The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-07-05
GIBBONS STANDS
THROUGH IS ROUNDS
DEMPSEY GETS DECISION ON
POINTS, BUT is UNABLE TO
DELIVER KNOCKOUT BLOW

Shelby, Mont-(A. P.)-The whole
sporting world was wrong-with the
exception of that courteous, smiling
individual, Tommy Gibbons of ST.
Paul.
The challenger, to the astonish-
ment of the $4,000 spectators in the
sunbaked arena on the edge of this
oil boom town, was on his feet, still
fighting at the end of his scheduled
Is round heavyweight championship
battle with Jack Dempsey when al
most everybody expected him to be
knocked out in six or seven rounds.
Dempsey, the champion, was an
overwhelming favorite to win by a
knockout early in the battle.
Referee Jimmy Dougherty of
Philadelphia awarded Dempsey the
decision when the gong changed end
ing the fifteenth round, but Gibbons,
who did not get a cent for fighting
the champion, left the ring with a
moral victory. 1t was the first time
that any fighter had managed to face
Dempsey and still be on his feet at
the finish since he became champion
Gibbons has a reputation made in
eighty-six fights of never having
been knocked off his feet. That re-
putation is still good. Dempsey had
him dizzy and weary probably half
dozen times but failed to knock
him out.
The fight had an entirely differ
ent ending than any of the specta-
tors expeced. Even the enthusiastic
Gibbons protagonists, shouting en-
couragement to their fighter, had
not the slightest idea he would last
more than seven or eight rounds. In
fact it was the consensus of opinion
that four or five rounds would find
Tommy on the floor knocked out ,
Gibbons Fine Boxer
Tommy, a master boxer, and con-
stantly on the lookout for the knock
out blow, danced and hop-stepped
around the ring, occasionally slip
ping a right or left to Dempsey's face
and eluding danger by clinching or
stepping backward.
Toward the last Gibbons seemed
to be fading fast and repeatedly went
into clinches with the champion.
: In the last round it appeared that -
his defenses were failing and many
Dempsey to administer the
long expected knockout. The cham
3ion seeing the condition of the
furiously slashed at his
1ead and body. But Tommy hung on
md clinched and side-stepped until
he saving grace of the fnal bell
Dempsey was never in danger in
any round of the fight. Although
Gibbons cut and slightly blackened
he champions right eye in the open
ng round and Dempsey brought
blood once or twice from the chal-
enger, neither was marked to any
Ippreciable extent.
Gibbons Gets Three Rounds
A majority of the newspaper ex-
)erts at the ringside gave Gibbons
shade in the fifth, eleventh, and
thirteenth rounds, the remaining
welve being accorded Dempsey with
tut argument.
Neither the champion nor the
challenger were ever off their feet,
once Gibbons nearly fell
through the ropes and was helped
Jack by Dempsey.
Although Gibbons was the un-
Ioubted favorite of the crowd, not
word of dissension was heard over
Referee Dougherty's decision 1t had
previously been rumored that if. by
nance, the fight went the limit,
here would be a riot if the decision
vent to Dempsey. State and local
,olice and many deputy sheriffs were
N hand but there was no disturb
nee at any time.