New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-07-20
DEMPSEY ALL Set
To MEET SHARKEY
Faces Critical Bout Mentally and
Physically Fit

White Sulphur Springs Saratoga
Lake. N. Y, July 20 R1The calm
confidence of the man physically and
mentally tuned to perfection gripped
Jack Dempsey today as the once
great car of the heavyweight division
hung up his training gloves-per-
haps forever
Behind the most powerful man
modern ring history has known, lay
three months of toll in the Ventura
mountains of California and three
weeks of grim battling here to ret
build the splendid two-fisted fighting
machine that once ruled the world.
Ahead of the 32-year-old warrior
loombed the most dramatic night of
his career-the night when he must
win or quit the game he loves.
Eight years ago this month. a
pop-eyed youth of II was thrilled
as his idol, the young iron-fisted
Jack Dempsey. crushed the great
bulk of Jess Willard to win the
eating heat of Toledo. Thursday
night in the Yankee stadium that
same youth. Jack Sharkey. of Bos-
ton, now surging through the heavy
weight ranks that Dempsey swept,
will attempt to end once and for all
the fighting career of the man he
thought all-powerful.
Win In Two Punches
II am ready" Dempsey said to-
day, "as ready as at any time in my
life. If l lose there will be no alibi,
no second comeback, and l quit for
ever the game l love. / never have
made an excuse before and l won't
start now. But put down in the
book-Ill lick that Sharkey kid in
just two punches
And the Dempsey who ended
training today to depart for the
scene of the battle in New York ap-
peared fit to do just that.
Three weeks ago Jack was fat.
slow of foot and sluggish, despite
his early training grind in Califor-
mia, weighing 205 pounds, there was
a pad of excess flesh around his alb
domen and hips, his legs were heavy
and the thickness of unnecessary
weight was on his shoulders.
But today the Dempsey who seeks
to storm a comeback trail too rug
ged for any other former heavy
weight champion to conquer, IS lean
trim and vicious. Stomach muscles
hard as nails form a ripping COW
er of Jacks body. His waist is mar
row. legs thin and speedy, and
through Dempsey's shoulders and
back writhe muscles that stretch
and fex under a sun-blackened skin
that covers not an ounce of excess
flesh.
Mental Attitude
Most impressive of all is Demp-
sey's mental attitude toward the
coming struggle. Strong as merry
uoungster was he who wasted ener-
gy recklessly at every turn OF the
training grind because of youthful
zeal that could not be held in check.
In his place is the calm veteran, |
everything for the night |
of battle that means either tistic OBJ
livion or another shot at the title
Gene Tunney last fall won at Phil
Jack proved that point yesterday
if at no other time in the lengthy
training period. Accompanied only
by Manager Leo 2. Flynn and the
two lone surviving newspa permen OF
the hundred who have visited the
camp, Dempsey, in the approaching
darkness after the final workout
shot the best nine holes OF golf he
has ever played
With nerves under perfect control,
evesight so keen in the dusk that he
attended to the finding of all lost
balls, Jack played the first nine
holes on the McGregor links in As,
two strokes under his best previous
record. Tee shots We're long ana
under perfect control, irons dead to
the pin and his putting showed the
same proficiency as his ring timing
and Judgment of distance.
ONLY the rumor of an injured left
arm marred the final days of Demp-
scys training. The story arose from
the visit of newspaperman 70
Jacks bungalow. friendly greeting
and touch of the former cham.
pion's left arm which the scribe
found was encased in bandages
under his shirt.
Ever since the opening of training
here here, handlers explained jack
after workouts, has been wearing
bandages on some part of his BODY
to keep liniments and lotions from
touching his clothing. The band
ages OH Jacks left arm have been
there for a week, they said because
Of bruises received in blocking SPAR
ring partners punches.
Most conclusive proof that the left
battery, Jacks most proficient
weapon, is not seriously damaged,
came from the ring actions of the
former titleholder during the past
few days. These workouts, limited
to bag punching, exercises and
shadow boxing. have been devoted
10 SharDeninp Damascus left hook |