The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-13
DEMPSEY SHOWED
, WEAKNESS TWICE
New Champion Was Wabbly in
Second and Third Rounds
at Toledo.
WILLARD COULDN'T RALLY
Did Not Have Enough Left to
Take Advantage Of His
Opponents Lapses.
WILLARD COULDN'T RALLY
By CROSS COUNTER.

caused surprise to those who knew how
full OF stamina the younsster was
The phenomenon is not dificult Of
explanation. Willard was unquestiop-
ably the strongest pugilist since Jim
Jeffries was In his prime. The Kansan
never had been knocked down in his
ring career. and he did not believe II
possible for mortal man TO put him on
the floor. Yet this new Jack the Giant
Killer beat the Kansan down seven
times in the first round, into which was
crowded more offensive work by Demp-
sey and more assimilation Of punish
ment by Willard than ever was seen
previously In an entire battle for the
heavyweight championship.
Il is true that Bob Ft!Zslmmons gave
a terrific beating for seven rounds to
Jeffries in their second meeting, but the
Cornishman failed to bring his man to
the floor.
The physical effort required Of Demp-
sey in topping the $50 FOUNDER to the
canvas was greater than that put forth
by clever boxers in 40 rounds. Every
time a heavy puncher lands with force
on an opponent the shock to the hitter
Is considerable and when a pugilst
hammers and bangs an opponent all
over the ring for practically three min
utes, without a rest of more than
few seconds, the drain on the vitality
Of the attacking boxer is heavy. No
matter how we'll trained and strong a
boxer may be, such an effort will tell
on him, and It is not surprising that
Dempsey showed the effects Of his heavy
work.
No other man in the heavyweight
class ever practically stopped a man OF
Willard's size and strength in the first
round. and no other man would have at
tempted II.
Dempsey Recovered Fast.
While the effect Of the trying task on
Dempsey was temporarily TO halt his at
tack, he recovered wNh remarkable alac-
rity and resumed plying the champion
with all kinds Of d!scouraging thumps.
Had Dempsey been in the ring with
an opponent who himself was agrees
sive, the Utah clouter might have re-
cetved blow at the psychological mo-
ment that would have settled him.
However. any ordinary man receiving
the punishment that Willard got would
no doubt have remained down for the
hnal count after the first OF second
knockdown, thus permitting Dempsey
to leave the ring without danger of be-
Ing recalled.
In substance Willard probably took a
harder beating in a shorter space OF
time than any other title holder in the
history OF the heavyweight class.
incidentally. Dempsey did more eff
fActive work in three rounds than any
other victor over a champion probably
did in ten. Dempsey has demonstrated
that he has more good qualities than
any other champion Of the heavyweight
class.
The new title holder has all the speed
of Corbett, with this difference: Cor
bett used his speed in defensive work.
while Dempsey utilizes his speed In
attack.
Hits Like Old Fits.
Dempsey hits as hard as Fitzsimmons
did, hits oftener and with more speed
Dempsey lacks the strategy that was en-
ployed by Fitz. but makes up for this by
the fury of his attack. Dempsey is a
much better boxer than Fitz. Jeffries or
Willard, and a harder hitter than John
son.
In. addition Dempsey has more az
gressveness than Corbett. F5tz, Jeff and
Willard all together.
For these reasons Dempsey will be a
difficult man from whom to wrest the
title.
The claim that Jim Corbett won the
worlds title when he defeated Mitchell
at Jacksonville. January Is, 1894, in
three rounds again has bobbed up.
There is no basis for the claim for the
reason that Mitchell never was cham
pion of England. and certainly not In
1894 when he lost TO Corbett.
Mitchell won a heavyweight competi-
ton from a number OF novices in 1882,
the year in which Sullivan beat Paddy
Ryan for the American title.
Jem smith to Fore.
Following the retirement of Mace
while holding the worlds heavyweight
| title. the championship was in allegiance
till 1885. when Jem Smith and Jack
Davis fought for the honors and Smith
| won. Peter Jackson. who had settled In
England. took the title away from Smith
in 1889, and in 1892. jackson made him.
| self the heavyweight champion of Eng
land and Australia by knocking on,
Frank Slavin in ten rounds at the Ma
tlonal Sporting Club OF London.
Jackson then moved away from Eng
| land. being unable to get a match with
Mitchell. and stlll seeking n bout with
Corbett.
/ The title lapsed till 1905, when Gun.
ner Moir and Jack Palmer met for the
| Lonsdale belt aid NOR was the winner
| Iron Hague won the title from Moir in
! 1909 and Bombadier Wells relieved
Hague OF the honors In 1911.
| Joe Beckett took the title from Wells
| short time ago and defended II sue.
! cessfully against Goddard.
| In all the years that Mitchell was In
| his prime he never met Smith, Jackson
or Moir. Perhaps he might have heater
al OF them. The fact remains he did
not, and therefore he never won the
! English championship.
Fit3 won the same title Corbett did
; that OF champion of America.
Jenries worlds Champion.
! Jeffries was the first American pugi
Hist 10 win worlds title. He beat Fit,
for the American title and as he haC
previously beaten Peter jackson, wht
still held the title of champion of Eng
| land and Australia. the boilermaker thu,
1 became the worlds title holder. TIL,
fact that jackson was on the dow
grade when beaten by Jeffries does no
alter the case
When Jeffries retired In 1905 tn,
! worlds title and American title lapsed
Tommy Burns won the American cham
I pionship by beating a poor lot, ant
made himself the worlds champion b,
knocking out Bill Squires, champion o.
Australia, and Gunner MoIr, champion
OF England. Johnson took these tltlei
from Burns and Willard received then
from Johnson Now Dempsey hold
them