The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-06-25
RELATIVE MERITS
OF BOTH FIGHTERS
CRITICS PASS JUDGMENT ON
FIGHTING QUALITIES OF
DEMPSEY AND GEORGES.


New York-(By A. P.)-The string
of II knockouts convinced boxing pro-
moters and the public at large that
Dempsey, in spite of unpopularity be-
cause of his failure to get into active
military service in the war, was the
logical man to meet Jess Willard for
the heavyweight championship of the
world. TEX" Rickard clinched the
bout,
The principals met in New York,
February 9, 1919 to agree to condi-
tions for the bout. The statutes of
New York at that time made illegal
articles for boxing bout signed in
that state. Accordingly, when condi-
tions had been settled, the principals.
their managers and TEX" Rickard
ferried to Jersey City and signed the
papers in a railway waiting room.
After virtually every city of ac-
count in the United States, where
boxing was legal, had been mentioned
as the possible site, Rickard announ-
ced that Toledo, Ohio, had been select
ed for the bout, July 4. City and
state officials declared themselves
favorable to the plans and the boxers,
about six weeks before the scheduled
date, started training in camps near
the big arena.
In spite of Dempsey's great record
for hitting, many persons, including
Willard himself, We're confident that
the huge bulk of the Kansan, who had
always maintained fairly good con-
ditlon, would make him impregnable
before his small opponent
Dempsey, apparently unmindful Of
the disparity in height and weight,
declared that he was going to tackle
Willard as he had tackled his victims
of past two years-with a rush. The
fact that he had put out both Carl
Morris and Fred Fulton, men much
larger than himself, in the first
round, made him confident that he
could defeat Jess Willard in the same
manner.
The defeat Of Carpenter by two Of
the greatest middleweights that
America has had, Billy Papke, the
Illinois Thunderbolt," and Frank
Klaus of Pittsburgh, is now cited by
persons who believe that the French
man stands small chance with Jack
Dempsey at Jersey City, July 2.
Carpenter was then only 18 years
Of age but was big and rapidly grow
ing out of the middleweight class.
He already stood five feet, liz in
,hes, his present height, and it is de-
,lared that he had considerable
,rouble making the middleweight
init for both bouts. He was meet
ng two of Americas best boxers,
10Th in their prime.
Carpenters defeat at the hands of
Klaus came early in the year. AL
hough defeated, he gave Klaus a
great battle for 19 rounds. Then it
vas Decamps, rather than Carpenter,
who brought the battle to a close.
The manager climbed through the
'opes to save his groggy charge from
urther punishment and Carpenter,
demonstrating, was forced to quit,
Klaus winning on a foul. The Ameri-
AN, however, was cleancut winner
Ind surely would have scored an actu-
Il knockout had the bout continued.
In October of the same year, Papke
topped Carpenter in II rounds at
he Cirque de Paris. A ringside wit
less declares that the result of that
'attle is small excuse for believing
hat Carpenter, then boy, should
lot now, fully developed man, be
eal rival for Jack Dempsey. Car
'entier, with all his cleverness, stood
oe to toe with the heavy-hitting
American for more than a dozen
ounds and went down defeated in a
,ory but manly way.
Heavyweight Championship Battles
Jack Dempsey defended his title for
he first time last Labor Day against
Billy Miske. He was the same ter
ible mauler that put Willard aside.
lis punches seemed to have almost
uperhuman force behind them and
1iske lasted less than three rounds.
The challenger had grit aplenty and
e knew how to box. He landed direct
yallops against the champion fire.
uently and his quick footwork eluded
everal punches. Although forced to
e inactive for a year under the care
f surgeons, Miske showed himself a
1uch better scrapper than when he
ppeared on the eve of the Dempsey
Willard match and fought Battling
.evinsky.
But he was no match for the Giant
.iller. Dempsey disabled him in the
econd round with vicious blow over
lie stomach and just below the heart
n the third round he knocked him
own three times before Miske was
breed to quit.
The first time he was felled he
tayed down for the count of nine
nd he was smiling when he regained
is feet The attack that finished the
ght consisted of hammer blow to
ne stomach followed by a right to
le chin