Dempsey- Willard

[robert.snell1]

i think this is one of the best reports written about this contest


Fighting with the fury of a bulldog tearing down a mastiff. Jack Dempsey
knocked out Jess Willard here in one round.

The second round never should have been fought and never would have been fought but for a series of amazing blunders caused by having amateur officials. Technically the knockout was scored after the end of the third round when Ray Archer threw the towel into the middle of the ring, with Willard terribly beaten and helpless in his corner with one eye completely closed.

It was the most one-sided fight for a title ever seen in any ring.

Willard, smiling and apparently confident, landed the first two blows before .Dempsey went into him like a thunderbolt. Half a minute later the biggest of -all champions -was a reeling, battered hulk, dazed, smashed out of all resemblance to anything human. The effect of Dempsey's blows was startling. They landed .so fast the eye could hardly follow the flying gloves. At each crunching, 'crashing clout Willard's face was changed as if Dempsey were a sculptor dissatisfied with a portrait in clay and deliberately obliterating it feature by feature. Cuts and huge bruises showed every time Dempsey's hand 'snapped back to position for another drive.

Carl Morris in Madison Square Garden in the tenth round with Flynn, "Battling'-" Nelson in the fortieth with Wolgast at Port Richmond, were no more terribly .beaten than Willard in a single round with Dempsey.

Dempsey One of Most Remarkable Fighters of All Time.

.Whether it was a one-round fight or three. Dempsey has shown the world that he is one of the most remarkable fighters that ever clouted his way to a championship. He is of "a new type. They were right when they called him a 'bone crusher." He fights like no other champion, ever did. Beside his action -in- a real fight his training work was merely play. Cool when the fight was actually started, terribly grim and determined, he was like a bulldog taking his grip, never to be shaken off. His speed was startling and his attack .so sudden and furious that nothing could stop it. Yet when Willard halted for a moment Dempsey stepped toward him. Panther-like he feinted and stepped aside to make Willard follow and leave an opening. He was not simply a plunging, battering fighter. He was cold, calculating and sure of the effect his blows would produce. –

The great arena began to fill early in the day. Airplanes flew about overhead.'" 'Hundreds of flags fluttered in a sharp breeze. A big Blimp hung over the stands -at the end of a steel cable. Cars rolled down the single road and masses of spectators walked in straggling columns. The big park around the - arena was covered with refreshment stands. It looked for all the world like the infield at the English Derby.

Inside the arena the great crowd was in its shirt sleeves broiling under a sun that (dared down from a sky of polished brass. The heat was terrific. hardly a 'bit' 'of air was stirring in the great bowl. Thousands stayed under the stands until the big event was about to go on. The preliminaries were hardly looked at in the tense excitement of waiting for the main event. At 3-30 o'clock when the fighters were to have been in their corners. Major Biddle appeared with his marines, with guns and bayonets, and gave an exhibition of bayonet and knife fighting that was tolerated by the waiting crowd.

The major- took part in various exhibitions himself, explaining hoarsely that he had invented some marvelous fighting stunts and then demonstrating; - He was always last on his feet, while the marines were strewn around the ring: and" the moving picture cameras” clicked merrily. The crowd grew restless while the major posed. At last that was over and just four minutes before -4 o'clock Dempsey stepped into the ring, accompanied by trainer staff, who were to second him. Dempsey was pale under his deep coat of tan. His lace looked drawn and he was evidently under an intense nerve strain. - But he' look his corner immediately and sat down while Bill Tate raised a. big green umbrella over him to protect him from the sun.


Jess Leans Against Ropes After He Enters the Ring-.

"Within a few seconds Willard came into the opposite corner and stood there leaning against the ropes. Like Dempsey. Willard was pale. Close to him, I saw that the "goose Mesh" showed on his legs and when he stood still there was a slight twitching of the muscles of his thighs. I could see the throb of his heart under the tight drawn skin that covered his ribs. He stood in the corner looking around over the crowd and in a moment the signs of nervousness disappeared. A sun shade was raised over him too. And he stood there at ease, leaning against the ropes and looking around the ringside to nod and smile at his friends.

Willard was a picture of a trained athlete. On the outside, at least, he was a perfect specimen of a man. Around the huge arena all was so still that you could have heard a pin drop. There wasn't even the click of a
telegraph instrument or a typewriter as all strained to see the two men who were about to meet for the championship of the world.

