The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-21
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By JACK CUDDY United Press Staff COrrespOndent)

United Press Staff Correspondent
 New York, Feb. 21 - CU.PO -
 Sheriff Tommy Gibbons of St. Paul
 arrested attention along Jacobs
 Jetty today with the assertion that no man ever lived who could slug it
 out with Jack Dempsey when he
 was at his peak, because of his paralyzing liver punch.
 Gibbons, who tried to wrest the heavyweight title from Dempsey at
 Shelby, Mont, on July 4. 1923, en- phasized that he included the pres ent champion, Sergeant Joe Louis.
 The liver punch 8 smashing left hook somewhat below an op- ponent's right arm pit was the secret of Dempseys success, Gib- bons insisted during a chat at the Waldorf Astoria. He called the blow the most effective one that boxer can land.
 Urging that young fighters add the punch to their repertoire, be- cause the liver is the real nerve center or solar plexus of the body and not the pit of the stomach as is commonly believed" Gibbons said that learning how to use it trans formed him from 8 boxer into a knockout specialist.
 Gibbons, a solid, heavy set fel- low with thinning brown hair and q left ear that is little caulifloWer- ed from his ring days has been Sheriff of Ramsay County (St. PauD Mihn, for 10 years. He came east recently to be present at the con- of the new cruiser St. Paul at Boston.
 Talking in high, staccato voice that reminded of the machine-gun of Fritzie Zivic, Gib- bcns told about how he learned of the lethal delivery to the liver.
 T fought In 55 pro bouts from 1913 to 1921 and ad only five knocHouts," he said. "In 1920, I met a couple of fighters from Cleveland named the Brock brothers, Matt and Bill. These fellows were doing we'll knocking out fighters and learned from them about the liver punch in which they used terrific left hook"
 Gibbons said he started working on 1t immediately and developed suddenly into knockout artist. From 1921 to 1925 when he retired after being knocked out by Gene Tunney he had 24 fights and scored 20 knockouts.
 One of my knockout victims in 1921 was fat Willie Meehan of Cali fornia," he said. T knocked him out in the first round and when he came to he asked me where I had gotten that punch, which he said was the same thing Dempsey had been trying to use on him"
 Meehan said he fought Dempsey three times In four rounders. The first time Dempsey was just develop Ing his famed left hook and hit Meehan with the liver punch but didnt knock him out. The next two times Meehan said he was on the lookout and gained draw in the second bout, a victory in the third.
 "A lot of people have asked me why didn't get in and slug with Dempsey in that fight in Montana m 1925" Gibbons said. T didn't because I had too much respect for that liver punch. I had one of my own but it never had the steam hat old Johnno had I didn't win ,he decision but was able to go Is rounds and Dempsey was surprised because he couldn't knock me out"
 Gibbons warned that the element of surprise was most important and hat the blow should be used in with others.
 The idea is to smash your op- oonent in the liver with the left nook and follow through immedi- itely with a right hook to the head" le said. Then keep punching so he actual effect oi the liver punch, which is perfectly legal, is not visi- ole to the crowd. It is a very im- 1ortant weapon and anyone who wants to be fighter certainly ought to learn it."
 Gibbons left today for St. Paul. While he was here he had dinner with Dempsey at his tavern where hey cut up old touches.