Evening star., 1930-11-30

Like lot Of us, Burleigh will battle for that
old game when he's out there on the mound.
He did talk some during the series, I'll admit
that But he Is no braggart. room with him
and know"
Despite the loyal tribute from the quiet ace
Of the Cards staff, Burleigh will go down IN
sport history as one who talked himself out of
o possible championship victory.
Charley, it win be recalled by those who
follow the fortunes of the heayyweights,
talked himself out Of q big shot for the title
In the seventh round of his bout with Jack
Dempsey.
Dempsey, divested of his crown by the decision
route In his bout with Gene Tunney in Sep
tember Of 1925, was trying to come back for
return tif with the ex-Marine. Sharkey, by
virtue Of victory over Jimmy Maloney and
others, stood out as a splendid test for the
Manassa Mauler, who was already beginning
to slip down the hill that inevitably leads to
the pugilistic scrapheap.
Sharkey did plenty of talking before the fight,
saying that Dempsey had no fears for him and
that he expected to win by knockout in the
early rounds.
For q while it looked as If he would live true
to his boast He staggered his older opponent
frequently and seemed a sure winner.
Then In the seventh Dempsey recuperated
somewhat and drove home some telling body
blows.
Sharkey started to talk to the referee.
Hes hitting me low" said the ex-sailor
turning his head to talk things over with the
oficial. Then Dempsey did hit him-but not
low.
He socked the garrulous one on the point of
the chin. Sharkey went down and stayed down.
He's been on the floor ever since as far as
becoming a real champion is concerned.
One would think Dempsey would have learned
right then and there that talking in the ring
10 disastrous.
But what did the Manassa MauIer do but go
ahead and talk himself out of championship!
It occurred in that historic seventh round of
his subsequent match with Tunney in Chicago
a round that will live in the memories of thou
sands of fans who saw It.
Dempsey drove Tunney to the ropes and
dropped him with q series of punches for the
notorious fourteen count" which will be dis
cuSsed and argued about for years to come.
That scene has been described so frequently
and vividly there is no use repeating it here.
It was not until afterward that Dempsey
talked himself out of his great chance.
Tunney, his brain woozy and his legs wabbly
arose to his feet at the conclusion Of the long
count and started on his now famous bicycle
ride" back-pedaling rapidly about the ring.
Dempsey chased Gene for a while and it was
apparent to US at the ringside that he could
have finished him with a few more good
Eastern referee.
"But what did Jack do after chasing his
opponent for q while but stand In the middle
OF the ring, beckon to Gene and shout Come on
and fight In those few seconds Tunney re-
covered his senses. stuck out that long left and
was himself again.
Fight fans have always been so busy talking
about the long count on Dempsey that, in gen.
eral, they have overlooked that important phase
Of the battle, namely, that Dempsey actualay
lost his great chance in that instant" con-
tinued McCracken.
ANY one who has ever boxed knows the value
OF few seconds to . man of Tunney's expert
ence and generalship."
I EW TENDLER. great southpaw lightweight
who was in his prime about decade ago,
missed the big chance of his career when he
engaged in conversation with Benny Leonard,
champion Of the world.
1t was Tenders misfortune to have been born
ut the same time as Leonard because each was
Q wonderful lightweight and worthy to be a
Ntleholder. They met IN Jersey City to battle
3 out before huge crowd assembled at BoyIe's
Thirty Acres
Tender was IN the greatest shape of his