Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-24
GENE TUNNEY RECAINS LIGHT
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
BY DECISION over HARRY CREb

New York, Feb. 23-Gene Tunncy
idol Of Greenwich Village, regained
the American light heavyweight
championship tonight when he re-
ceived the judges decision over
Harry Greb of Pittsburgh, the title
holder. in a 1o-round contest at
Madison Square Garden tonight.
The decision met With mingled
booes and applause. despite Tun-
| ney's popularity among the great
majority of fans. and came as a
surprise to those at the ringside who
had given Greb wide margin on
points in most of the rounds.
Tunney was baffled by Greb's
Whirlwind style of attack through
out the early part of the bout. He
finished the last two rounds. how
, ever. with the only effective aggres-
siveness he had shown. dazng the
| champion once with a hard right
smash to the jaw. This closing rally
! OF the challenger. plus consideration
probably given to alleged foul hold
! ing tactics employed by Grcb in sew
eral rounds, was believed to have
swayed the judges verdict. however
unsatisfactory it was to larger
portion of the crowd.
Round 1.-The opening round was
proceeded by Il prolonged confer
ence over Greb's ring tactics. claim
CT by Tunney's supporters. as UNI
! falr. The champion took the ag-
SfesSlVe at the tap of the gong and
cut loose with furry of rights and
| letts TO Tunney'S head. They both
mixed willingly, but landed few
! telling blows.
Round o-Greb bowidered the
| challenger with his whirlwind at
tack. He rocked Tunney's head
| from side to side with IL succession
: OF rights and lefts. The challenger
| missed most of his attempts to land
| on his shitty opponent.
! Round J-Greh was cautioned by
! the referee for holding. He shot
over several left jabs to the jaw and
! culfed Tunney about the head as
he danced in and out OF the chal
! lenSer's reach.
Round 4-They mixed at furi
! Gus pace. Greb landing three blows
! TO one. but Tunney twice shot in
| loltlns let's to the face. The chal-
lenGer forced the fighting for the
/ first time and drove Greb to a cor
| ncr with body attack Grebs
| mouth was slightly cut and blood
/ trlcHled from d scratch over Tun-
! neN S LETT eye, as i result of a mix
/ up.
| Round 3-The champion bounded
about i'll characteristic fashion.
! swinging both fists like fails. but
! lunneN seized an opening to shoot
| home stiff right to the ribs. They
! were mixing at fast pace as the
, bell closed the round.
| Round 6-Greb forced Tunney tic
! n Il 10, l,..l
| right to the jaw without drawing a
reply. Tunney jabbed lightly with
! ms left and absorbed a stiff punch
! to the ribs.
: Round 1--Grch set the pace with a
rushing attack to Tunncy's head and
! nodN. lie opened Il slight cut over
! me challen&crs right eye and Shook
! MN with series Of rights and lefts
TO the jaw. Tunney seemed hal-
| fled by his rivals shifting tactics.
Round S-Greb snapped the chal-
/ ien3ers head back with several right
swings. He cut loose with a fail
like attack that drove Tunney to TIE
ropes. but was hoocd by the cro..d
! IN the belief that he was holding.
! Round 3-Grcb shot in a terrific
blow to the body sending Tunney
! back on his heels. but was again
; cautioned for holding. Tunney ran
; into a furry of blows as he tried to
j night back and was severely punished
/ ny the champion as they mixed at
! close quarters. \ fresh cut was
opened under Tunncy's right eye
| during the melee
Round 10-Tunncy upset the
| champion for n moment with one of
! the few sustained attacks he had
J shown. The Pittsburger came right
| back. however. and traded stiff blows
! to the body. Greb pummelled his
rival about the head as the round
closed.
! Round 11-Tunney appeared to
| lose confidence under the rain of
| blows let loose by Greb and offered
/ little resistance to the champions
aggressiveness. Greb peppered his
| opponent about the head and BODY.
occasionally shooting in DANA ging
rights to the chin and ribs.
| Round 12-GrCb was admonished
in emphatic terms for failure to break
from clinch. He blocked Tunney's
drives for the body and punished
| the challenger With hard swings to
| the head The referee went to Greb's
corner as the round ended to repeat
his warning against the champion s
| tactics.
Round 14-Grcb continued to force
the fighting. driving Tunncy about
| the ring with rights and lofts that
landed with damaging effect. Tun-
neNs attempts to rctaliate were flu
tile and in exchanges at close quar-
tors the champion landed twice as
often as the challenger.
Round 14-Tunncy sent the
l'champion to the ropes with a right
that landed flush on the jaw. He
| followed this shot with an aggressive
attack that apparently weakened the
champion. Greh was on the de-
| fensive for the first time in the bout.
but succeeded in blocking the most
of Tunney's punches.
| Round 15-Greb came back tong
as the final round opened and rocked
! Tunney with a succession of right
uppercuts as they mixed at a speedy
pace. Tunney punished the cham