Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-07-11
DEMPSEY EASILY DEFEATS WILLARD.

DtMPSEY EASILY DEFEATS WILLARD.
In one of The speediest and most
one-sidcd battles which ever decid-
ed big fistic event Jack Dempsey,
who may now wish to be known
by his full voting name of William
Harrison Dempsey, in the ring at
Toledo, Ohio, on the 4th, became
The worlds champion heavyweight
boxer
10 all intents and purposes he
Knocked out the champion, big Jess
Willard, favorite in the meager bet
ting, III one round. Dempsey
thought the referee had announced
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 10 the gong for the fourth
round.
1T was no use to continue" said
Inc eN-champion. "My strength went
from me in the first round"
He sal there, apparently the most
surprised man in the United States
at the moment. His right eye was
closed and that whole side of his
| face was swollen and blue with
bruises. Blood covered his body
and his arms hung so helplessly
over the ropes that it seemed as if
:, child might give him further pun.
ishment without arouSind his inter-
est.
Dempsey was breathing hard
when the fight ended, but it was
| from eNertion and moi from punish
! ment. He escaped almost unhurt,
BUT as he had been using his arms
like trip-hammcrS on the anatomy
OF his opponent for nine crowded
minutes in a sun that sent the ther-
momctcr to 40 degrees, his heart
was still pumping at high pressure
and he appreciated the breathing
spell.
In the first few rounds of the con-
test it looked as if the experts who
had been assigned to keep detailed
accounts of all blows struck might
come measurably close TO doing so,
but it was only for Il fraction of a
moment. After that the experts did
well to count Jacks blows, let alone
take note of how each was made.
The challenger knocked the big fel-
low down five times in the first
round and had him hanging help
lcssly on the ropes or draped over
his own shoulder most of the time
when he was not taking advantage
Of the count.
When they entered the ring Will
lard was smiling and confident and
seemed to regret the unpleasant task
of beating his challenger. "Lets get
this thing over" he said.
Dempsey presented a contrast.
None of the confidence of his train
ing camp statements appeared in
his bearing. The man across from
him outwcighed him so pounds and
looked as big and imprcgnablc as
the Metropolitan Bank Building.
The mood Of the challenger was
plainly thoughtful, and more than
one ringside gazer whispered: "Hc's
licked right now"
When they were introduced, Jess
! Sauntcrcd over with the cordial
manner of one desiring to reassurc
a youngster and shook hands in
the fricndlicst way. Jacks hand
shake was friendly then, too. but
it was the last token Of friendship
from those gloves. A minute or two
later they were using Willard for a
chopping block, and some in the
, crowd were crying. "Stop it! Stop
it! IT'S plain mllrder!"
Dcmpsey'S first effective blows,
I and the ones which apparently set
tied Wizards fate were q right over
Jess shoulder to the jaw, left to
the body and right to the The jaw.
Jess staggered. His eye was closing
and he reclcd, and the challenger,
with all the energy of his pulsing
youth. began hitting him at will.
Willard, tho defeated, got by for
the bigger part of the money al
lowed the fighters, the promoters
guaranteeing him 100000 win or
lose. Dempsey got S27 500.
1t was an hour after the fight be-
fore Willard recovered from the
stunning effect of the blows receiy-
pI in fhp fret found