The sun., 1919-07-05
WILLARD ORDERS
HIS SECONDS TO
I GIVE UP FIGHT


there was an ovation that never be-
fore had been accorded a new cham
mon of hsticuffs. For Willard, as he
sneaked out of tho ring and quickly
out Of the arena, there was never
even q look.
Not even a whit of sympathy went to
that hulk as with battered face and that
slckly smile still lurking on his coun-
tenance he efraced himself from the
scene while cheer after cheer rang
through the air for the new king-this
latest sensation of pugilism who had up
held the traditions of the fighting sons
OF the feud country OF the Tennessee
mountains.
Mob SIN others Dempsey.
Before Dempsey could HE himself
out of the ring a mob descended on him
and almost smothered him. Men Rugged
him under sheer glee over the sensa-
tional success he had 30 brilliantly won.
Even a few women managed to make
their way on to the canvas and tell the
new titleholder how glad they were to
see him win.
Never had a heavyweight champion
ship fight developed 30 many surprises
from the start and end in SO startling a
manner. In all that long history OF the
titular competition - all the way back
from these days of Jacob Hyer in 1915
there had been only three shorter bat
ties for the crown.
Tommy Burns stopped Bill Sauires Of
Australia at Colma, California. Just
twelve years ago to-day, in the first
round Jim Jeffries knocked out Jack
Munro in the second round at San Fran
cisco in 1904, and Jim Corbett stopped
Charley Mitchell of England at Jack
sonville in 1894 In the third round.
But these had been fights. In all
three the champions had been vtctors,
and the beaten challengers were counted
out while they lay unconscious on the
canvas To-day $4,000 saw champion
lose his crown in record time. and II
anybody shed a tear 1t was not notice
able.
Even those who had been the stanch-
est admirers and hackers of Willard
went from the arena with a feeling of
disgust, chagrin over their having spon-
sored the cause OF a man whose business
Il was to fight, but who declined the
Issue when the heat of battle was at Its
hottest.
willard Surprises Spectators.
In view Of Wizards having retired
after three rounds, 1t was something OF
mystery to the initiated that he had not
permitted himself to be counted out
seven trips to the canvas in the first
round To have been counted out while
he lay prone would have meant defeat
surely enough, but defeat with some
honor.
Some were so unfeeling as to suggest
that had Willard resigned the task in the
first round the moving pictures Of the
fight would not have been worth a
plugged nickel. Three rounds will make
the films fair sellers But that. of course
Is only a suspicion, engendered perhaps
by Willard's being master Of finance.
Willard retired Just at the time when
he seemed to be going better than at
any other period since his first trip to
- the boards after about a minute and a
half Of fighting. He showed gameness
In the first round.
In the third round the man from Kan
sas showed signs of recovering from the
onslaught. while Dempsey appeared to
be firing from his exertions and the con-
slant support OF the hulklng frame OF
the man who still was champion.
Dempsey Hurt I'm Third Round.
Half way through the third round
Willard unleashed a few right hand up
percuts and once he seemed TO stagger
Dempsey slightly. At any rate, Willard
hurt his man. Dempsey had to let up
for a while.
Surely the champion would go right on
for few rounds at least. Why, there
was the case of Bob Fitzsimmons In his
fight with Jim Corbett at Carson City.
1t was In the sixth round that Corbett
knocked Bob down, cut his mouth and
all but knocked him out, but Bob refused
to say die. He kept plugging. rallied
and in the fourteenth round had Corbett
so weary that he fell victim to the Cor
nishman. But what did willard care
hnt. fxa6 l. 49,. l.. 49,
been cut up, that his heart and his every
bone was aching. and why keep up the
battle?
Wizards repeated rise from the can
vas In the opening round may be ad-
vanced by his friends as a demonstra-
ton Of his gameness Indeed, at the
time 1t was an exhibition of grit, but
Il was too good to last. In that frs,
round the Kansan took a more severe
beating than any other champion had
been forced to accept IN any three
minutes of his ring career. Had the
bell Not come to his rescue, as he wat
down for the seventh time the hgh,
probably would have been over Their
and there.
Confident as He Enters Ring.
II was a very confident looking VIII.
lard who took the ring. He already had
received 100000 in Liberty bonds a,
his share OF the days proceeds anC
there was a look of satisfaction as clad
In blue trunks and with a red and whit,
sash about his belt he clambered into
the ring. Dempsey stamped in his cor
ner. He was Itching to get into action
perhaps a Lille more nervous than ths
phlegmatic Willard.
The wait was irksome, not only Il
Dempsey but to the onlookers Tn,
gong sounded. but It rang too lightly ans
the men were kept waiting for another
bell, for about a minute and a half
Slowly they came to scratch.
Then came the first disappointment o.
the fight. Dempsey had been expected
to bounce right out of his corner like
tiger and rush at the champion witt
both hands swinging, head down an,
fre in his eye. Dempsey did nothing o
the sort He started like a Jim Corbet,
and his first lead was a left and RICH
10 the ribs. He backed away like