After a moment Willard walked lightly across the ring and offered his hand to Dempsey. who was still sitting in his corner. Willard was smiling. He always smiles. A smile is his natural expression. Dempsey looked up grimly and shook hands without a word. Willard went back. Then they came out again and stood side by side while the camera, were snapped and the moving picture machines clicked. Willard towered over Dempsey. But Dempsev didn't even look up at him as they shook hands again.

Facing Willard squarely, he kept his head lowered and his eyes staring Straight at the middle of Willard's body, as if he was concentrating: every Thought on striking at that spot the moment the fight began.


Damon Runyon wrote


Squatted on his stool in the Corner a bleeding trembling-, helpless hulk, Jess Willard, the" Kansas giant”, relinquished his title of heavyweight champion the world, just as the bell was about to toss him into-the fourth round- of a mangling at the paws of Jack Dempsey. .the young .mountain lion in human form, from Colorado. '

Willard Sad Sight After third.'

- He was a sad sight as he sat there, this ponderous fellow, who, four short years ago. was acclaimed mightiest of men when he beat down old Black Jack Johnson.

The right side of his face was pulp, where the fists of the. Indian brown boy from the Centennial State had been landing "for nine minutes with fearful force. The right eye of the champion was completely hidden behind. that bloody smear. His left eye peered over a lump of flesh in grotesque "fashion. The great, doughlike body of the giant was splotched with red patches. They were the aftermath of Dempsey's glove thumping there and giving back a hollow sound as they thumped. –

At. the feet of the gargantuan pugilist was a dark spot, which was slowly widening on the brown canvas as it was replenished by the drip drip- drip of blood from, the man's wounds. He was flecked with red from head to foot. The flesh on his enormous limbs shook like custard. He was like a man who had just been pulled from under the wreck of an automobile or railroad train or who had met with some, other grave accident. He blinked .the one eye, through which he could still see daylight at the glaring sun, looking out over the heads of the crowd that had gathered to see something like this.

In the corner opposite him, tugging at the ring ropes like a pet terrier tugging at the leash: and scratching his feet on the canvas with sinister impatience, was the saddle colored demon who had ripped and
pounded and pounded. and slashed this tremendous fellow into this distressing state.

Mumbles to Toss Towel.

It seemed incredible and yet it was so. Another round was coming on. Another round of mauling and maltreatment- for the giant. The OX cannot beat the tiger. The bruised lips of the champion moved. He was mumbling some words . an instant later and he was no longer champion of the world.

Walter Monahan turned and tossed a towel into the ring. This towel was slightly spotted with blood. The rag rose no higher Than the ring ropes and fell limply, but it represented the Formal transfer of the heavyweight championship crown. it was Surrender.

It was Willard’s order. another instant passed until the crowd realized What had occurred and the 40,000 persons went raving Crazy for the moment.

Shakes hand with conqueror

The towel had no sooner hit the ring floor than Willard was on his feet Walking over to meet the already advancing Dempsey with his gloved hand outstretched. One side of his face – the side of his face which was not swollen –Carried a strange smile.


Willard was almost knocked out in the first furious rush of the Colorado boy. In fact everybody thought he was out and that the fight was over. The faulty bell had tinkled but few had heard it. Men rushed into the ring When the Ref, who had kept his head well during the clamour Made his handlers understand that only the round was over.

Willard weathers second

The crowd settled back and the bell tapped again. Out came Willard smiling that simple smile, his flabby legs shaking Under every step that lifted his bulk forward and now to the astonishment Of everyone the giant rallied.

No one believed he could possibly weather that second round But he pushed on under a veritable barrage of hammering Not only to the end of that round but to the close of the third. It was only a question of time when he must collapse however.

He was almost blind, he was a welter of blood. He was weak and unable To defend himself. he fought through the second and third rounds With courage. And for all this he got $100,000 besides the thousands he got at the training camp.

After it was all over Willard walked out unsteady to meet his conqueror He congratulated him after the time honoured custom of beaten Ring men. Then Willard lifted his ponderous bulk down from the Ring and went into fistic oblivion.

Once while sitting in his corner beneath a dingy old umbrella Covered with advertising signs before the fight Dempsey smiled. He sighted Tad, the cartoonist, sitting at the ringside and the brows Of the challenger softened as he relaxed his features.

That was almost the only time his face was so set that many Thought he was nervous. Over in the corner beneath a new brown Umbrella Willard fairly beamed on the crowd, nodding Pleasantly to familiar faces in the audience and generally Conducting himself like a man at a function given in His honour.A few minutes later and he was stumbling about the ring Like an ox in a stall, dull eyed and heavy limbed, it Was a startling transition.

