RING RECORDS

NZ Truth, Issue 1136, 8 September 1927, Page 11

RING RECORDS

IT'S A GRAND GAME Ballyhoo and The Million Dollars To Be Made WITH the stage all set, and the ballyhoo on for the return match between Jack Dempsey, onetime Manassa Mauler, and Gene Tunney, highbrow Heavy-weight champion, there are still arguments concerning the display of Dempsey at Philadelphia last year.

C V E N Jack's *-' knockout of Sharkey hasn't obliterated the susipicion that all was not well with him when he lost to the Magnificent Marine m the last encounter. They called ' him a "shell" after

that battle, and looked round for reasons and excuses for his defeat. Ninety per cent, of them had forecasted him a quick winner over the refined Tunney, and- they were astounded when that gentleman boxer knocked all the corners off their Giant Killer. An impossible happening thought they— and now the big promoters of America are all ready to work another million dollars or so out of their credulity. They steamed this outpointed idol up, tested him with Sharkey, and as soon as he won rushed on another match with Tunney. But through it all Jack Dempsey can never be regarded as the ringman he was. The comeback trail is a hard one. Some fail to get more than a few feet along it; others make the stiff grade to a, certain point, but unique is the man who gets right back to the peak of "his ability after having been battered down the sunset trail of his career. Dempsey, should he regain the heavy-weight championship of the world from Tunney, will make ring history. He will perform a mighty achievement. Ha will be a lone wonder among those who have attempted to COME BACK. Universal opinion is opposed to him beating Tunney this time, and ah ready the betting is registering twc to one against him. Tunney's win ir their last meeting was so complete so ea.sily gained, and so unmstakable that little of the real Dempsey wa: noticed throughout the mill. He was not the man who walloped Willard, the ace who broke Carpentier's heart — plus his jaw — nor the David who slew giant Firpo. Some-

thing was missing. He boxed nicely at times, moved well, stood up under great punishment, loosed some terrible blows, but the killer instinct waß not >• there. That overbubbling desire to

• fight until something snapped, so noticeable m all his previous exhibitions, was gone. Where and why? Many reasons were advanced for the absence of tigerishness m Jack's work, and among the many reasons advanced for the change m him .comes a somewhat romantic theory from no ; less a personage of the boxing gam© • than Benny Leonard — ex- light -weight • champion. In his opinion Dempsey's marriage was the direct cause -of his defeat and [ loss of the world's heavy-weight chami pionship. He reckons Dempsey a better man on account of his home life, but ' states he has been transformed from. i a raving, terrifying Manassa Mauler into a timid soul, who has lost his , killer instincts. r "The champ, has g¥own tender- : hearted," said Leonard. "It showed > m his work. The old savage spirit > waned, and finally disappeared. The t punch stamina, the fine fighting body, ; the superb physique, remained, but the fighting spirit, the will to win was' gone!" Now we are to get Dempsey m opposition to Tunney again. On the face of things it looks nothing more than a money-making venture for all concerned. True, Dempsey stopped Sharkey — displaying splendid winning spirit — and Sharkey stopped Maloney 1 before that, but neither Sharkey nor - Maloney could do better than outpoint ) George Cook over ten' rounds when he 1 was m the States. , Yet with ballyhoo the promoters , have succeeded m getting the people 3 into a state of eager anticipation for the return Tunney-Dempsey match. 1 A great game — and with a little luck t Jack and 'Gene may possibly again ; net another million of the best. Who - knows ?