Omaha daily bee., 1919-07-05
Dempsey Virtually Wins
World Title in One Round;
Willard Quits in Third
Issue Never in Doubt From Start Kansan Knocked to
Mat Five Times Before First Frame Ends; Says All
His Strength Left Him After Hooks to Jaw and
Stomach Early in Fight.
rs. Seats were built for $4,000,

tations. Seats were built for $4,000,
and the estimate was that not more
than half of these were occupied
Spectators lost heavily. No bet
ting was reported at the ringside,
nor was there much elsewhere so
far as could be ascertained.
The heat of the day was terrific,
| intensified as it was by the vast
acreage of green lumber. During
the preliminary bouts, which lasted
from II o'clock till 2:30, a thermom-
eter jumped to 100 degrees. 1t
showed 10 degrees when Willard
and Dempsey entered the ring.
When Dempsey was proclaimed
winner the crowd surged onto the
mat in a wild scramble to shake the
hand Of the new champion. At
times some of them toppled over
onto the telegraphers and reporters
just below, who were struggling in
the mad disorder to report what
had happened. Police eventually
dispersed them by hustling Demp-
sey away. Willard was taken to an
automobile and disappeared from
view of the crowd.
Lacking In Class.
While the passing of the heavy
weight championship was one of the
most dramatic events of modern
ring history, it was lacking entirely
in high class boxing. With the ex-
ception of the first three snappy left
jabs with which Willard opened the
contest, the combat was simply
series of terrific drives and smashes,
virtually all of which were delivered
by Dempsey.
The first of these crashing swings
to land on Wizards jaw ard body
appeared to completely daze' and
take away from the Nitle-holder ali
power to either protect himself or
fight back as had been expected by
his admirers. Whether he could
have stood up better under the bat
tering of Dempsey few years ago
will always be a mooted question.
1t cannot be denied, however, that
Willard was in good physical con-
dition and displayed gameness up to
the moment that his seconds per-
suaded him to relinquish the cham
pionship to Dempsey.
Took Punishment Well.
This was demonstrated by, the fact
he received in nine minutes of fight
ing far more punishment than did
Jeffries at the hands of Jack John
SON in their l5-round bout at Reno,
and yet was able to respond to the
bell had his\seconds been calloused
enough to send him again to the
slaughter. Even after the disa strous
ending of the first round, Willard
flashed a momentary comeback in
the second, which for few seconds
led to the belief among his support
ers that he would weather the storm
and carry the battle along on even
terms for a few sessions at least.
1t was the last flicker Of a spirit
which was stronger than the flesh.
Another sweeping right-arm smash
that flew over Wizards shoulder
and landed flush on his swollen,
bleeding jaw, took the last ounce Of
resistance out of the giant and made
his downfall a matter of but minutes.
, Battered Opponent Down.
An analysis of the new champion
shows nothing new in his fighting
methods. He tore into his oppon-
ent at top speed, as has always been
his fighting custom, and simply bat
tered his way to the pinnacle of
pugilism by the speed of his blows
and the overwhelming power that
travelled from the huge shoulder
muscles down through the brawny
arms and into the clincbed fists ar
mored with fve-ounce gloves. He
made little or no attempt at de-
fensive work and not more than
FIVE or six times during the nine
minutes off battling did he resort to
foot work to avoid Willard. 4
Dempsey appeared in the ring at
3:55 o'clock and Willard a minute
later They were stripped ready
for action, Willard wearing short,
tight-htting blue worsted trunks
with an American flag belt, while
Dempsey wore short, loose trunks
like those of a Splinter During the
few preliminary details both were
covered with huge umbrellas to
keep the sun from their uncovered
heads.
At nine minutes after 4, the weak
gong, which later caused so much
confusion, Changed and the battle
was on.
Round One.
Willard doomed up like a Goliath
against his five-inch shorter David,
and opened the engagement by
pumping his long left twice into
Dempsey's face with force enough
to make the latter blink. The chal-
lenger missed a swing and, slipping
into a c1inch. landed three body
blows with his left hand, carrying
but little force. Willard held him
easily in a clinch and partly turn
ing him around used his rapier like
left again, once to the head and once
to the body after the break.
Then Dempsey. as if he had got
the range, opened his heavy artil-
lery and swung a Earring left to the
jaw, followed by right and left to
the body. The almost superhuman
power of the punches was immedi-
ately apparent A partly silly, part
ly stupid, expression overspread
Wizards face and as he rocked on
his-heels his whole body quivvered.
He pulled himself together and as
Dempsey crowded in again, shot
left to the mouth and repeated to
the eye. The blows did not even
cause his youthful nemesis to hest