THE BIG FIGHT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19114, 24 September 1927, Page 15

THE BIG FIGHT.

CHAMPION AGAIN WINS . VICTORY ON POINTS. MATCH GOES TO TEN ROUNDS. (bt cable—rnF.ss association—cofyiiight.) (ACSTBALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATE?,'.) (Received September 23rd, 5.5 p.m.) / NEW YORK, September 22. Dempsey weighed out at 192 i pounds and Tunney at 189 i. Eain began early, and fell before the tout commenced, but soon stopped.. It is estimated that 50,000 spectators were present, the gate receipts being 2,800,000 dollars. The bout started at eight minutes past ten o'clock. First Round. Dcmpsey led with the left hand and missed. Tunney caught him with a left to; the face. Then they clinched. The challenger landed a left to the heart; then Tunney rocked* Dempsey with a right to the jaw. They clinched. Tunney landed a light right to the face.. Dempsey hooked a left to the "tody at close range. Tunney landed a few light blows, and seemed to have the advantage at the bell. Round Two. In round two Dempsey landed a right to the heart and another to the body. Then the challenger drove two hard ones to the head and body. Tunney fell into 8. clinch. They exchanged hard rights and blows on each other's ears, then elinched. Dempsey landed a right. On the break Tunney hooked right and left to the jaw and sent the challenger's head back with a light left at the bell. This again appeared to be Tunney's Tound. Dempsey Aggressive.

, In round three Deinpsey caine out aggressively. They clinched immediately and Tunney seemed to hold the chalAlenger's arms. The crowd yelled disapproval. They sparred and Tunney jabbed a hard left to the jaw. Dempsey ■. punished' him with short driven blows at close range. Dempsey hit Tunney three low blows but tho champion did not complain. Dempsey again struck, two low blows ■ and one of the judges called it a foul, but the bout went on. Tunney came back with a right and left to the head. Dempsey put a right and left to the body and they clinched'. Tunney crossed a right to the ear. At the bell Tunaoy still appeared to lead the fight. Dempsey Warned. In round four Dempsey led with a left and the champion crossed a left and right to the face. Dempsey retaliated with a vicious left to the body and Tunney returned a hard right to the face. Then he put two with the left arm to the challenger's face and Dempsey appeared to butt him, for which the referee warned ,the challenger. i« Tunney appeared to land his blows >•/ ore frequently, intermingling, fast J ', footwork with skilful boxing. Tunney .. crossed a right to the head and shook "Dempsey with another right. • Tunney's seconds;shouted at Dempsey's butting atactics. .

The champion lauded five hard, blows 'rapidly and the challenger • wobbled. Tunney drovo hard after his opponent rand chased him into a neutral corner. r The challenger, was hanging on at the 101 l and was in bad shape. His seconds "Worked hard over hinil :( -'- Challenger >. In round five Dempsey appeared wary, •topping away. Tunney put a left to ,ais face. Dempsey then landed a 1 right to the body and another low left to tho,body, but the champion did not complain. Tunney looped an overhand right to the head with Dempsey on the ropes. JJqmpscy backed away and Tunney fQught him into the corner, where he landed a loft hook to the mouth. ' Dempsey landed a left to the body: Mid hung'on, when the champion bored onto, close range. Dempsey t got home .frith 1 a left hook to the jaw, but was s ilow to follow it up. Tunney landed repeated blows on the head, body, and face, and landed a final blow flush on the jaw.- -.

This:-was Tunney's round.

At Close Quarters,

'. In round' six they sparred cautiously at the start.. Dempsey landed .three bard body punches, then came to close quarters and Tunney pinned his arms. They backed away and the. champion i«ent a right to the head, which-made ihe challenger go into a clinch. He Seomed desperately anxious to put all $k strength into close range fighting, hut Tunney's boxing seemed safely to keep him at long range. Dempsey landed a right to the body, *hich made Tunney dance away. DempWy then hooked a right and left to *« jaw, which shook Tunney and again the ehallenger hooked a right to the &M, He was strong and dangerous and *M now, appearing at his best. Itiwas Dempsey's round. Champion Floored.' <ln. round seven Dempsey floored ,Tun%ivith a right and left to the jaw. «nmey rose on the count of nine. flew in, determined to. finish ,*»», but Tunney fell into a, clinch, "empsey landed a right to the body *&d drove Tunney around the ring, Tun?ty backing, awav, but suddenly driv- \ a left to the 'jaw. Dempsey hooked a left to the jaw, wen drove Tunney to the ropes with -* "glit to the body. Tunney danced ***y with Deinpsey'pursuing. Dempsey **< fed in, apparently inviting a close exchange, in which he put a left, JKW and left to the body. At the ■w Tunney was very weak in his wmer.

ft was a long left hook flush to the *** Which floored the champion.

