Evening star., 1926-09-24
JACK is NOT MAN KILLER
OF PREVIOUS BIG FIGHTS
Noted Aggressiveness, Punches, Quickness. ana
Force Were Missing From Start-Fire-Eater
Stood Up as Easy Mark for Tunney's Blows.
BY BENNY LEONARD.

PHILADELPHIA, September "a
Dempsey used fewer blows with Tun-
ney in 10 rounds than he did with
Tommy Loughran In training in two.
Loughran knew that Dempsey was
not the old Dempsey. but I thought
that he could muster three or four
rounds Of his old-time form. BY that
I mean the rip.tearing aggressiveness,
the fighting style he is noted for.
He showed this in his training with
his sparring partners. He tore and
ripped for four or five rounds at At
lantic City every day. But he came
into the ring last night without one
spark Of the old killer aggressiveness.
The bell rang, and Dempsey tore out
across the ring as said he would. and
Tunney stood in the corner and waited
for him. Dempsey made a lead at
Tunney and Tunney blocked 1t.
Saw Change at Start.
They fell into a clinch. and in this
clinch I noticed that Dempsey was not
going to fight a. he did at Atlantic
City-not even for one round. He
didn't even try to punch TunneE-
none OF the old tearing in fighting for
which Dempsey Is noted. which made
him a champion. AS the round pro
crossed 7 could not convince myself
that it was Dempsey fighting. for he
stood still. moved around slowly and
rarely tried to punch. Tunney was
really afraid and kept away. and let
Dempsey lie around and LOAF ana 90
everything but fight.
Later on as the flEht progressed and
Dempsey continued the standing
around, making O lead just every now
and then with q right or LETT. Tunney
became more confident and began
leading with left jab and right cross.
which Dempsey sometimes avoided by
bending low.
When he stood straight. raising his
head. he was an easy mark for Tun-
ney's blows, which / predicted In all
my stories. Dempsey never carried
his head low. as he should have to
knows better and. therefore. as he
continued to stand up from round to
round ! was fiabbergasted. Dempsey
looked the same and fought the same
as the night continued to the finish.
The only difference was that his
face was cut and his eyes were swol-
len. He made one or two lunEes In
the fashion Of the killer Dempsey near
the close, trying desperately to win
the fight with one blow. There were
no vital blows. Dempsey never
DfOuknL tHetn i1lO tfic ilI'S Win Iilih'
He lost them on the road stretching
hack over a trail Of idle years. He
had them at Atlantic City. but he
left them outside the ring. Tunney
boxed cleverly, continually moving
around, slipping away from Dempsey's
half.hearted charges-when they
came.
Made Only Two Charges.
When the bell rang at the close Of
one Of the rounds. Tunney would go
10 his corner fresh. His handlers
were not excited and gave him aid
quickly and easily. Dempsey sat In
his corner, not worried In the least
and his face az he fought never wore
worried look. He just went along
with the same expression he carried
in his training. I remember twice In
the fight Dempsey gritted his teeth
and tore In with the OH viciousness.
The Dempsey charge
These two times were the only
times when 1 could recognize Demp-
sey, the champion. 1t was a pitiful
sight to see a great champion in the
ring hopping around and fighting a
purely defensive battle without an
attempt to punch at his opponent.
Even in the latter rounds. II Demp
sey. or even the Dempsey Of Atlantic
City. had been there to tear at his
opponent for a while, / believe he
would have retained his title, for
Tunney was not front SO far. 1t was
still a question, but everybody saw
the great Dempsey. the tiger. stand
ing In front Of his opponent allowing
hundred openings to get by while
Tunney iabbed him to the head with
out counter.
Predicted Jack Would Win.
had predicted that Dempsey would
knock Tunney out in the early rounds.
knew and said that Dempsey was
not himself. He was slower with his
blows, moved more slowly. but never
theless I saw enough fight In him at
his training quarters to convince me
that II he put ell that fighting in a
few rounds. the early ones. he could
beat Tunney.
But, as said before. the Atlantic
City Dempsey wasn't in the ring last
night-let alone the old champion.
felt sorry for Dempsey. not be-
cause Tunney won. for like Tunney.
He is perfect gentleman. But to
see a champion in ring defending
his title fail to make the confident,
aggressive effort one could expect.
Well. even those who said Tunney
would win expected more from Demp-
sey.
The end Of the contest found Demp-.
sey in bad condition. A battered cham
pion with a swollen face. a bad cut
under the eye. but his nose still in
good shape. That may mean some
thing.
Gene Tunney, the new heavyweight
champion Of the world, boxed cleverly.
C-'-. r ~