Dempsey fails to hear bell

The men returned to their corners and Dempsey Continued to look everywhere but at Willard. Something went wrong with the bell It was on Willard’s side of the ring, and it gave of a feverish light tinkle, when Warren Barbour – former amateur heavy weight champion – who Was the timekeeper gave it a tug.

Willard heard it and started to leave his corner but he saw that Dempsey was still leaning against the ropes opposite him His back to the ring. And realised that Jack had not heard. Willard glanced expectantly at the timekeeper, Barbour Gave another yank and the bell tinkled softly again.

Willard once more started forward but still Dempsey Did not hear .he stood pawing his feet on the canvas and gazing out over the crowd. From a seat nearby his camp jester, Max Kaplan a fellow from long Beach where Dempsey used to run Was making an unearthly outcry Jess nodded and smiled in a most Polite manner and finally Dempsey turned as the bell tinkled And Jack understood that the fight was on.

Willard makes first lead

They advanced toward one another Dempsey crouching slightly And his shoulders moving in that curious “shimmy” style which he has made his own. Willard was fairly upright .Willard making the first lead, it landed lightly. Dempsey paid no attention but kept marching in.Willard jabbed At him slightly several times without much effect.

First the left hand then the right went swishing upward .his first lead Was for the broad white body spread so invitingly before him.And his fists seemed to sink in as they landed. Then the attack shifted to higher ground So to speak. Willard seemed to have no sense of location Whatever as he tried to stave of the first rush of the challenger which He had been told to expect and had come as predicted.


Crowd goes mad

Dempsey’s fists fairly thudded against Jess’s stomach then Suddenly a brown sinewy arm with a glove at the end shot Upward to Willard’s jaw and the champion seemed to crumple Up in the middle. His gigantic body plumped to the floor. The crowd went stark mad. Hats flew into the air and the Pine crater on the banks of the bay where the men were fighting Erupted with a terrific volume of human voices.

But Willard was not down for good, he was on one knee listening intently to the ref counting. Willard knew what he was doing then all right. He asked the ref what the count was and got on his feet before nine, and know the wildcat Was loose. Dempsey swarmed up to the gigantic form Of the Kansan . Now Willard was on the ropes his great weight causing them to sag deeply. Now he was half under them, .a haze had settled in his eyes., he had the Look of a man gazing through a mist. now you couldn’t see the Right eye at all.now the blood began welling from cuts on the face and slowly Trickling down his cheeks.

Totters out for second

The big man tottered out for the second round, that is the only way which describes his coming. Dempsey began tearing at him again as eagerly as a wolf Tearing at a wounded prey. Poor jess fought back feebly .he could not keep the lighter man from slugging him to the ropes and then slugging him to the ropes again .he was battered all round the ring but even so someone suggested Dempsey might be resting.

Willard seemed stronger after that round .it probably looked that way Merely in comparison to the first. However he came out for the third Round apparently desperate as he met Dempsey’s attack with Both hands flailing wildly. A right upper cut which Jack delivered brought blood pouring from Willard’s mouth to swell the stream that was leaking from his nose and from cuts on his face.

Dempsey’s white trunks red

Dempsey wore a pair of white silk shorts, they were dyed crimson By the gore from Willard’s wounds.

The only decent thing to do was to stop the fight and Willard stopped it.

[sockdolager]

one of those fights that as you watch it takes your breath away. Should have been stopped after the first round. It probably never should have made it to the end of the first round.

here are a couple clips of the fight, the top one being the full fight but in japaneese or something. The bottom one is a bit under 2 minutes but it gets right to the point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFHAFNTjcSE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VawHgrLvbD4

good post!

[robert.snell1]

thanks for the links to the site etc. do yo happen to now how you can save the footage to a hard drive ?

[Collins2000]

thanks for the links to the site etc. do yo happen to now how you can save the footage to a hard drive ?

That was an excellent report on the fight, Robert.

Try this link to save youtube videos. (I have never tried it.)

http://www.gilsmethod.com/htdownloadvid ... heinternet

[BoxBuzz]

Good read! very appreciated!

[Jaclem]

...i haven't seen the expression "good read" in a long time....and had hoped it wouldn't be revived...but then i'm fussy about verbs being used as nouns. i can't even use "impact" as such.

..yeah...the article was okay, though i do wonder how someone can look pale under a sun tan.