BOXING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19050, 1 July 1924, Page 6

BOXING

GIBBONS AND CARPENTIER. HOW GIBBONS WON NO-DECISION BOUT. •LEADS ALL THE WAY. Before a crowd of 25,000 fans here this afternoon Tommy Gibbons of St. Paul outpointed Georges Carpentier of France by a wide margin (says a message from the ringside to a ’Frisco paper on, May 31). There was no official decision, but there could be no question in the minds of any who saw the bout as to the winner. To the majority it was surprising that Gibbons had not scored a knockout. Gibbons had the better of nine of the fen rounds. The fourth round went to Carpentier. The bout was concluded in one of the most dramatic finishes ever seen in a ring. In the ninth round,, while breaking away from Gibbons, Carpentier slipped to his right knee on the floor. As he got up he looked appealingly at his seconds and pointed to his right ankle, which was encased in an elastic bandage. He wanted to quit, but no action was taken in his corner and he realised that he must continue for a while at least. As he backed away he limped painfully and jabbered to Gibbons about his ankle. It was announced by Fitzsimmons that the total receipts were in excess of 325,000 dollars. The enterprise was a complete “sell out,.” Fitzsimmons announced in tones of pride and joy. Gibbons entered the ring first at 3.5 8 o’clock, and Georges Carpentier followed several minutes later. Gibbons received a generous hand from the crowd as he stepped into the ring, bowing to the right and left like an actor. His hands were encased in bandages in spite of the pre-bout announcement that these would be applied in the ring. Not more than two minutes later Georges Carpentier entered the roped arena, grinning. The crowd gave him a good reception, but it was hardly a faint echo of the ovation that the Frenchman received at Jersey City when he stepped out to meet,, Dempsey. He raised his hands above his head and clasped them there to show his good will. He wore a grey bathrobe and a carefree expression. The first thing he did was to clutch Gibbon’s hand and shake it like a pump-handle. Tom was confidence himself, calling greetings to acquaintances at and near the ringside. In the meantime Descamps rushed frantically from one side of the ring to the other, pointing and grinning. He wore his •‘trick” skull cap, giving the appearance of a Far Eastern monk. He insisted upon Gibbons removing the bandages from his hands, pointing and shouting excitedly, “No,. No,” when the American protested. Gibbons’ bandages were then unwound while the crowd shouted impatiently for the proceedings to begin.

Rain had been falling just prior to the entry of the principals, but was kind enough to stop. Descamps again approached Gibbons’ corner, expressing the desire that the’ American use a special kind of bandage. They finally came to an agreement on Gibbons’ bandages and Tom had unwound his hands when Descamps again rushed over with a roll of the same kind of bandages that Carpentier wag to use. Gibbons smiled and consented to their use. An announcer asked for a few moments to read some telgrams that he declared must be read. Tho crowd yelled its disapproval. Raising his voice above the din the announcer shouted the contents of the first message from Jack Dempsey in Los Angeles, cliallenginging the winner. He wished them both good luck and sa'id as how he was sorry that he could not be present. It was said by some that Dempsey’s message had been misconstrued and that the message said nothing about meeting the winner. This statement was made by a man who claimed to have seen the original message. The principals were then introduced. Carpentier’s weight was announced as 174 pounds, Gibbons’ 177. The referee was Emerson B. Dickerson. In the stage wait that ensued. Descamps turned and faced a section of the crowd saying, “Gentlemen, please, let us be sports. Let the best man win. *