The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-27
ACCIDENT STARTED
FIRST JACK DEMPSEY
ON FISTIC CAREER
By FRANK c. MENkE

The story of how Jack Dempsey,
"The Non-Pareil," of IS years ago. be-
ban fistic career, is just another
which proves that the majority of
fighters became such by accident,
rather than design.
The famous middleweight warrior
whose real name was John Kelly, was
an athlete from earliest boyhood. His
inclination was toward wrestling. He
devoted his leisure hours back in the
early SOS to developing himself as an
expert grappler. For several years he
schooled himself in the art and was
Just about to launch himself upon an
elaborate professional career when
something happened which changed
his ambitions.
He journeyed on the night of April
z, 1883 into small fight club in Stat
en- Island, IN. ", where Ed McDon-
old, then middleweight of more than
passing note, was scheduled to take on
a tough youngster from New York.
When fight time arrived it was dis
covered that the foeman for McDon-
aid had not put in an appearance.
Mcdonald had been. guaranteed 800
for his services that night and he
didn't want to lose it. So he person
ally PACED the audience for someone
to fight him. Finally he happened to
notice Jack Dempsey in the audience.
He knew Dempsey slightly and went
over to him and said:
! eff you will box me tonight / will
give you SIS out of the 500 purse
which / get.''
Dempsey replied:
II don't know much about the box
l
else around who will take you on,
will fight you. But won't accept that
proposal of yours. I'll fight you only
! on the condition that the winner gets
the 800 purse"
Mcdonald Surprised.
Mcdonald weighed 100; Dempsey,
! 1870. Mcdonald was an experienced
ringman and Dempsey had never had
a real ring fight in his life. Naturally
| therefore, Mcdonald was somewhat
surprised by Dempsey's proposal. He
| tried to argue the youngster out of it
largely because he was prompted by
generous motives and figured that a
battle with Dempsey would be cinch
for him (McDonald).
But Dempsey wouldn't fight on any
other conditions-and the two men
climbed into the ropes 10 minutes
later.
The first fight of Jack Dempsey's
career, waged that night, was a re-
markable exhibition. The youngster
was bit crude at theoutset, but he
seemed to gain knowledge of fisticuff
ing with each new round Mcdonald
all the while figured that he could take
Dempsey in any round he chose. He
finally selected the sixth He rushed
the youngster and let loose with lefts
and rights. But Dempsey calmly step
ped out of range-became an unhit-
table target
Takes Aggressive.
Through Is succeeding rounds Nc
Donald tried with every resource at
his power to put away Dempsey. Not
only did he fail, but most of his punch
es either were Tended off by Dempsey
entirely, or landed merely with glanc-
| ing effect. In the twenty-third round
it was apparent to the crowd that Nc
Donald had shot his bolt And then
Dempsey, taking the aggressive in real
fashion, punched and pounded McDon-
aid all around the ring, until, at the
end of the twenty-fifth round McDon-
old was so bewildered and so shaken
that he didn't know his own corner.
As the twenty-seventh opened Nc
Donald, realizing that a knockout was
inevitable, grabbed Dempsey around
the waist; lifted him up and deliber-
ately attempted to throw Dempsey out
of an open window which was within
six feet of the ring. Dempsey broke
loose from the hold, and the referee
thereupon disqualified Mcdonald and
gave the fight to Dempsey.
1t was the showing of the Irishman
that night which influenced him to for
get all about wrestling and started
him on one of the most remarkable
ring careers in prize ring history.
Copyright 1921 BY King Features
Syndicate, IDc.)