The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-06
LOSES BELT
WHILE SITTING DOWN


sosy d Ring.
~ Jaclr D1llon.
Famous Light-asavyweight, Known
~ Jack the Giant Killer.")
Toledo, o., July E.--lost the cham
ptonship sitting down. That's q sorry
end to the pugilistic record OF Jess
willard. It's probably the nrst time
In ring history that the cnaEupionship
was lost in such q cheap md unsatis-
factory way. It showed that willard,
giant that he II. has something the
matter with his heart. It's not q
easne, Aghting heart. It's not the kind
Of heart that stands up under terrific
punishment It's not the kind Of heart
that will stay to the end, even though
the hrat knockout blow on the jaw ~
inevitable. It's not the kind Of heart
that . champion ought to have.
Money has been. In q way, the un-
making Of willard ~ fighter. Money
the last few years has made living
luxuries and maybe this weakened his
lighting heart more than his fighting
body
felt that Dempsey would win az
soon ~ he had uncovered that tre-
mendous left Of his to WIZARDS jaw
in the nrst round. It showed that
Jack had sufacient power to floor the
big fellow. That knock down gave
him . world Of confidence In himself,
even more than he had when. he en-
tered tbs ring. Though even he was
complete master OF himself. looking
at his hugo opponent, towering head
over him and weighing a half hun
dred pounds more than himself.
Dempsey must have had some mighty
serious thoughts about the possible
developments Of the next thirty
minutes in that small padded square.
But he never. showed a. trace OF ner
vousness and doubt II he felt any I
am sure he had no thought Of fear.
That first round was certainly a
whirlwind. You can imagine the
that upset man nifty pounds heavier
than Dempsey. Willard probably had
a crushing blow In either hand II he
had been able to land one fairly. But
really doubt If there would have
been more driving force behind them
than there were in those right and
left smashes to the Jaw that Demp-
sey whipped over in the history max
Ing first round. Iistory-making be-
cause 1t was the first time Willard
ever had been knocked down and the
first time I have heard that he ever
was SO badly damaged In the face.
Dempsey. I think, could have put
Willard away in that first round II he
had continued his rushing attack in
cessantly. When the round closed I
began to fear that he might have
missed HIS chance. Willard is such
a giant that knew he must have some
reserve strength and the way he rail-
lied in the second round proved that
was true.
But In the third Dempsey went at
~ IL t.. + t- ,rtN ~
style, he fought so hard that he be-
gan to look bit tired hut he wound
up the round in a smashing way that
showed he had plenty OF reserve. In
fact he fought all the way like a
champion. He never faltered in his
attack. He dared to go in close con-
twinually and risk the damage that
used TO be In Wizards wallops. But
II was not there today, Willard. as I
wrote three weeks ago. when I boxed
with him in training here, was slow
and soft.
You will remember too. at that
| early date In the training after had
| had a workout with Dempsey that I
| unhesitatingly and Internationally
| picked Dempsey TO win the fight.
| have some qualification in that but
| the signs OF the result today were I'M
mistakable. 1t looked as certain as
words could make II that Dempsey's
superb condition, his rushing power
ful attack. his confidence and his
gamness would overcome the handi-
cap OF weight his opponent held. VIII
lard did not have much else today.
It Is too bad. but the pugilistic
crown should change hands. In such a
way. It's too bad that the big fellow
didn't have gameness enough to take
his medicine to the bitter end. It's
too bad that Dempsey couldn't get the
credit for a clear knock out. But he Is
entitled to the credit OF a technical
knockout. He's a lion hearted fighter.
He'll make one OF the most popular
champions we have ever had. He has
fought hts way up from the bottom. He
deserves everything that Is good from
the sporting public.
Hall to the new champion!