The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1926-10-01

y
Dempsey, who, at his worst can al
ways tell his children'S children that
he once was a champion, lost like q
dog in the SeQui-centennial stadium
Thursday to one Gene Tunney, who,
though he is the champion, Will new
er be a champion.
The heavyweight title, proudly
owned by Sullivan, Corbett, F1tz-
simmons, JeffrieS, has indeed fallen
into a low estate in the stewardship
of the intellectual Tunney. At least
three men fought in the prelimin-
aries who could lick him the best
day of his life. which is today.
The lamb slew the butcher, yes.
But it was an active, vigorous lamb
and a weary, Sagging old butcher
who showed upon a face that once
was famous for its perfect delinea-
ton of the fighting man, a care
worn and tortured expression.
Experts" Off.
The experts" who said that
Dempsey was in the pink of fight
ing condition should wash their
mouths with soap. This veteran re-
porter, who has taken in every i'm
portant boxing match of his period,
and that ranges back a few years,
has never seen q Sorrier defender of
a title since that pitiful afternoon
in Reno, when Jim Jeffries stag
gered forth TO do battle with John
son.
Dempsey Unfit.
Ii took no sharpShOOter to call the
turn. 1t required no referee or
meticulously chosen judges. Before
Jack Dempsey, the killer of old, had
dragged his liStleSS and lifeless car
caSS half way across the Soggy ring
at the clang of the opening gong, it
was a foregone cineh The man was
unfit to fight. No contender in
history ever got the break that Tun-
ney did-weighing 1S5 pounds, a de-
fensive boxer, a $3.50 hitter and a
S-to-1 outsider, catching the cham
pion Of champions in such a situa-
ton and coming out the monarch Of
pugilsm.
The whole business was off key.
Fancy a heavyweight king, who
drew $4,000 people and 100000
never been introduced, and the al
legged aspirant not even rising to
take a bow when his name was
called.
1t Was Raining.
1t was raining. Tex Richard had
taken his pitcher to the well once
too often. He had put on seeming
~ endless preliminarieS, meaning
less cOmbatS between unimportsnt
nObodys, until far after nine-thirty.
And by the time Dempsey and Tun-
ney got into the ring, it was pour
ing so that no one cared much about
anything. Then they started tapping
yards and yards of gauze they
wound about the hands Of the sup
poSedly two best gladiators in the
whole world.
And when it finally started, il
was wetter than ever. Dempsey
that notorious devastating mauler
shuffled out Of his corner with the
look of a school boy caught playing
hookey-as indeed, he had, for more
than two years.
Tunney Nervous
Tunney was as nervous as a bride
Sparring, backing, boxing until il
dawned on him that he was roped il
with 3 phantom, q shadow without
substance.
Even then he never assumed tn,
aggressive, except in the last tive
rounds, when he had the champion
ship in his hand and should hav,
taken no chances.
An aStOundingly stupid fighter &
this Tunney. He won every rounC
from what had been a truly miracu
louS champion, and yet he camt
forth convicted Of almost every mis-
demeanOr known TO smart ring gen
eralShip. He could have knOcke,
Dempsey out in the first round i
he had forced his way; he shoul,
have dispatched him in any Of tn
following rounds. But when he hal
the world TO gain he was careful
and when he was already champion
before the decision that made hin
so, he was undecided, now forcin,
it. again taking TO his heels.
Dempsey Green.
Dempsey was a pathetic spectacle
He started with his face green. Sc
In a silly grin. He tried to put O.
the snarl Of the murderer, but hi
features wouldn't respond becaus
his heart wasn't in il. After he 20
q few cracks to his Jaw, he folde
up as he did in the first eleve
rounds Of his match with the lat
Bill Brennan
Splitting gObs Of blood. his left ey
closed tight, his right cut and bleeC
ing from 3 ragged wound, he bobbe
and croused and missed and swun
and puffed and tried 70 look ferS
cious.
Like q groteSque, synthetic thin
his tailor-made nose stood forth
the middle Of the face ike son
fantastic butterfly that had flutters
into a slaughter-house.
Misses a Mile.
Tmney, q second-class defensi1
boxer, couldn't stay away from hir
Dempsey kept leading, followin
plunging IN and missing a mile, ST
Tunney had TO strike at him thu
q sense Of shame. II would hay
been q sin not to hit him under Z
circumstances.
Dempsey scarcely laid q glove q
Tunney. The few times that he 81
connect, always at the start Of
round. those blows which of a
were enough to send the crowd hon
were steamless. spiritleSs and sims