Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-09
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAW By FRANCIS sTANN
Shelby Remen1bers-KindIy

A YEAR ago. ALMOST to the day, there was occasion
to mention the Jack DempseyTommy Gibbons fight in
Shelby Montana July A. 1928 clipping that have
travelled devious route found its to Clifford Coover
secretary of the Marias Fair who in todays
discoses that Shelby is far from ready to forget.
In fact the prize fight that broke the town 80 years
is celebrated annually 1--WE always have done part
to keep this event alive sort of trademark for Shelby
Mr.. Coover writes THE Tommy Gibbons Handicap ($4OO)
is annual event at the Maras Fair. occasions
Tommy hand to personally the green cooler
blanket to the winner.
1T is very likely that both Dempsey and Gibbons will
be hand in 1858 for the 35h anniversary they
both in good health Both have sgned their Willingness.
Shelby Is magic in sports That boxing match
for the world heavyweight championship literally
the town. financially but apparently tolerated
AS far Gibbons concerned The clever boxer
from ST. Paul beaten but he went the l5round distance
with Dempsey which was achievement in those days
He also received not one red Like the citizens of
Shelby he too went for broke.
THE DISPATCH FROM SHELBY this day inspired trip
to the files Hugh Fullertonnot the gifted Associated Press
writer of today but his dadwas OF perhaps 40 sports
writers who covered the event. His lead read:
Jack Dempsey retained world championship today
after the greatest heavyweight battles history
while feathered Indians killed Scots cowboys and the
sports of America cheered his defeated foe"
Dempsey and his manager, Jack Kearns, under their
guarantee made off with the money taken ill., which was
estimated at $201 85 Shelby had overreached itself in bid
ding for big fight. The banks were empty.
BY the time the first preliminary offered thousand
deadheads had joined the premium paying crowd of 5000
Then prices and seats thrown onto the
market for almost price swelling the crowd to 10000.
This done, fence Preached, to quote Fullerton
and lat O'clock when the fighters at last appeared in the
ring the crowd was about 10000"
Fullerton Just before the big battlers went
into action the gates thrown open and Shelby citizens
and the broken concessonnaireS invited in
Free and during the fight than 10000 stood and
wild"
ALL ON-THE- SCENE accounts sang the praises of
Gibbons who puncher at all but who was master
boxer Lacking the physical gifts OF Dempsey he took
everything that could be handed to him.
Had Gibbons possessed the punching power of Dempsey
tonight would have the browning of new Champion
Fullerton wrote As it Gibbons made it close until the
final round when the Snaring, frustrated Dempsey had
the fancy man from st. Paul in trouble
Dempsey seemed disappointed read the Dispatch even
when Referee Doughery raised his glove in the air
signal of victory ShebyS great day was overland the
crowd which after month of waiting had been angry
threatening rushed the ring cheering both victor and
Hanquished
THE cheers when Gibbons left the ring higher
higher and his progress seemed more OF triumpha
procession than march homeward to tell the wife and
children he had ostand lost without receiving cent for
his work."
JUST COUPLE OF YEARS ago, during fishing
expedition on lower Tampa Bay, Dempsey relved that
fight IF roughly behaved he mused lit was because
clean mad at myself couldn't catch Tommy. I'd
laid off two years Then made second mistake Instead
sof fighting more often, laid off again.
THAT" he sighed, my title. couple of years
later couldn't catch up with Gene Tunney at Philadelphia
or at Chicago You know I've Rocky Marciano
fight except eevision but he's making mistake He lays
off long between fights If had to do it again. I'd
fight often. If knew Marciano better I'd tell him to fight
while he's got it. If he doesn't he'll find himself in the
middle of ring day with all the punch necessary to
wn--and no legs to catch his guy"
Rocky beat Dempsey to it, apparently with his retirement
He bows the only heavyweight champ who never lost
If Marciano makes stick the only valid that he
wasn't improving He took much too long to put away Don
Cocke and the ageles Archie Moore had Rocky on the
floor before the years and Marcano caught up with him.
Dempsey quit when he going back but in his case
he was going back too fast Marcano ucker and for
him there Tunney on the scene.