The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-05
BATTLE is UNIQUE
IN HISTORY OF RING
New Champion Conceded 80
Pounds, Four Inches in
Height, 5 1-2 in Reach.
SHORTEST TITLE FIGHT
First Time, Too, That Sponge
Was Thrown In With Cham
pionship at Stake.
BY CROSS COUNTER.

BY CROSS COUNTER.
TOLEDO. July 4.--In the shortest and
most viciously contested bout for the
heavyweight championship ever fought
Jack Dempsey to-day. In the presence OF
10000 persons at Bay View Park,
wrested the title from Jess willard
The actual fighting time was three
rounds and while willard was fioored
seven times in the first session and bat
tered from pillar to post in the other two
rounds he managed 10 survive the pun
ishnient and reach his corner at the
close OF the third session. But he was
SO weak. bruised and bloody and 80 pal
pably beaten man that his seconds re-
fused TO send him out for the fourth ses-
sion.
Cntaue Features Of the Fight.
1t was the only time in history, Lon
don or Queensberry rules. that a cham
pion lost his title in three rounds
II was the first time in history that
the sponge was tossed for a title holder.
II was the first time in history that q
challenger conceded nifty pounds, four
inches in height and five ana a half
IN hes in reach to the champion and
still won.
The outcome OF the battle was in ac-
cordance with the past performances Of
the contestant. Dempsey lived up to tho
expectations Of students OF pugilistic
form and proved that he is the greatest
nghter since the days OF Fitxsimmons
In fact, he Is a better man than Fitz in
that he is speedier and a better boxer.
Dempsey amazed the onlookers by his
cleverness as he sidestepped, ducleed
and tented in a mastery manner. The
expectation that the challenger would
rush In head down. thus making his Jaw
a mark for a straight left or a right up
percut. was not realized.
Never n Dana ginE Blow.
Willard never landed a damaging blow
in the entire three rounds and his at
tempts to reach the challenger with his
long left were futile and each time the
champion led he was countered with
terrific force
1t Is questionable 10 any man ever
hit go many staggering blows in three
rounds as DEMPSEY landed on Willard.
Rugged as the youngster Is, he ham,
mered the champion till he himself be-
came arm weary from his own efforts.
Dempsey pounded the big man till II
seemed the Kansan must stay down for
the count. ".H
But to willard's credit, let II be
said. the giant with Spartan courage.
stood his ground under a bombardment
that would have stopped any other
heavyweight in the world I'm the first
session Willard proved beyond all doubt
that he Is the strongest man In the
ring since Jim Jeffries' time, and II
goes without saying that Jack Dempsey
is the only heavyweight I'm the world
who could have stopped the champion
in the form in which he entered the
ring this afternoon.
willard Fought True to Form.
Willard fought true to form. He was
even more aggressive than in his pre-
vious fights. He tried at times to carry
the fight to his youthful opponent. but
was completely baffied by the speed and
science Of his challenger.
The strength OF Dempseys blows was
demonstrated by the quickness with
which they affected the giant kansan.
The very first blow that Dempsey landed
on Willard in the opening round gave
Willard a very disagreeable sensation.
and when the second series OF thumps
reached his body and Jaw, the champion
realized that he was getting the same
treatment that Dempsey accorded to
Fulton. Morris. Gunboat Smith. and
other men who have met the new
champion in the ring.
II will take a whale of a man to take
the title away from William Harrison
Dempsey.
1t cannot be denied that Dempsey
committed a technical foul in leaving the
ring in the first round.
Thought He Had Won Fight.
II always has b.en the custom OF
Dempsey to hop out OF the ring shortly
nj l.
on an opponent and when he saw Pecord
cease counting over Willard, he thought
the battle was ended and that he was
the winner, so he jumped out OF the
ring. and laid himself open to disquali-
fcation.
As soon as Jack Kearns realized that
the bell ending the round had saved
Willard. he looked for Dempsey and
saw him getting out OF the ring.
With frantic rush Kearns lsaped
toward the corner He was intercepted
by Billy Gibson. who started TO hug
him for Joy. But Kearns saw the
danger and he pushed Gibson against
the ropes and Jumping out of the ring
grabbed the astonished Dempsey and
hustled him back to his corner.
There is no question that Willard
could have claimed foul. and strictly
adhering TO rule. the victor could have
been disqualified. II also Is question
able IL tho referee and judges would
have disqualified Dempsey even had the
seconds OF Willard submitted the claim
OF foul.
A cardinal rule OF pugilism declares
that any contestant leaving the ring
before a bout is legally ended lays him
self open to disqualification. But as
Willard and his seconds were too much
engrossed in the weak condition OF the
champion to enter claim Of foul.
Dempsey escaped the penalty OF his
headless action.
To-day's contest was the shortest OF
any for the heavy weight championship.
The duration OF previous bouts for the
title follows
Rounds.
s>ulllNdh an
torDett-SulilVAn ',,'''s'''.s's s''''''. Il
Fitzslmmons- Corbett .,.......,.,,..... II
Jenrie1-FitEsimmOns ........'..'.''.'' ~
johnson burns ...,.''''s.' '''''''s'''
Johnson effries .........,.,....... 1b