The New York herald., 1921-06-22
Champion Possesses All His
Speed and Is Hitting With
Uncomfortable Force.
BY CHARLES f. MATHIsON.

Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
ATLANTIC CITY. June 21.-Any mis-
givings as 20 Jack Dempseys physical
condition on the afternoon of July 2,
were swept away this afternoon by the
appearance and performance of the
champion in his airport arena.
AS a matter of fact, Dempsey could
go into the ring tomorrow and give a
splendid account OF himself. Therefore,
the additional ten days of preparatory
effort will serve to put the conquerer
of Willard on edge for the battle with
the Frenchman, and with his greater
experience and confidence born of con-
quest, Dempsey should be able to put
up the greatest fight of his career.
The last vestige of the pallid, nervous
and clumsy chap who made so disap-
pointing a showing against Bill Bren-
nan has disappeared, and in his stead
is a fighter that closely approaches in
vigor and speed the superb animal that
battered the huge Willard into submis-
sion in the battle of Maumee Bay.
The transformation in the physical
makeup of Dempsey since he first
started to work at Freddie Welsh S
health farm at Summit, N. j., is start
ling. The Dempsey of a month ago was
heavy, slow and carried much excess
avoirdupois. He tired easily and it
looked as though he might not be able
to round into good form in time for the
fv,ta nati cry overlA oil 1nf hi trt,
acres next month.
In Perfect Physical Trim.
But the sustained efforts of the cham
pion down here by the roaring Atlantic
have worked a magical change in his
condition. The writer, who saw the
farcial bout with Brennan, and who also
surveyed the training" that Dempsey
did at Summit, could hardly believe
1t was the same man. The abdominal
fullness observed few weeks ago has
disappeared, and the champion is fiat
as a board.
The excess fat that lay on his shoul-
ders and back has melted under the
heavy work in the hot rays of the sun
and the neck, shoulder and arm muscles
that were distinguishing mark of the
champion, again stand out conspicuously
Under the tanning process of wind
and sun he is as dark skinned as any
of his aboriginal ancestors Dempsey
boasts combination of Irish and In
dian blood, and the obtrusive black
beard deepens the scowl customary with
the champion when in, action in the
ring.
However, it is only when he begins to
move about on the canvas that he i'm
presses the onlooker with his resem-
blance to the Dempsey of Toledo. APP
parently he possesses all the speed that
made him so dangerous to any oppo-
nent in the days previous TO his win
ming the title from the tall KANSAS. He
gets about on his feet much faster than
does the recluse of Manhasset, he hits
with more rapidity than does Carpen-
tier
Dempsey seemed to be bubbling over
with vim and vitality and his sparring
partners, even though they are pum-
melled with eight ounce gloves, bear the
marks of the solidity of the blows de-
livered by the champion.
To one accustomed to watching the
Frenchman in his workouts at Manhas-
set, the performance of Dempsey this
afternoon and his personal appearance
were a revelation.
How the 170-pound challenger will
manage to withstand the panther-like
rushes and savage blows of the cham
pion is a mystery that is not easy of
solution.
Judging the men by the form dis
played in training, the to l betting
odds are not too large.