The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-07
BIGGEST TEST
DRAWING NEAR
FOR EX-CHAMP
Dempsey Threatens to DO the
Observation-Disclosures Not
Always Easy

Chicago, Sept. 7.-.H,-The great
est adventure Of Jack Dcmpscy's
spectacular career lies just ahead Of
the colorful ringman who threatens
TO "do the undoablc" - win back the
heavyweight championship he lost to
Gene Tunncy in the rain-drcnchcd
arena at Philadelphia last fall.
Thoroughly convinced that he can
whip the man who slashcd his face
INTO a CORY mask in the Sequicentcn-
mai Stadium, stabbed and hammer
him to the verge OF Ii Knockout in
ten rounds. Dempsey is grimly deter
mined that the prestige of titleh older
shall again rest with him.
Already the comeback campaign of
a former champion, never before sue
ccssful III the history of the ring, has
carried the Manassas Maulcr,' past
the foremost Of the younger contend
crs. On July p, in the Yankee Sta
dun. Dempsey unleashed enough Of
the deadly punching power and grim
courage Of his greatest days to
Knockout Jack Sharkey, the Boston
sailor, in seven rounds.
Adage Looms in Path
But the trucst adagc Of the ring
They never came back"-looms in
the path Of Dempsey's realization Of
great ambition, and at the age of
%, when athletes in other branches
OF sport are at the peak Of their
games, the hoodoo of precedent al
ready Is pointing out that every mod
ern champion, with the exception Of
Jack Johnson, has tried to regain the
hcights-and failed.
Johnson. in legal difficulties,
passed from the fistic scene when
Jess Willard Knocked him out in 26
rounds at Havana in 1915. No en-
enlargement ever was given his plans
for comeback.
But Johnson's conqueror, the huge
Pottawatomie farmer. returned to the
ring four years after Dempsey
crushed him in three rounds in 1919.
Willard knocked out Floyd Johnson
in 1923 but he was 40 years old and
burly Luis Firpo spiked the come
back effort with an eight round
knockout little later.
The comeback virus, rnawing in
the blood of former champions who
refused to accept one defeat as con-
fight Jim Jcffrics for the title after
ianky Bob Fitzsimmons, freckled
originator Of the solar plexus
wallop. Knocked out gentleman
Jim" for the title at Carson City in
1897. Corbett was "a when Jeffries
knocked him out in % rounds at
Coney Island but it wasn't until
Fitzsimmons again dropped Corbett,
this time in eight rounds at San
Francisco, that the Beau Brummcl Of
tho hnovvmniurbtc fo ~, .,.r.o
Ruby Robert Took 2 Kayoes
"Ruby Robert" himself took two
knockouts from Jeffries the first
costing him the title in l901-before
bowling to Jim as master. Jeffries
ended Fits career at 40 with the
second Knockout year later.
Jcffries met the same fate he
meted out to the game Australian
Coming out of retirement in 1910
after six years Of idlcness. the huge
bOilcr-maker ground off 80 pounds
to fit himself for battle with Jack
Johnson at Reno. Again the hoodoo
triumphed and Jeffries met the
knockout fate Of his predecessors.
Several strong points stand out in
favor of Dempseys comeback CAM
paign, however. He is two to eight
years younger than any previous for
mer champion battling for lost
crown. An even ten months after
the debacle at Philadelphia, Demp-
sey was back in the ring against
in better physical and men,
tai shape than the night he. lost to
Tunney.
Most impressive Of all is Dempsey's
grim eagerness to regain his laurels
aside from the rich reward of APP
Spectacle. Intensely proud Id the ; for.
mer champion has summoned back
most Of his old hitting power, all of
stamina, and the cagey ring general
ship Of added experience to bolster
waning speed in probably the last
battle of q great career-win or
I020.