The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-05

| the title holder all power to either pro- tect himself or fight back. as had been expected by his admirers. Whether he could have stood up better under the bat tering of Dempsey a few years ago will always be a mooted question in the years to come, when today's battle is discussed. It cannot be denied, however that Willard was in good physical condi- ton and displayed gameness up to the moment that his seconds persuaded him to relinquish the championship to Demp- sey.
 This was demonstrated by the fact that the Kansas giant received in nine min utes of fighting far more punishment than did Jeffries at the hands of Jack Johnson in their 15-round bout at Reno, and yet was able to respond to the bell had his seconds been cailoused enough to send him again to the slaughter. Eve. after the disastrous ending of the first round, Willard flashed momentary comeback in the second. which for a few seconds led to the belief among his supporters that he would weather the storm and carry the battle along on even terms for few session at least It was the last flicker of spirit which was stronger than the flesh. Another sweep ing right arm smash that flew over Will lard's shoulder and landed flush on his swollen, bleeding jaw took the lasr ounce or resistance out of the giant and made his downfall a matter of but min utes.
 An analysis of the newly crowned cham pion shows nothing new in his fighting methods He tore into his opponent at top speed as has always been his fighting custom and simply battered his way to the pinnacle of pugilism by the speed e ~ and fto- -t.- that travelled from the huge shoulder muscles down through the brawny arms and into the clnched fists armored with five ounce gloves. He made little or no attempt at defensive work and not more than five or six times during the nine minutes of battling did he resort to foot work to avoid Willard.
 Once the new canvas was stretched there was little delay in bringing the Lrincipals into the ring. Dempsey ap- peared at 3:55 o'clock and Willard a min ute later. They were stripped ready for action. Willard wearing short, tight fit ting blue worsted trunks with an Amer
 can flag belt, while Dempsey wore short loose trunks, like those of a sprinter During the few preliminary details both were covered with huge umbrellas to keep the sun from their uncovered heads. At nine minutes after four the weak gong, which later caused so much con fusion. changed and the battle was on. ROUND ONE
 Willard loomed up like a Goliath against his five inch shorter David and opened the engagement by pumping his long left twice into Dempsey's face with force enough to make rthe latter blink. The challenger missed swing and slip ping into clinch landed three body blows with his free left hand, carrying but lit tie force. Willard had him easily in clinch and partly turning him around used his rapier-like left again once to the head and once to the body after the break.
 Then Dempsey, as if he had gotten the range. opened his heavy artillery and swung a jarring left to the jaw, followed by right and left to the body. The almost superhuman power of the punches was immediattly apparent. A partly silly partly stupid expression overspread 1 the champions face and as he rocked
 on his heels his whole body quivered. He pulled himself together and as Dempsey crowded in again. shot left, to the mouth and repeated to the eye. The blows did not even cause his youthful nemesis to hesitate. and darting past the outstretched left as 1t snapped for the | third time he whipped over a right and left almost simultaneously, tho blows landing flush on Willard's jaw and for | the first time in his championship career Willard was dropped to the floor. He was up again at the count of six only to
 be sent to the canvas with another right
 as he rose slowly to his feet. the blood began to pour from his mouth.
 | He turned away from his opponent who struck again twice with his right, Willard 1 falling on his hands and knees. When he arose Dempsey crowded him into | -txxIk nd 1Af face sent him to the floor again. As he arose fusillade of body blows dropped him in corner where he sat when the bell terminated the round and led Demp- l sey to believe that Willard had been
 counted out.
 ROUND TWO
 | Dempsey started where he left off, and | Willard with big cut under his eye.
 appeared to be in bad way. He man aged to snap left to Dempsey's face and pung right uppercut to the chin. 1 Dempsey replied with several body drives 1 and Willard fell partly through the hopes. When he regained his feet he stumbled into a clinch, but Dempsey easily tore lcose and proceeded to batter him almost lat will, the champion retaliating with but three feeble stabs to the face during the melee. When Willard went to his
 corner he fell heavily into his chair. and lit was seen that his right eye was com pletely closed. and that the side of his face was swollen entirely out of shape,
 while Dempsey was unmarked.
 THIRD ROUND
 The final session was simply series of rapid fire swings which fell on Will l lard's face and body with piIe-drivina power, which left Willard completely helpless. Although he staggered about the ring and wobbled along the ropes ut
 terly unable to defend himself Blood
 4ce.ti..ed ea Pase Twelve)