DEMPSEY WINS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 23 July 1927, Page 3

DEMPSEY WINS

SHARKEY KNOCKED OUT AFTER SLOGGING FIGHT WINNER SEVERELY PUNISHED. J Y CABLE-PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHI NEW YORK, July 21. Ninety thousand people saw Dempsey knock out Sluai-key in tlie fight to decide who would meet, Tunney on September 15. in the first two rounds Sharkey punished Dempsey severely on occasions, but also took heavy hits himself. Both continued to fight fiercely, Dempsey bleeding badly from the right eye. The ex-champion was superior in in-fight-mg, and in the seventh round knocked bis opponent out. Sharkey put up a good light and Dempsey was several times staggered. The victory sent the crowd into a delirious outburst. Following a slashing, slogging battle from start to finish, Sharkey took the count after receiving a terrific right to the pit of the stomach and a crashing left to the jaw. Sharkey rushed his opponent in the first round, but Dempsey carried matters to close quarters in which he badly punished the younger man. However, Sharkey responded with a staggering left to the jaw and drove Dempsey laibouifc the ring with terrific lefts. The ex-champion was now bleeding and appeared in serious distress, when the bell went.

In the second round both men were shaken by solid leftis and were tireu at its conclusion. Dempsey made Sharkey miss m the uli ml round and scored with body blows, though he is-till appeared shaky on Jus feet. Towards the end of the round Sharkey recovered and staggered Dempsey with a left to the jaw. Then the ox-champion returned iaml knocked Sharkey to one knee with a left to the pit of the .stomach. By the end of the fourth session Dempsey appeared to ho leading on points, "though both men were -scoring well. ...

In the fifth round the older man was still out-boxing his opponent and making him miss. Sharkey again shook Dempsey in the sixth round, hut the latter took recourse to oloso quarters, in which he scored well. At the opening of the seventh round Dempsey won. with a left, hook t<> the jaw as• Sharkey was sagging to his knees and making a signal to the referee that the previous blow to the body had been low. Dempsey virtually knocked out his opponent while the latter stood inactive. A doctor examined Sharkey after the fight and said there was no evidence that he had been hit ia, foul.

HEARD OVER THE WIRELESS. LATER ROUNDS DESCRIBED. (UY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION .) GISBORNE, July 22. The result of the Sharkey-Dempsey fight was known in Gisborne less than one minute after the decision. Tins was due to the well-known amoteui Mr. Ivan O’Meara, who received the message broadcast on 22 metres by 2XAG. , , , Reception was almost at loud speaker strength. The cheering of the immense crowd was almost like- the roar •jf thunder. The ringside announcer stated that Dempsey had lost none of his popularity in what proved to he i. l le final round. The crowd roared: “He’s down!” and a scene of tremendous excitement was followed by the sound of the count, when the enthusiasm of the crowd got beyond control. Air. O’Meara, judged the time to listen in correctly (about 1.45 p.m.), hut unfortunately the big fight commenced before the preliminaries. As Air. O’Meara took up his instrument the end of the fourth round was 'being described. From later and briefer messages, however, it appeared there was little to choose between the men in the first three rounds, though the end of the fourth round appeared to favour Sharkey, as the description of the fifth round shows.

Tlie detailed account received by Air. O’Afenra commenced with the fifth round as follows:

With the opening of the fifth round, however, matters changed. Sharkey was active from the outset, but Dempsey looked a little tired. Dempsey landed a hook to the chin, andSharkey spat blood as his opponent slipped in to close for another short, light body attack. Sharkey met this with a right uppercut, but Dempsey landed two lefts to the ribs. Sharkey then led a straight right to the head, and left a cut on Dempsey’s left cheek. 'The latter landed heavily again, but took Sharkey’s left four times. Then Dempsey connected with the left to the head, and the sailor wobbled. Coming up for the 1 sixth. Dempsey again looker! a little less fresh than his opponent, and was obviously playing a waiting game. When he did go in he missed with a long left to the head, but a second or two later he shook Sharkey with a left to the chin. The “sailor,” however, smashed a right heavily on Dempsey’s jaw, while the latter missed with another long left. He went in again, ramming away to the body, but Sharkey was all elbows in defence. He slapped a right to Dempsey’s face, but Dempsey followed him "up, and the pair bobbed at each other until Sharkey sent Dempsey’s head back with a sharp right uppercut, to the jaw. This was (lie clomiiosl . hardest punch of Hie ['mill. Dempsey leaned in, however, pushing Sharkey lo Hie ropes, entehjug him coming onl with three smushes lo I lie head.

Relieving Sharkey had punched Dempsey in the lace alter the bell went, the crowd ‘‘booed,’’ but the referee saw nothing wrong. Dempsey went for bis man from the opening of the seventh round,. and rained blows on Sharkey’s body. Then [ho ox-champion knocked Sharkey down with a right. He no sooner regained bis foot than Dempsey suddenly whipped a left in to the stomach, and followed with a deadly right to the jaw which sent Sharkey down. Ho got to his knees at the count of “nine.” swayed, and fell flat on his face. When the referee called “out the crowd got be von d control and the speech was drowned in the cheering and veiling, the noise of hells and whistling. “1 ’vo never seen so many hats before.” said Ibe announcer. “They are evervwliere.”

Apoarentlv the crowd showed their ii n rest m ined enthusiasm by throwing their hats in the air.