Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-06-08
DEMPSEY FIT To
COPE EVEN WITH
MIGHTY WILLARD
First View Of Contender in
Camp at Toledo Makes Deep
Impression on Robert Ed
gren, Noted FjStjC Expert
Robert EMgrcn.


Toledo, June 81 had my first
view of Jack Dempsey in training for
the worlds championship bout on
July 4. After accompanying Willard
from his training camp on the coast,
came to Toledo a da" ahead of him.
the champion following after a short
visit to his Kansas home. Early in
the morning Manager Jack Kearns
called with a car ami We whisked out
to Dempsey camp on the lake shore.
Jack was up and eager to work. but
as his boxing didn't begin until after
noon, Trainer Jimmy De Forest ruled
that he must lie down for awhile and
rest.
This Dempsey lad is the most con-
fident man in the world, possibly eX-
cepting willard. He looks fit to fight
for a cha npionship without another
day of training. His face and arms are
burned black from long weeks in the
open air. The skin is drawn tighter
over his cheekbones, and Is apparent
ly as hard and tough as tanned leath-
er. | think ! have never before been
SO much impressed by Dempseys ply
que. He seems to have grown broad
er of shoulder and thicker OF arms
since | saw him knock out Fulton,
Whine his rounded waist is smaller and
his legs thinner His wrists and fore
arms are those of d giant fully as
heavy as WIZARDS. The muscles of
his forearms stand out in rounded
punches. Although his hands are a
little smaller than Wizards, they are
muscular and compact. They are per-
feet implements for his trade, in spite
of his astonishing hitting powers he
never breaks them.
There has been 50 much discussion
about Dempsey's height that l had
him stand with his back to a
door and measured him carefully.
He's exactly the height of Jeffries,
and in his present fighting condition
is the nearest thing to Jeffries in his
prime that | have ever seen in a ring.
At $3.50 Dempsey jumped int his
tights and went out to box BIZ Tate,
his gigantic black sparring partner,
having asked for day of rest, he
took on three white men instead, The
first OF these was Eli Stanton, SOL
der, about feet 3, well built, and
confident that he could give Dempsey
a workout. The soldier boxed we'll
sey never fools around when he puts
the gloves on. He walEed into the SOL
der. swaying his head from side to
side in a manner that made him
as hard a target to hit as the bouncing
ball on "A shooting gallery fountain.
He had both arms waving wide open
and with no attempt to block or guard
in the style so peculiarly like that OF
l. tob
was at the height of his fame. The
soldier jabbed him. Dempsey let the
blow glance as he turned his head
just as Fitzsimmons used to roll his
and let glove go by, and drove a
thudding left into the tall mans body
In three minutes Dempsey nearly an.
initiated the Aoldier. Afterward
asked stanton his opinion of Demp'
sey's punch.
HE doesn't hit like any man I ever
fought" he said There's no regular
style about 1t. He has natural trick
of hitting. Every blow he landed or
me felt like blow with blacksmith
hammer"
Dempsey waded through Jack La
win, fat but courageous veteran
through the Jamaica Kid, duskN
sparring partner who displayed 10
of speed and a willingness to mix an!
old time. and through Terry Keller
! The four men were well used up il
| one round each, and probably not on'
in the bunch could have gone through
another round at the same pace
dempsey doesn't spar. He tears il
roughly and let's his punches go a
| If in a real battle.
jacks workout was limited to fou
rounds and little bag punching ant
pulling around with an elastic exer
ciser The sultry heat made it impos
| sibIe to do more.
One afternoon in Dempsey's train
ing camp will convince anyone tina
| even the giant willard is going t.
| have no easy time in defending tn
| beavvweirht rhamDionghin