New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-07-22
BRIDGET Tells OF
DEMPSEY STRATEGY
Believes Winner Feignd Elk.
hauStion to Deceive Sharkey

Ol the WOrlQ, IN the ring with JACK
'Sharkey, the Boston Lithuanian. last
, night in the Yankee stadium in New
York city, were nothing but the re-
suits of preconceived plan formed
by his manager and adviser. Leo P.
Flynn, according to Patrick c.
Bridget and a number of other fans
who viewed the fight from ringside
seats. The local party was seated
in the goth row and had an excellent
view of the bout at all times.
Mr.. Bridget, in his account Of the
fight was abiding expressly to the
moments in which to listeners-in on
the radio and to announcers, 1t ap-
peared that Dempsey was on the
verge OF knockout at Sharkey's
hands. The radio and telegraph ac-
counts of the fight expressly stated
that Dempsey was "groggy' IN the
first round and was very tired" at
the end Of the fifth.
Dempsey took some hard jolts
both left and right from Sharkey
in the first round but these, al
though stopping him for moment,
failed to prevent him from boring
in and crashing right and left hand
solid smacks to Sharkey's body.
In the first round, after a fierce
exchange of blows, at the particular
time when Dempsey was reported to
be in excessively bad shape, the
bell found both fighters in shar-
keys corner. Immediately Dempsey
broke away and ran lightly to his
corner and danced there until the
stool was placed for him to sit down.
He didn't appear like man who
was hurt in any way at the end OF
the round.
In the fifth, at the bell, he stag
.gered to his corner like a man I'M
der the influence of liquor, Topped
down on the chair and his head
sagged to his chest. His handlers
quickly jumped into the ring and
began to work over him feverishly.
So gripping was the scene to the
Sharkey camp that the Boston
fighter, with eyes glued on the for
mer champion, forgot to take his
seat and his handlers were as IN
tent In watching Dempsey as the
Boston fighter was. Sharkey was
finally pulled down to his seat,
AS the 10-sccond whistle blew,
Dempsey's seconds were out of the
ring in a flash leaving the space in
front of him clear. Dempsey's right
foot was drawn back of his own
stool.
AS the bell rang the Dempsey OF
old literally flew out Of his corner
and was driving rights and lefts
into Sharkey's body before the
lithuanian was hardly off his chair.
Dempsey pounded away at shar-,
keys body and drove him around
the ring. The parade started IN
Sharkeys corner and Dempsey
didn't rest until it had proceeded
around the ring and returned to
Sharkeys corner. That was the be-
ginning of the end for Sharkey.
The final round saw Dempsey
come out weaving. He started after
Sharkey and when he sank his
IlSIl llJl1u llllO ESlldl hty StollIiNll,
,the Boston boys mouth flew open
and his hands went in the air.
Without seconds hesitation.
Dempsey planted a solid left to his
Jaw and down Sharliey went.
He tried with all his might to
rise but the best he could do was
to draw himself up on his knees Us
the count of nine was tolled and
then he fell full on his face. He
WAS paralyzed momentarily, unable
to move his legs or arms. Dempsey.
an the count out was reached, seized
Sharkey and helped him to his cor
aner.
Mr. Bridget pointed out that
evidently the plan Of Flynn was to
have Dempsey appear ''groggy"
and tired out so that Sharkcy
would open up. The plan worked
much to Sharkey's sorrow.
Speaking of the last second blow
which was delivered to Sharkey's
stomach. Bridget stated there was
nothing foul about it. In fact the
first those New Britainites who were
at the ring knew about any foul was
when they got off the train in Meri-
den and were asked about it.
There isn't 4 man alive today
who can stand up before Dempsey
and take his punches and keep his
feet" was the declaration of most
of those who saw the fight. Bridget
could voice no comparison of Demp-
sey at the present time to what he
was three or four years ago. But his
idea is that Dempsey is a terrific
fighter and killer" because of the
manner in which he punches.
believe me-" he said, that
Sharkey fellow is a great fighter.
Don't get the idea that he isn't
clever, because he is one of the
cleverest heavyweights / have ever
seen. If he wasn't, that fight wouldn't
have gone three rounds and prob
ably wouldn't have lasted one
round"
He described Dempsey when he
came into the ring and he gives
some interesting sidelights on the
cX-champion's tactics before the
fight started.
Dempsey looked like nothing more
than a tramp, he said. He had an old
dirty sweater about his shoulders, a
growth of beard on his face and the
famous Dempsey scowr' on his fea-
lures.
When he peeled off his bathrobe
right away the fans took note OF
him Instead of sitting down in his
corner. he acted in the manner that
Louis (Kid) Kaplan does when he
enters the ring. He went to his cor
ner and began dancing even faster
than the former featherweight
champion usually does. His hand
lers would pull him down. but he
would hardly be there before he