BOXING.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1921, Page 3

BOXING.

THE BIG FIGHT. AS SEEN FROM THE RINGSIDE. (By James J. Corbett, ex-heavyweight champion of the jvorld, in the Sydney Referee.) New Jersey (U.S.A.), July 6. Close upon two’ days have passed since Dempsey defeated Carpentier at Jersey City in their contest for the heavyweight championship of ti e world. It was a fight ci’ thrills, as it had for weeks previously been a prospective happening of thrills. I cannot remember a similar event that created greater interest, or excited the sporting world to the same degree, and wo have had many extremely high strung engagements of the same nature in this highly excitable " country, notably the Johnson-Jeffries affair, at Reno, eleven years ago. The doings of the two great fighters—one, the world’s heavyweight champion, and the other the heavyweight champion of Europe—were every day in thousands of different cities and towns throughout America, written about, in newspapers and eagerly read by millions of people.

NEVER SUCH A CONCOURSE. Never before have I witnessed such a vast concourse of people. Thirty acres of close packed humanity is said to have totalled 91,000. Strangely enough, the visitor, an alien, who could not naturally speak the English language, was tire favorite with the crowd before the fight began, though not the favorite in the betting, which ruled at 3 to 1 on Dempsey.

Carpentier had much the greater amount of sympathy right through the contest, and he was still tire favorite with that vast assent- ’ blago when the battle terminated.

Deunpsey, a native born, may never forget the great tumult of approval which prevailed when, for close upon a minute, the tide of battle seemed to be going against him. It has been unusual for Americans to so act. The champion proved a better fighter than when he brought Willard down at Toledo two years ago. He won on merit. There were no favors of fortune for him, and none for tls opponent.

The American stood the bigger and the stronger man, also he possessed greater endurance than Carpentier, and was almost, if not quite, as fast on his feet, all he used a short-arm blow on both sides of the Frenchman’s body, which invariably hurt severely.

The Gallic boxer was always a gentleman, even, in the moments of his defeat. CONTRAST IN APPEARANCES. Both, were In the ring promptly at 3 o'clock, a most unusual happening. Carpentier entered first, slim, boyish, pale, and looking a little drawn. His appearance was that of a college athlete rather than a professional pugilist. A brass band crashed forth the Marseillaise, and ninety odd thousand men and women stood up to greet him.

Dempsey was there a couple of minutes later. A roar of applause literally shook the biggest structure of matchwo6d and pine planking ever erected, till it wobbled. He sat under a huge floral horseshoe for luck, and judging by wl-.at he did to Carpentier in the last two rounds, might have had horseshoes in his gloves also for hick.

Photographers crowded into the ring and snapped first one and then the other hoxer. There was a dispute over Dempsey’s bandages, and al! the ring officials but one second, who remained with Carpentier, were in Dempsey’s corner.

Carpentier sat cool ns an iceberg, gazing at Dempsey while Dempsey concentrated 1 his attention upon his padded fists. Aeroplanes innumerable buzzed their presence overhead.

The introduction of the boxers created a scene not likely to be forgotten.

The arts, the sciences, the drama, commerce. politics, the bench, the bar, and the great new boot-legging industry, were largely represented in the mass of poplo that rose from their seats and demonstrated in a way which ectoed through Jersey City.

The Frenchman’s display was remarkable, considering the difference in weight (161 b Carpentier scaled 12.4), and the unusual ruggedness and fighting ability of the man he had to contend with. Many who came to sepff left singing paeans to the defeated gladiator. A big percentage of the onlookers were beforehand satisfied that Dempsey would win, particularly when ttey saw tlie boxers stripped for battle.

FOUGHT HARD AND VICIOUSLY. But none thought he would have to fight as hard and viciously a* he did. Every ounce of power the man possessed, and everything he knew about the game was exposed before Carpentier kissed the canvas the last time.

As stated in my cablegram to the Referee Dempsey was in dire trouble for a time during Ihe second round. Carpentier caught him on tl-e chin with that famous right of his, which, couched on a level with the shoulder, is delivered from a position whence the right had never before been started by a clever boxer. The force, it. carries is really astonishing.

Dempsey staggered groggily about the ring for awhile. He had been hurt. Further rights, and one or two lefts from the same quarter caused additional harm. The American appeared to be impenetrable to the knockout influence. Carpentier won tho round by a good margin. Many Dempsey men were

looking vr-ry serious, so much did Carpentier’s superiority appear io loom beyond wn.lt the champion had done. Thrills had so far been frequent and great. America’s confidence in her son was rudely shaken. The stock of Franco rose correspondingly.

Carpentier placed the first blow in the initial round. This maddened Dempsey, wi'o promptly forced things. Carpentier, equally willing, responded, but at a speedier rate. He was wild in his deliveries. Dempsey made heavy play in the clinches with short-anm punches. Roof-lifting, yells marked the fact'that the American had drawn first blood. A grazing wallop on the side of the nose did it. Soon the Frenchman was almost driven through the ropes by the weight of the American’s rush. Dempsey won the opening honors pretty well all through. Ho appeared to rough and shake the Frenchman as he willed. CARPENTIER TOE TO TOE. During the second round, which 1 have already referred to, Carpentier stood up to his man, casting aside his defensive, runaway methods of tte first round. He stood toe to toe and fought. Such a remarkable recovery did he effect that partisan shouts in t thousands were heard encouraging him to go on and win there and then. So speedy were his attacks, especially those with the right hand, that their delivery was not generally followed by the eye. Only the effect could be seen by most people.

Still Dempsey’s ruggedness and greater weight appeared almost insurmountable obstacles.

The third was one man’s round. Carpentier suffered a terrible time. The drubbing he received broke his skill up very much. Ho leaped and side-stepped, and when he let a punch go in most oases he hit the atmosphere.

Not half the fourth and final round was gone when the finish arrived. Carpentier had been mostly on the defensive. He reeled out of a clinch. Small blood clots were seen about hit face. He missed with both hands. Dempsey went after him, Carpentier retreated before the charge for the purpose of pulling himself together. Dempsey stepped forward and hooked his right to an open and already plainly daunaged jaw. Carpentier slid down along the ropes in a heap. At nine the Frenchman rose, plainly beaten. Only fighting instinct sustained him. He made a wild rush in the hope of achieving 1 something decisive. Dempsey, waiting and watching saw his chance. Moving close, wit!' the speed of a cat, he delivered a right to the jaw and followed on with a couple of solid punches to the body. Down went Carpentier, apparently half conscious. He lifted himself almost to his haunches and flattened out again, completely done. 'lHie count had now gone half its allotted length. Meanwhile Dempsey stood off, | wearing a satisfied air. He knew well that IJttt WOTU WM WSjlStb