The Mena weekly star., 1920-09-09
'MiSKE LOST FIGHT
IN THREE ROUNDS
Labor Days Championship Bout Was
Very Short Affair, With Dempsey
the Winner-Big Crowd Was
Satisfied

Benton Harbor, Mich, Sept. g.
Jack Dempsey, heavyweight champion
boxer of the world. demonstrated to-
day that he still retains the terrific
punch that won him the title. He
knocked out Billy Miske of st. Paul,
fighter as big and game as himself.
in the third round of their scheduled
10-round match. Three hard smashes
were sufficient to win him between
$4,000 and 100000, his fifty per
cent share of the gate receipts. Demp-
sey fought like champion in the
first defense of his title since he de-
feated Jess Willard at Toledo.
Miske had twice met Dempsey in
previous bouts and had stayed the
limit. He knew what to expect. There
was no reason for an impetus attack.
One almost wondered if Dempsey was
not allowing his opponent to gain a
little false confidence to make easier
the sledgehammer blow which Demp-
sey knew that he packed within the
confines of those five-ounce gloves.
This does not mean that Dempsey
was a pleasant ring companion, even
in the first round. In the clinches, he
was jolting his short lefts to the
Miske chin in a manner that told
Miske what might follow when Jacks
full strength was thrown behind the
punch
Except that Dempsey was slower in
starting, his tactics were practically
the same as at Toledo-hard rights
and lefts to the body, causing the OPP
ponent to bring down the guard and
left open the route for the ultimate
hook which would end the encounter.
What of Miske? Billy fought like
a man who hoped rather than expect
ed victory and this view he confirmed
in confidence after the battle. He
was cautious, covering up when in
danger, at which he is an adept, and
in reality making a better showing
than did Jess Willard, although at no
time did anyone feel that the result
could be otherwise than had been pre-
dicted.
The Decisive Blow.
The blow that destroyed whatever
chance. Miske had of staying the linz
| it of 10 rounds, came early in the sec
ond round.
| 1t was right jolt, not hook or a
swing, his arm drawn propelled
straight forward with piston-like
I force, and precision, Just under
Miske's heart. 1t sent the challenger
off his pins and on to his haunches.
Undoubtedly one of the hardest body
blows ever delivered in an American
ring for the distance it travelled.
When Miskc arose TO his feet, ne
was unsteady. but he fell into clinch
and lasted out the round by battling
purely defensively and for self-pro-
lection, and Dempsey perhaps could
have ended t had he rushed and
forced like wild man. The same
cool, crafty Dempsey went about his
task methodically. He shook up Miske
with his short hooks and uppercuts
in the clinches, but the opening did
not offer for a hook to the Jaw.
When Miske came out for the third
round, he evidently realized he was
beaten unless chance blow should
land and he made the mistake of TAX
ing the initiative, which. however.
brought cheer from the crowd.
There was rapid exchange in which
Jacks blows carried far more power.
and Miske vent back to his defensive
tactics, but he had been severely pun
ished in the exchange which was to
Dempsey's liking.
Finally came an opening and Demp-
sey shot that left hook to the law.
the same left hook which carried Will
lard to defeat. Miske's head apparent
ly slipped sideways with the force Of
the blow, as he fell to the canvas.
else he never would have arisen for
more. As it was, he was beaten, but
| still conscious. He knew enough to
get on his knees and take the full
count of nine while Dempsey paced
impatiently behind the referee, wait
ing for Miske to rise.
Miske's hands were only partially
up as he rose to his feet, but he had
not regained his defensive fighting
position when Dempsey rushed up and
drove his right through the seive de-
Tense. Miske fell on his face. thor
ouglsly out. The knockout occurred
in Miske's corner and as soon as Ref
Eeree Dougherty had tolled off 10 sec
onds, Dempsey helped lift his late
rival into the chair in the corner.
r.