THE BIG EIGHT

Te Aroha News, Volume XIXXX, Issue 6362, 7 July 1923, Page 1

THE BIG EIGHT

WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP.

RETAINED BY DEMPSEY,

The boxing match between Jack Dempsey (holder) and Tom Gibbons for the heavy-weight championship of the world, took place at Selby, Montana, U.S.A., on Wednesday, and resulted in Dempsey retaining the title on the decision of the referee. The fight went the full fifteen rounds. Dempsey’s weight was 1881 b, and Gibbons’ 175 Jib. In round one Dempsey led viciously, landing heavy body blows, and he drew blood from Gibbons’ mouth with a left hook. Gibbons retreated, and landed twice on Dempsey’s jaw, but the champion knocked the challenger about easily. In round two Gibbons landed a hard right to the body, and then opened Dempsey’s eye. Dempsey jarred his opponent by a left to the law. During round three Gibbons protested against Dempsey mauling him in the clinches. Dempsey pounded his body savagely, and both exchanged head blows. In round four Gibbons landed a right upper-cut, and infighting followed, Gibbons boxing well, and the champion having trouble in hitting him.

In round five Gibbons drove Dempsey back, knocking him to the ropes with two lefts to the jaw. Dempsey kept clinching, but Gibbons again drove him back.

In round six Dempsey knocked Gibbons between the ropes as they came out of a clinch, Gibbons protesting. Dempsey gave him severe punishment at close quarters, which he continually sought. In round seven the crowd became angry as Dempsey held and hit, and then twice hit Gibbons below the belt without the referee protesting. In round eight Gibbons send Dempsey to the ropes with two lefts to the jaw. Dempsey hit low, and the crowd resented it. The round ended with an exchange of head blows. Round nine was mostly a series of clinches. Gibbons was distinctly outboxing the champion, and was standing body punishment well. He also landed several hard bolws to the jaw. During round ten Gibbons improved in the clinches, and also neatly dodged Dempsey’s upper-cuts and straight hits. In round eleven Dempsey was outmanoeuvred again, and struck below the belt. The crowd was furious, and Gibbons retaliated with two hard blows to the jaw, and dodged Dempsey’s counter. Round twelve was marked by savage in-fighting, Dempsey roughing it all over the ring, and striking low.

In round thirteen Gibbons outguessed Dempsey, dodging - terrific upper-cuts. The challenger, boxing

beautifully, forced Dempsey to miss repeatedly.

In round fourteen Dempsey was tiring. He missed continually at long range, and sought to get close, but Gibbons’ generalship was superior.

Round fifteen saw Gibbons now strictly on the defensive, and Demp-

sey desperately trying for a knock-

out. He landed on the right jaw,

badly shaking Gibbons, but the bell

sounded. The referee’s decision was in Dempsey’s favor, and the wildest ex-

citement followed the fight. The re-

feree rushed out of the stadium im-

mediately he announced the decision,