European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 18, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse That sent heavyweight Champion Tunney to the Canvas in title bout 50 years ago. New York Public Library Dempsey finally made it to a Neutral Corner but 5 seconds were lost before ref began count. Out and one minute into the seventh round at 10 34 p.m., everyone watching and listening was stunned As Demp sey unleashed a two listed barrage that caught Tunney unaware and dumped him to the Canvas five feet from Dempsey s Corner. Barry later wrote he Felt a physical Force had swept Down on the three of us from the far reaches of Soldier Field. Maybe it was vibrations. I know not just what to Call it. But some Day if a great Tor rent of water should suddenly strike me i think the effect of that torrent might approximate the Force of that mysterious outside the ring men and women were standing on chairs waving their arms throwing hats in the air and screaming at the top of their voices. Five fans around the country died listening to that seventh round. Two men in Detroit reportedly suffered fatal heart attacks at the moment Tunney hit the stood Over Tunney seemingly waiting to Knock him Down again if he tried to Rise As the forme Champion did against Luis Firpo and other opponents. Either not remembering the relatively new Rul Barry had gone Over just before the fight or not understanding it Dempsey remained Over Tunney Sev eral seconds while Barry held up his count shouted Jack to a Neutral Corner and pointed across the ring. Dempsey in his confusion then went to the Wron Corner and by the time he was in the farthest Neutral Corner virtually foaming with frustration almost five seconds had passed. Barry turned to timekeeper Paul sunday september 18, 1977 Beeler but instead of picking up Beeler s count at five began the count at "one."Barry, acting almost mechanically during All the com motion followed the rules of the Illinois state boxing commission exactly and Tunney who May or May not have been Able to Rise within 10 seconds took advantage of the extra time by remaining on the floor collecting his wits at his manager s suggestion until Barry reached nine. Rising about 14 seconds after being knocked Down Tunney bicycled backwards the remainder of the round while Dempsey chased him Yelling come on and would later remark that Dempsey s anguished plea seemed a silly thing to say to Tunney composed and in command again after the Only Knockdown of his career came Back in the eighth round one of the most furious rounds i heavyweight history. They stood toe to toe and slugged Tunney with the desperation of a Champion who Felt himself slipping and Dempsey with the Newhope of a Man sensing a return to old glories. A whizzing Tunney left hand opened a Cut above Demp sey s right Eye and the blood trickled Down his face and onto his Chest. A Short right caught Dempsey off balance and sent him to the Canvas for the count of one the Only time he was Down in the Dempsey popped right up Tunney easily con trolled the rest of the round As Well As the ninth and 10thto earn another unanimous decision. Several fights immediately broke out in the stands a bettors who had backed Dempsey claimed he had been cheated in the seventh round and said they would await certain Appeal of the decision before paying off. When Mcnamee who had not mentioned a Lon count in his description of the seventh round announced Tunney s Victory Over the radio Estelle Taylor fainted inner hotel room. A factory worker in Detroit died in a heated argument minutes later. Flynn Dempsey s manager could barely contain himself in the dressing room. Red faced and shout ing he demanded an inquiry by the commission. Dempsey first told one writer the Long count was just one of the Breaks of the game but then told another intentionally or unintentionally i was Tunney s Only complaints afterwards were that his hands Hurt from wrapping them too tightly in tape and that Dempsey had repeatedly hit him with illegal Rabbit punches to the Back of the neck and had landed several Low around the world mannered the results and shouted Long count but Grantland Rice who wrote the Page one Story for the new York Herald Tribune which sold then for two cents was one of several chagrined writers who never mentioned anything about a Long count in his Taub now a Peppy 92-year-old and still writing on boxing for ring Magazine sat in the second Row at ring Side As sporting editor for the new York Telegraph and he too neglected to write about the Long count in his first of Tunney s Triumph reached London at 4 47 . And special editions were rushed into print along flee Street. Many american papers carried the full text of Graham Mcnamee s broadcast. The Illinois commission held a hearing the next Day but backed Barry s actions completely and re fused to change the decision. Rickard tried to talk Dempsey into a third fight but the weary 32-year-old refused and soon announced his retire ment from the ring. Rickard tried other investments but lost a Good Deal of Money. On Jan. 6, 1929, Rickard who had been ailing for several Days died As Dempsey held his hand and the Stock Market crashed later that year and the Bottom fell out of the Economy Dempsey like Many others was hit hard. He lost nearly $3 million in a few months. His marriage also began to fall apart and soon ended in , his million dollars in hand defended his title Only once More Kayying Tom Heeney in 11 rounds on july 26,1928 in Yankee stadium. I became a professional fighter because i realized it afforded me the quickest Way to earn a for tune Tunney said after beating Heeney. I have made that Fortune and now that i have it i shall Tunney soon became engaged to heiress Polly Lauder married her in 1929 and spent the next two years Honey mooning around the men of course came to be champions. Some perhaps were greater fighters than either Dempsey or Tunney. But few events in sports history would Ever fit their times so Well As that Battle in Chicago in 1927 Shenall the characters and currents of those whirling frenetic roaring twenties gathered around two boxers at Soldier Field. The stars and stripes Page 11
