, 1923-09-26
By N L. FARRELL
UNITED Press Sports Editor


Press.6Jack Dempsey once re-
marked during a general discussion
Of his business that the life Of a
heavyweight champion was any
thing but rosy. because he could
have SO few friends upon whom he
could depend.
THE tough thing about this busi-
ness IS that you have to lose to
find out who are really your
friends" Dempsey said THE real
test ome when you arc defeated
and you call the roll of alleged
| friends and find out how many Of
them have not gone to the winners
dressing ROOM"
The champions theory was
proved at least partially during his
fight with Luis Firpo. H didn't
lose, of course. but came nearer to
defeat than any fighter could and
escape with n victory.
Dempsey had to be knocked clear
out Of h ring, punched to his
knees twice and pounded all over
the ring to attain the position as a
real popular champion.
Perhaps the most pleasing ex.
%perlence Dempsey brought out of
hat hectic evening came when he
heard the pack yelling wildly:
Come on. Jackl' as he was pulling
himself into the ring and when he
realized that at last he had some
big part of tho public back Of him.
Sitting in the front row of the
ringside seats, back Of the press
pit, was a boxing manager, who
had been Dempsey's most bitter
critic, a man who had gone out of
his way TO express his bitter con
tempt of the champion as a person
atty and n fighter. He said when
he came to the ringside before the
Eight that he had paid his way into
a fight for the first time in his life
in the hope that he could see Demp-
sey knocked dead"
When Dempsey was knocked out
II the ring down into the lap of q
sport writer. when he pulled him.
self gamely hack into the ring and
when he stood almost helpless
lgainat the ropes within one good
lunch OF being knocked out.
This fight manager, who had come
10 see him knocked dead" was the
loudest among those who lwerc
lhouting in a frenzy: Come on
lack; come onl"
After the fight this same man
lger remarked that he was foi
Dempsey. THAT fellow is a greai
Fighter. 1 don't believe there ever
was n greater fighter. He's game
and he's got n heart as big as q
mountain. 1 was wrong about his
fighting ability and 1t stands to
reason that 1 may have been just
as wrong about him in other
things" he said.
In comment that lasted for days
| after the fight. the same sent
ment was expressed by hundreds
ability Of the champion and who
had panned him on general prin-
c'ples.
Previous to that fight with Firpo
Dempsey was not n popular cham.
pion. To give the reasons would
be- but to stir up many unfair
hings said about Dempsey that
should have been forgotten years
ago..
Every time Dempsey appeared in
iefense of his title after he had
,aten Jess willard at Toledo. he
'ound the crowd against him. When
he fought Carpenter in Jersey City
the hostile attitude Of the crowd
would have crushed any but the
gamest heart, and even when he
won. his reward was the razz, while
the defeated Trenchman left the
ring as the idol.
Some time back. when Tex Rick
1rd announced that he had mr.
ranged a fight between Dempsey
nd Eirpo. Jack McAullffe. the
| veteran retired lightweight cham
pion. predicted that at last Demp.
sey had the opportunity to win a
place in the esteem OF the boxing
public and that he probably would
come out OF the fight as a popular
champion.
II happened 5ust tsst way.
When Dempsey climbed into the
ring that night. he was almost
overcome with tho tremendous
whoop that went up from a pack
Of 10000 wild fans. He blushed
and perhaps he had reasons for
hanging his head. It was almost
4 minute before he looked up and
rave the crowd a happy smile. He
was so excited and pleased he
could hardly contain himself when