«'' Dempsey Dropped. ** round eight Dempsey again coui- > ™*»eed pursuing the champion. Tunney J 4 a light right and left to the -?*J» th en Dempsey landed a low left ■"toe body and head. Tunney danced J"*?. Dempsey aimed for the body and ' *Z? jabbed*him on the face. Dempsey Tnnney's neck in the clinch, a right to the body. Tuu£7 dropped Dempsev with a left to the ' 22*; but he bounded up without the

[ jj^. ne y now forced the fighting and ; on the ropes. Dempsey A,,*? 17 m nch slower and' Tunney drove tJriiii 1o the face - Thev exchang- . t, "S«B to the face. Both Dempsey's y* »ere badly cut. -- Tunney 's round. / k ' }iv/' Dempsey Punished. 2&£??** ni ae Dempsey attacked and s "*ttm- h a left - He P° unded the ' pwa "» a clinch; then Tunney put P right to the head and they it the ring. Dempsey, put the body and clubbed his ey's head. Tunney jabbed

twice -,o the face with the left and Dernpsey was bleeding badly. Tunney aimed at the face with both hands. He shot a right to the jaw and .a left, to the body, arid Dcmpsey was shaky. The challenger then put a left and right into the body but Tunney crossed a straight right to Denipsey's face, which was now a mass of blood. It was Tunney's round. Final Bound. In round ten they shook hands. Dcmpsey wrestled with Tunney and an exchange of left hooks followed. Tunney crossed two rights to the face. Both men were swinging wildly, trying for a knock-out. Dempsey landed a left to the head, and Tunney put a left and right to the face, and then jabbed the challenger with two lefts to the face, and a right cross to the head. Dempsey appeared groggy. Tunney crossed two rights to the face, and Dempsey landed one to the jaw. Tunney jabbed a left to the face and again a, hard right, which stung. Dempsey was now very weak, Tunney pummelling him with both hands. The champion crossed a'right.to the jaw and right and left to the face.

The announcer raised Tunney's hand hi signal of victory.

A Lost Opportunity.

It was Dempsey's inability to folio w up one terrific blow that floored the champion which cost-him the light. His old-time ferocity and clear headedncss seemed gone. He was unable to break through the skilful boxing defence which Tunuey immediately brought into play after rising from the canvas and toward the end the challenger weakened and the champion showed greater strength, indicating to some observers that if the fight had gone longer than ten rounds Tunney would have succeeded in knocking out his opponent. DEMPSEY DISSATISFIED. "REFEREE'S DECISION UNFAIR" (AUSTRALIAN AND tf.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received September 23rd, 9 p.m.) - NEW YORK, September 22. Dempsey virtually claimed that the referee's decision was unfair. In a statement after the .fight he said. "1 beat Tunney to-night and I will beat him again any time he wants to get into the same ring with me. lam not ready to retire by a long shot, not before I have had another crack at Tunney. I know down in my soul "that I knocked Tunney out' to-night and what's more chased him all around the ring and should have won on points at least." .-! '

The fight expert of the New York "Times" says, "His deliberate refusal to observe the boxing rules of the Illinois State Athletic Commission, or his ignorance of the rule, or both, cost Dempsey his chance to regain the championship. Tunney should have lost the contest. He should have been knocked out, and was, in fact, in the seventh round. That this result does not go into the record book is due to the failure of Dempsey to move into a neutral corner when Tunney was floored." TUNNEY FAVOURITE. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLB ASSOCIATION.) NEW YORK, September 22. Chicago reports that late-'betting shows that Tunney is favourite over, Dempsey, but comparatively little money is being wagered to-day. It is expected, however, that large sums will be forthcoming shortly before the fight. It is. estimated that 50,000,000 persons in the United. States alone will hear the description of the bout over the radio. .

