Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-02
DEMPSEY'S RISE IN
RING IS RAPID ONE.
Jack, Virtually Unknown at ~,
Becomes the Worlds Cham
pion at %
HAS GREAT PHYSIQUE

'ei l" MS twenty six years. As has
been true of most ring champions, the
worlds heavyweight titleholder has ad-
vanced from obscurity to international
fame in remarkably short time.
Dempsey rose from the career of n
nondescript to the worlds heavyweight
title and its accompanying distinction
and riches in the space OF four years
of actual fighting. He really advanced
to the rings greatest honor In the short
space of two years, for all his serious
ring engagements occurred between
1917 and Independence Day of 1919,
when, at the age Of "a, he battered
Jess Willard helpless in their memoir
able battle at Toledo.
Dempsey embodies the qualities of
three fighting nationalities. He claims
the strain Of Irish, Scotch and Indian
blood in his veins, and the fighting
qualities of these three races have been
generously bred in his~bone and blood,
contributing to the remarkable piece of
fighting machinery he now typifes. He
has led a rugged. though careful, life
in the open for the most part, con-
dition which has assisted materially in
molding his remarkable physique:
The champions real name is William
bthlpNtss iit was bp'h
"a 1898, at Manassa, Col. He Is the
sixth child in family of eight Three
Of his brothers and three sisters are
alive. The youngest child of the
family, who was named Bruce, died
about two years ago. When Dempsey
was but seven years old his parents
Hiram and Celia Dempsey, moved with
their children from Manassa to Mont
rose, Col. Here the family lived Tor Tor
nine years, and then Travelled TO Salt
Lake City. Utah. which the champion
and the rest of the householu ciuhh
as their home town.
Takes Name OF Jack"
The prefix Jack" was assumed py
the champion when he attained MS
majority and turned to the ring Tor
livelihood. He adopted the name OF the
famous "Nonpareil." Jack Dempsey, OF
Brooklyn. on the theory that by as
suming the former middleweight cham
pion's name some of the glamour ana
distinction of the famous old fighter
would revert to him.
Most of his early life Dempsey spent
in the open. working as farm hand.
This activity and the farm labor re-
suited in the foundation of the wonder
full physique which the champion now
possesses. Dempsey tired Of farm life,
however. and turned to the mines, where
hard labor strengthened the muscles
which were later to bring him fame
and glory.
AS he grew Dempsey began to ap-
preciate his wonderful build, and, look
ing for an outlet for some OF his ac-
cumulated strength. turned to the ring
Imbued with desire TO see the coun-
try. Dempsey began the life OF rover
l. 0ninV
from town to town without enjoying the
comforts of day coach and never even
thinking OF Pullman.
Dempsey developed naturally as
fighter. Unlike Carpenter, his rival,
the champion had no early training in
the rudiments of the sport. He hai
the necessary rugged build and the
eagerness and ambition. In his knock
ing about Dempsey engaged in an oc-
casional battle. According to his own
story Jacks first encounter was In an
improvised ring at Montrose. Col, when
he was about nineteen years old. His
opponent was young blacksmith named
Woods, who lasted three rounds.
This quick Knockout was but the fore
runner of n succession Of rapid knock
outs which were later to bring Dempsey
attention. For his efforts
Jack received SO. He next knocked
out Andy Malloy in three rounds and
polished off several minor rivals before
finally hitting the trail for the East.
He appeared in bouts in the East
against Andre Anderson, Wild Burt
Kenny and John Lester Johnson i'll
1916. but his efforts failed to win him
serious consideration.
His Climb to Fame
In the following year, however ,Demp-
sey began the cllmb which ended with
his possession of the title. He knocked
out AL Norton and Charley Miller, each
in one round, and added victories over
Willie Mpehan. Carl Morris, Bob Meal
lister and GunbOat Smith in four round
bouts in California. He suffered n one
round knockout by jim Flynn, Pueblo
fireman, but subsequently reversed this
setback.
In 1918 Dempsey cleared the path to
Willard, when he knocked out Fred
Fulton, battling Levinsky, Porky
Flynn, Arthur Pelkcy and Terry Kellar
among others. These triumphs led up
to the meeting with Willard, which still
Is fresh in memory.
Dempsey enjoys II fair amount Of
popularity and has n legion Of friends
and admirers. He has an attractive
personality. is boyishly retiring, modest
and unaSsuming.
He has one blot on his record, how
ever, which he will have difficulty in
living down. He failed himself and his
country when he had chance to show
his true lighting qualities in the war
and at the same time make of himself
the greatest champion the ring has
known.
Dcmpsey's failure to answer the call |
of duty brought lasting condemnation |
on the champion and resulted in n series |
of happenings which but increased the
feeling against him. He was tried on
Il charge of dodging the draft and was
cxoneratcd, but the aCQuitta was n
strictly legal and not Il moral vindica-
tiou. His conspicuous prominence be-
fore the public eye and the example, or
lack Of example. which he set, re-
bounded to the discredt of the worlds
champion and the sport ne represents.
This has been manifested rccentlv
at the camp Of Georges Carpenter,
whCrC messages of encouragement and
support from TOundcd soldiers and
rdr retcrdns keep pouring in, some
being carried personally to the chat.
lcnger for the title.