the attendance promises to create cre-ate a record for this country. Fired by the example of the Rev. John Hervey Boudier, who acted as master of ceremonies at the Weleh-Hlteh'e Weleh-Hlteh'e match and of Rev. Everard Digby who occupied a similar position posi-tion at the Wells-Bell match, many clergymen have obtained seats around the ?rena and are said to intend to bring their wives with them. The officers and midshipmen of the American battleship Missouri will be preset t in strength to cheer the former for-mer bluejacket of the flagship, rr |