European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 18, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Doilis Magazine Jack Dempsey intentionally or unintentionally i was  for Gene Tunney boxing meant the quickest Way to earn a  Dempsey Tunney fight by Steve Wilstein United press International fifty years ago on the night of sept. 22,1927, a Boxer was knocked Down and a stunned nation gasped and howled. History would Mark it As the night of the Long count a controversy that still thrives a half Century later. For those who lived through it however it was a night filled with drama and Romance when All the forces of the crazy rumbling roaring twenties came together before one of the largest audiences in boxing history. Only Charles Lindbergh s daring 33vz-h6ur transatlantic flight in May received More attention from the Amer ican Public that year than this second Battle of the Century Between heavyweight Champion Gene Tunney the fighting Marine and former Champion Jack Dempsey the Manassa  neither babe Ruth s greatest season red Grange s heroics Rene Lacoste s triumphs Over Bill Tilden the first talking motion picture nor the antics of flagpole sit Ting Shipwreck Kelly generated As much anticipation excitement and controversy. The image of the ferocious Black Jawed Dempse glaring Down at a dazed Tunney while referee Dave Barry delayed his count about five seconds until the former Champion went to a Neutral Corner remains vivid in sports history Frozen in time by photo graphs and memories. Fifty million people nearly half the . Population gathered in each other s Homes to listen to the voice of Graham Mcnamee broadcasting through the Ether wastes from ringside at Soldier Field in Chicago. At the huge stadium on the shores of Lake Michigan that Cool Cloudy thursday night the crowd was de scribed by one ringside As seeming like a monster in some fantastic fable a creature with 150,000 roaring and screaming throats and 300,000 glistening  they Are old men now Dempsey 82, and Tunney 79, living in new York. Their fists Are still legally registered As lethal weapons but their hands Are gnarled by arthritis and Blotchy with age spots. Tunney once ran backwards several Miles a Day now he leans heavily on his Cane and holds the hand of the Man who takes care of him faithfully Jim Lebetz. Dempsey took some hard knocks in his time blew a few fortunes and knew a few women but like the instinctive fighter he was in the ring he always seemed to Bounce Back swinging. He lives comfortably now with his fourth wife Deanna whom he married in 1958. Dempsey moves a Little slower these Days not quite the Hollywood Cut up or Broadway Bon vivant he once was having recently recovered from a slight stroke. But his face still bears that sullen shadowy countenance the famous Dempsey scowl that added an extra dimension to the fear he struck so Many years ago when he seemed the most powerful Man on Earth. They still see each other occasionally at a luncheon or special affair if they re feeling up to it but Public events for either Are increasingly rare. Yet each time they come together Young and old Pat them on the Back Call them Champ and ask what really happened on continued on Page 10 sunday september 18, 1977 championship tale of age weight height reach Chest Normal Chest exp Waist biceps forearm thigh calf neck wrist ankle the tape Tunney Dempsey 29 32 189 /2 192w 6-t/2 6-1 76 /2 77 41 40 /2 44 44% 34 33 14 14 /2 13 /2 13 23 22 16 15v2 17 16v2 9 9 8 9 the stars and stripes Page 9