Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-06
DEMPSEY SIXTH
HEAVYWEIGHT KING
Corbett. First Legitimate
Holder of Title Won by
Wizards Conqueror.
FIGHTS LIKE SULLIVAN
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

:. BY DENMAN THOMPSON.
:. TOLEDO. Ohio. July 5.-William
Harrison Dempsey. the human bone
crusher. whose pile-driver blows yes
terday reduced Jess Willard to a
bruised and bleeding hulk of 245
pounds of dazed and helpless i'm
potency in a sun-scorched arena while
more than 10000 men and women
looked on in surprise, is the sixth
legitimate title holder in the un-
limited class. Since the first heavy
weight championship was fought un-
der Marquis of Queensherry rules
nearly twenty-seven years have
elapsed and in that time there have
been eight title holderS-siX real and
two technical. James j. Cor5eft, who
Journeyed all the way from California
10 the rirsside TO see new cham
pion crowned yesterday. was the first.
his de;hronement of John L. sullivan
at New orleans September {. 1892,
mark ing the modern era of boxing.
sullivan had attained and defended
his title of champion over period OF
twelve years. but always under Lon
don prize ring rules, his startling de-
feat at the hands of Corbett being the
fist. championship bout with padded
gloves and marking the end of bare
fists days on the turf.
- Two Technical Title Holders.
Bob F'itzsimmonS succeeded Cor
bett. Jim Jeffries in turn tumbled him
ald the ebony-hued Jack Johnson re-
Neved the California grizzly bear of
the laurels Willard reached the PIN
nacle of the heap when he topped the
black at Havana. 1t is commended tn N
Marvin HAT, who defeated Jack Root
when JeffrieS announced his retirement
and handed his title to the winner,
should be listed on the roll of honor.
also Tommy Burns. who subsequently
upset Hart. but the titles of Hart and
RurnS while recognized, were of
doubtful legitimacy and on the theory
that a champion is champion until
defeated. Johnson entered the ring
the Hateful day in Reno. New, when
the. championship passed from the
white race. merely the challenger.
Titles in almost every other ring
class have changed hands with much
more frequency than the average
maintained in the top set, due. doubt
less to the fact that the material in
heavyw eight class develops more
slowly than in the division involving
smaller men Competition under the
conditions being restricted, there are
fewer accepted candidates. conse-
quently the man fortunate enough to
acquire the crown seldom is sorely
dressed to defend it.
Average Possession About 5 Years
Almost five years elapsed after Cor
bett whipped Sullivan when he lost to
E tzsimmons. with but one engagement
sandwiched in between his rise to the
heights and his tumble. Fitzsimmons
fought with more frequency and. age
taking its toll he was labeled ''Ex' in
two wears. Counting the period of his
retirement. Jeffries reisncd longer than
Corbett. and Johnsons period at the top
WAS almost as long as "Gebtklman
J4nl's," covering nearly five years. Will
lari,s stretch as monarch covered four
years and three months, so the average
teuiire of the honor has been a little
less than five years.
NO One in Sight for Dempsey.
There is no telling how long Demp-
sey will retain the coveted asset.
There is not any one in sight on this
or the other side of the Atlantic
capable of making the product of
ffish, Scotch and Cherokee blood ex-
tend himself. To put Carpenter
into ring with Dempsey would be
plain murder for the Frenchman. and
critics who have seen Beckett, the
newest English sensation. in action,
declare he would be completely out
elassed by a battler of the cham
pion's speed. Only one thing can
bring Dempsey's sway to an untimely
end~the lure of the primrose path.
Jack is twenty-four years old next
month, has good habits and has shown
NO signs of crashing to dissipation. II
his newly won success does not go to
his bead after he has piled up the dol
lars through the medium of theatrical
tours, he should set a new modern
record for longevity in retaining the
heavyweight championship of the
world. There seems little doubt he
will become the most popular cham
pioh- of them all since the day of John
l. Sullivan. and for the same reason
that the Boston strong boy had such
a hold on the public-because he is
born fighter.
Dempsey Like Sullivan.
Jack Johnson was famous. for an
upper-cut that travelled rarely more
than eight inches and was exceedingly
Furnishing. Jim Jeffries had a crouch
that puzzled his opponents. Bob Fitz-
simmons made famous the solar
pIaxus blow and Jim Corbetts great
him the realization of his ambitions.
but none of these champions had that
horn fighting quality that character
lied, John l.. He fought because he
loved to fight-like a cave man bat
terihg down his opponent with brute
siren 9Th. pounding. rushing and roar
ing until his opponent wilted. There
was no science, no strategy. no clever
ness. just brute strength and a fight
ing heart
Such scrapper is Jack Dempsey,
the rowdy. rough, two ha nded
street fighter. Plain punching ability
won for Dempsey yesterday and lack
Of ii cost Willard his crown. Demp-
sey entered the ring with the SIM
pie determination TO batter down his
opponent, just as Sullivan always did,
and the result now is history.
CITY NEWS IN BRIEF.
The non-pnrtisan committee for the