Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-07-06
JESS UNABLE TO
FIGHT,
SAYS KID GRAVES
Dempsey's Blows So Weak.
ened Champion That He
Was Unable to.Stand and
Continue Battle.
BY the Sporting Editor.

lelegram.)-With the crushing de-
feat of former Champion Willard by
Jack Dempsey at Bayview arena yes.
terday afternoon comes all the eriti.
cism of the sport world on Wizards
retiring instead Of meeting Dempsey
for the fourth round Poor Jess is
roundly berated for not toeing the
scratch for the fourth session.
All this talk of Jess being a quit
ter is undeserved. He did not actu-
ally quit. He tried to answer the
bell for the. next round, but his legs
refused to- work and he could not
| get up. Walter Monaghan spoke to
Jess and received nod of the head
in reply. Walter stepped out to
speak to the referee and another sec
ond tossed the towel into the center
Of the ring, If Jess quit, it was be-
cause he had to, not because he
wanted to.
1t was a sorrowful camp that Jess
returned to after the battle. His
handlers stuck to him throughout
They helped him to his training
quarters, bathed him and gave his
wounds first aid and took him to
his temporary home in Parkwood.
There they were relieved of the care
of the fallen champion by Mrs. Jess
Willard, who had made the trip
from Lawrence, Kan, to see her hus-
band battle in defense OF his title.
She saw the battle from private
box. No one in the arena but Jess,
his seconds and Tex Richard know
ing she was there. Mrs. Willard
saw her idol fall, saw him apparent
ly quit but said she knew there was
some reason for Jess not coming up
for the fourth round. She knew her
husband was not a qnitter Mrs.
Willard says she never covered her
eyes at any time during the bout.
She saw all there was to it.
Mrs. Willard Pleased.
When Jess had been cared for, his
cuts bathed and cooling cloth laid
across shs feverish face, Mrs. Will
lard was ready to speak of the bat
tie. II am sorry that Jess was
beaten, but I can truthfully say /.
am happy that he is no longer the
champion" she said. ut means
now that he can live in peace. Jess
will become private citizen again.
This contest was the second boxing
match that l have ever witnessed
and I never want to see another
one. l shall be supremely happy
when | can take Jess back to our
home and our children" ..
Jess awoke from his 'doze long
enough to say that the first left
hook was the blow that won for
Dempsey. The punch broke his
jaw and left him dazed for the rest
of the mill. That was the blow
that started me on the road to de-
feat" said the dethroned champion.
ut was the first time I had ever
been knocked off my feet. l have
sent many birds home in the same
bruised condition l am in now, and
/ know how they must have felt. l
sincerely wish Dempsey all of the
luck possible and l hope he gamers
of the riches that go with a cham
pionship. l have had my fling at
the title. l was champion for four
| years and I want to assure you that
they will never have to give BEN
eft for me. l have invested my
money. I shall live off the income
from those investments"
Dempsey Expected to Win.
The new champion was ques-
toned regarding what he thought
of the sudden termination of the
bout. He-said, II won just as l ex-
pected to win. I outslugged Will
lard and knew after the first ex-
change of blows that l would win.
When Jess went down from the first
left hook to the jaw, I knew /
would be the champion in very few
minutes. I thought the battle was
over when Pecord waved me to my
corner in the first round and left
the ring. When was called back,
| felt it would soon be over any
way and honestly tried to finish
Willard with each blow I started.
He took them all and tried to fight
back, but there was no force to his
blows, so I disregarded all defense
and was intent on putting over FIN
isher When he went to his corner
at the close of the third round.
felt that if he could come back in
the next, | would get him early. He
was unable to come back.
u am glad I won and will try to
be regular champion. I won hon.
estly and fairly and the, one thing l
am glad of is that Willard did not
quit. l will say that he is absolute
ly game. When I went over to
shake hands with him, he was as
sisted to rise from his seat and his
congratulations were sincere. You
can say for me that Jess Willard is .
a real man." -
Training Camps Deserted.
The training camps of the cham
pion and the former champion are
deserted now. Each had repaired
to his living quarters and gives no
more thought to the rigors of the
conditioning grind. That is past
and they are both building hopes
for the morrow. A furore OF JOY
permeates the home Of Dempsey and
a solemn gloom prevails the air at
the Willard domicile. Willard will
stay in Toledo until his bruises heal.
He will stay in seclusion until he
once more looks presentable.
Dempsey stated that he didn't know
what. he would do nor when he
would do it. He told writers to
ASK Jack" referring to his man
ager, Jack Kearns. The new cham
pion is like great big boy with a
wonderful toy. He is naturally
happy, but there is no conceit in his
makeup.