Public opinion appears to regard the men's chances as about even. Tunney is in better shape than ever. He nas a slightly'injured eye, but itiis not serious. Dempsey's condition nas greatly improved. He has been a long time in training, has had two tough fights, and is not harassed by legal annoyances. .

DEMPSEY'S UNFORTUNATE • ERROR.

(AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z.. CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received September 23rd, 7 p.m.)

NEW YORK, September 22,

When Tunney went to the floor in the seventh round, Dempsey stood oyer him near the ropes, instead of going to a neutral corner, as the ..rules require, before the count pan be started. The count was, as a result, delayed several- seconds and Tunney had more time in which to recover and then, swinging himself up by grasping the rope, he danced away. Dempsey's manager said that he would protest to the Boxing Commission that Tunney received a IS second count, but the referees in. the preliminary bouts had also waited until one of the fighters who had floored his opponent backed away into a neutral corner before beginning to count. The fight provided as thrilling a speetacle by reason of the knockdown of the champion as by its climax and tho clear cut victory of the champion as its result".

WHY TUNNEY WON.

(AUSTRALIAN AXD N.Z. CADEE ASSOCIATION.) (Received. September 23rd, 7.45 p.m-)

NEW YORK, September 22.

The Chicago "Tribune's" boxing expert says that superior ring generalship and endurance, the two most im•portant qualifications of a fighter, enabled Tunney to retain the championship. It was Tunney's ringcratt which enabled him to weather the seventh round when he was sent to the mat, and it was endurance which enabled him to outfight the challenger in the closing rouritl.

BY WIRELESS. MR O'MEARA'S SUCCESS. tunney makes a speech. (press association telegkam.) GISBOBNE, September 23. Another notable success was scored by the well-known Gisborne amateur wireless operator, Mr I. H. O'Meara, this afternoon, when he received the full description of the Tunncy-Dempsey fight from the ringside. Each round was described in detail by the announcer, and the result was known here about 3.15 p.m., less than one minute after the decision was announced. The news was broadcast from the nngStates S and Canada by which, as the announcer stated in his opening message, ft was hoped to reach all countries in the worldf-Mr o'Meara. received the

first news about 2 p.m., and reception was clear throughout. In the course of his preliminary speech the announcer said: —"The keenest excitement is being manifested by the 150,000 people who throng Soldiers' Held. All the. world is listening-in to the description of this fight and is eagerly awaiting the result. Even in Australia and New Zealand — it is still daylight over there—they are listening-in." A deafening noise was heard, and the announcer, stated that that was the champion and the challenger entering the ring together with such notable figures as Jim Jeffries, Jack Sharkey, and Mike Plynn. Dempsey wore an emerald green robe and Tunney a blue robe. The voice of the announcer was heard as he attempted' to address the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen," he commenced, but the crowd roared out, "Be quiet." The announcer commented that it was amusing to hear one man trying to keep a crowd of 150,000 quiet. He said his difficulties were increased by a battery of typewriters and wireless mechanics at his side.

The announcer stated: —"Dempsey looks real good and is in fine physical condition —every' inch a fighter, and a much different man from the one who beat Sharkey a few weeks ago. Tunney is just the same quiet, conservative man as ever and looks as if he would not miss much in the way of opportunities. It's hard to tell what's at the back of his mind. You just don't know what is at tbc back of those grey eyes of his. He keeps his thoughts well in the background." '

The announcer then described every round of the fight in detail, and at the conclusion summarised the contest as follows: —It had been a wonderful fight, and he never .expected to see a better one. There were no fouls and nothing questionable from start to finish. From the first it was difficult to see which way the decision would go. At one time Dempsey would appear to have everything his own way, and some of the rounds he annexed by a wide margin. In others it was Tunney who was equally decisive. Eight up to the finish it appeared from the description that Dempsey would emerge the victor, but tlie last two rounds went to the champion, and the fight was really won in the last round, Dempsey being knocked out on his feet a few moments before the final bell went.

After the fight there was a roar for a speech from the winner, who spoke very hurriedly, saying:—"To the whole world, and to my friends in Canada in particular —I am pleased to have been able to keep the championship. It was a great fight, and one which I feel honoured to win."