The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-08

ton stamps him as the most sensa tional heavyweight since Jim Jeffries' time and ranks him as among the greatest since the mitr game began.
 Scme persons, ever ready with their mallets have tried to prove that Demp- sey's triumph over Fulton isn't anything for fight fans to get excited about. They are claiming that Fulton was "bum," a false alarm,' and other things of the same brand in an effort to show that Dempsey's achievement is not to be ranked as a wonderful one They are to ones who, in pre-fight conversation, in- sisted that Fulton will kill that Col orado joke.''
 I have been interested in pugilism for nearly S5 years-an era that has known all the greatest batters pugilsm has produced. And I can frankly say that no man ever has eclipsed Dempseys almost unbelievable victory over Fulton. A few men have knocked out rivals in less time than it took Dempsey to turn the trick, bur no heavyweight is listed among them. The knockouts that were accom- plished by fights in less than 23 seconds were only three or four in number. And all were accomplished by men over oppo- nents of their own size and weight. Not one of them faced foe 20 pounds heav- fer and five inches taller who had been ranked as a possible champion, and put him away in 23 seconds.
 Sullivan was great: so was Fitz; so was Jim Jeffries. During their careers they took on all cOmers-many of them dubs who knew almost nothing about the art O. fighting They were the easiest pick ing one could conceive. Yet I fail to recall that any of the trio put to sleep even one of those dubs in less than 23 seconds. Yet it took Dempsey only that length of time to drop into oblivion as a ring man who, at the same time is one of the hugest men that ever Jumped through the ropes.
 Doesn't that in itself stamp Dempsey as truly great?
 Some persons are so constructed that they find pleasure only in knocking. To give a man his just due is foreign to their makeup. They hammer everybody and everything. And just now they are attempting to spoof Dempsey's triumph over Fulton.
 Dempsey has been particular target ever since he appeared along the pugil- istic horizon Earlier in the year when he began to send foes into oblivion with a few punches, the scoffers insisted that all of his foes were 'setups.
 "Wait until he tackles tough one then good night Dempsey"
 So Dempsey afteh whipping everyone who cared to try conclusions with him, was brought face to face with Fulton. The plasterer had assembled a rather imposing record. He had knocked out Frank Moran, the man who wasn't stopped by either Jack Johnson or Jess willard. Fulton had knocked out Sam Langford and dozen others who were considered fairly good heavyweights.
 Fulton, on the day he met Dempsey, was ranked next to Willard. He was the toughest foe that any man with championship aspirations could be called upon to face. He had claimed the cham pionship for himself because of Willard's semi-retirement-and many ring experts acknowledged his claim.
 It took Dempsey exactly 23 seconds to knock that man out!
 Dempsey long has been known as terrific hitter and a ferocious fighter, with the aggressyeness of John l.. and Terry McGovern. The fight with Fulton revealed both those great asets to an eastern audience And it showed that Dempsey has something else that a champion needs-brain and coolness.
 Dempsey merely glanced at Fulton from his corner before the fight began. He noted that the giant was nervous. He knew, too that Fulton's style of warfare in the first round is more of feeling out process than real fighting.
 So Dempsey quickly mapped out his programme of battle-and it worked out to perfection.
 He took advantage of his Knowledge by rushing Fulton with cyclonic fury, never giving the plasterer a chance to '.set." He pushed aside Fulton's opening 1ab with the art of a master boxer and then drove his left into Fulton's body with all the force at his command. 1t had the effect Dempsey planned-of bonding over Fulton to point where his