Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-05
(By the Associated Press.)

lby the Associated PreSS.)
Toledo, July 4.-By virtue of one of
the speediest and one-sided battles
which ever decided a big fistic event,
Jack Dempsey, who now may wish to
be known by his full voting name of
William Harrison Dempsey, today be-
came the worlds champion heavy
weight boxer.
10 all intents and purposes he whip
ped the huge Jess Willard. favorite in
the meager betting. in one round.
Dempsey thought the referee had an
nounced him winner and actually left
the ring. But he was called back and
the butchery continued for two rounds
more when Jess. sitting in his corner
with a bewildered look on his swollen
countenance, failed to respond to the
gong for the fourth round.
1T was no use to continue" said
the ex-champion. my strength went
from me in the first round.'
Right Eye Closed.
He sat there apparently the most
surprised man in the United States at
the moment His right eye was clos
ed and his right cheek swollen and
blue with bruises. Blood covered his
body and his arms hung so helplessly
over the ropes that it seemed as if a
child might give him further abuse
without arousing his interest.
Dempsey was breathing hard when
the fight ended. but it was from ex-
ertion and not from punishment. He
escaped almost unhurt. but as he had
been using his arms like triphammers
on the anatomy of his opponent for
nine crowded minutes in a sun that
sent the thermometer to 10 degrees,
his heart still vas pumping at high
pressure and he appreciated the
breathing spell.
Jack Goes Too Fast.
In the first few seconds of the con-
test it looked as II the experts who
had been. assigned to keep detailed
account of all blows struck might
come measureably close to doing so,
but it was only for a fraction of a
moment. After that the experts did
we'll to count Jacks blows, let alone
take note Of how each was made.
The challenger knocked the big fellow
down five times in the first round and
had him hanging helplessly on the
ropes or draped over his own shout
ders most of the time when he was not
taking advantage of the u
The crowd thought the fight was
over in that round. Willard was down
for the seventh time and the count
was apparently about to end when
the gong sounded. 1t was a modest
heard before 70 many people, and
even Dempsey did not get it. He
crawled through the ropes and waa
headed out on shoulders of scream
ing fans when the truth was broken
to him and he was hauled back.
willard Was Confident.
Such fighting as the Kansas ranch
man produced was placed on exhibi-
ton at the onset He had stood in
his corner a picture of; confidence.
His smile seemed thai of one who had
a brief and not unpleasant task be-
fore him. He certainly was all set to
go, for just before time was called he
was heard to remark: Lets get this
thing over" I
He measured the attendance, which
disappointed estimates by about SO
per cent. with an a%ppraising eye.
Dempsey presented a contrast.
None of the confidence Of his train
ing camp statements appeared in his
bearing. The man across from him
outweighed him forty pounds and
looked as big and impregnable as a
metropolitan bank building. The
mood Of the challenger was plainly
thoughtful n more than n ring
side gazer whispered: Hes licked
right now"
When they were introduced, Jess
sauntered over with the cordial man
ner of one desiring to reassure q
younsster and o his hands in the
friendliest way. Jacks handshake
was friendly, too, just then, but it was
the last token Of friendship from
those gloves. A minute or so later
they were using Willard for a chop
l Ns~r . h1A~Hr -- $500 - $500
were crying stop it! Stop it! It's
plain murder"
Blows Staggr Jess.
Dempsey's first effective blows. and
the ones which apparently settled
Wizards fate. were a right over
Jess shoulder to the jaw, a left to
the body. and a right to the jaw. Jess
staggered. His eye was closing and
the energy Of his pulsing youth, be-
gan hitting him at will.
When Dempsey was proclaimed
winner the crowd surged onto the
mat in a wild scramble to shake the
hand of the new champion. At time.
some of them toppled over onto the
t~elegraphers and reports just below
whb were struggling in the mad dis.
order to report what had happened.
Police eventually dispersed them by
hnstling Dempsey away. Willard wa.
taken to- an automobile and disap-
peared from view of the crowd which
then itself began the task Of covering
the four miles from the arena to the
city az best they could, by street car.
automobile. or on foot
IAtf1e Good Boxing.
While the passing OF the heavy
weight championship was one OF the
most dramatic events of modern rinl
history, It was lacking entirely in high
class boxing. With the exception OF
the first three snappy left 3jabs with