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| Bismarck Tribune, 05-July-1923 |
100 years ago today, on 04-July-1923, heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey met challenger Tommy Gibbons in a Montana oil town named Selby. Selby officials made a huge guarantee to the champ and built an arena. Almost everyone expected Dempsey to KO Gibbons about mid-way through the 15 rounds. Just before the fight, a huge number of people without tickets crashed through the fence and watched the fight for free. Gibbons suprised everyone by lasting 15 rounds. Dempsey won the decision. The town of Selby lost a pile of money and Dempsey received only a fraction of his guarantee. Selby currently has a population of about 600.
GIBBONS WINS ‘MORAL VICTORY’
SHELBY GOES
WILD WHEN
STAYS ROUTE
St. Paul Boy Is Receiver of
Congratulations; Wants
A Return Match
On the debit side of the ledger this little Montana cow town which had its day yesterday as the fight center of the world, must write down a deficit of approximately $100,000.
It bought the world’s heavyweight championship battle to which 7,2000 persons paid admission. There was an outlay ot $210,000 for the title holder, $20,000 for promotion and $85,000 for the arena.
With the exception of salvage on the huge amphitheater, estimated to be about $25,000, approximately $261,185 in gate receipts from which taxes of $22,118.50 must he deducted, according to figures made public here by Charles Rasmusson, Montana collector of internal revenue, the investment was a dead loss.
Emotionally, for Shelby, the fight was an outstanding success. The town wanted Gibbons to stay with the champion 15 rounds. They saw him do it.
Crash in Arena
Several thousand a few minutes before too fight started "crashed through" the fence surrounding the arena and swelled the attendance at the bout to a total estimated at 25,000. But their presence did not show in the gate receipts.
The earnings of the champion for the light were cut to less than $62,000, Jack Kearns, his manager, collected only $52,000 of the third S100,000 guaranteed his protege after the gate receipts had been turned over to him. Out of this amount he paid for two preliminary bouts at a cost of about S100 and footed a federal tax bill on $75,000 worth of tickets. The discrepancy between the ticket sale total and the amount he received was due to the fact that Kearns sold about 2,320 of the S2O tickets for $lO shortly before the bout, as a crowd of several thousand, apparently adverse to paying regular prices, surged against the gate barriers and the fence surrounding the arena.
Gibbons Congratulated
Tom Gibbons, defeated, but winner of a moral victory nevertheless in Ino eyes of Shelby which celebrated hilariously last night, will return to St. Paul, his home, with his wife and three small children tonight or early tomorrow. He was given a mighty ovation by the townspeople. As he left the ring a war cap of Indian feathers was pushed on his head and his seconds fought desperately to keep down the shouting, congratulating fans as he was rushed to his quarters. His wife, awaiting his coming, greeted him with a kiss when he returned home. Last night he celebrated Independence Day by shooting off fire crackers for the edification of his boys and greeting scores of friends who called to congratulate him on his showing against the champion.
Gibbons offered no alibi for his defeat hut declared he desired a return match.
DEMPSEY HOLDS
CHAMPIONSHIP;
GETS DECISION
Challenger Tommy Gibbons
Puts Up Good fight for
Fifteen Round Bout.
FIGHTERS TALK
SHELBY, Mont., July 5. -- Gibbons said: "We want a return fight with Dempsey. This fight gave me an insight into his fighting and I know what I can do against him if I fight Dempsey again. I will fight him differently."
Dempsey said: ‘In a way I am disappointed with the result; I think I won clearly enough to dispel any doubt on the decision. I felt sure when I entered the ring I could knock Gibbons out. While I am disappointed I want to express my admiration for Gibbons and the bout he put up."
DECISION TO DEMPSEY
RINGSIDE, Shelby. July 5. -- Jack Dempsey, world's heavyweight champion, was awarded the decision at the end of the fifteen round bout yesterday afternoon, over Tommy Gibbons, in one of the most surprising and upsetting heavyweight matches in years.
Gibbons was on his feet, apparently very tired and holding on desperately, when the fifteen round battle ended.
The result was distinctly a surprise as Dempsey was an overwhelming favorite, in the meagre betting, to win by a knockout, within six or seven rounds.
The game Gibbons astonished his most ardent admirers by carrying the fight to the end, hitting Dempsey in some rounds and out boxing him in spots.
Dempsey outslugged Gibbons and landed the hardest punches.
The newspaper experts at the ringside gave Gibbons a shade in rounds 5, 11 and 12 while Dempsey was out in front in the remaining 12 rounds.
Referee Dougherty did not hesitate a minute before raising Dempsey’s right hand, claiming him a winner.
The result was a surprise to Jack Kearns.
Despite police protection the crowd quickly swarmed into the ring pounding Gibbons on the back and throwing their hats into the air. Gibbons smiled broadly at the friendly demonstratlon while the champion had his gloves removed.
Gibbon’s weight was 175 1/2 pounds,
Dempsey's weight was 188 pounds.
They entered the ring at 3:30 o'clock., Rocky Mountain time.
MEN ENTER RING
Dempsey entered the ring at 3:30 o'clock and was given an uproariouis reception. Jack Kearns was in charge of Dempsey's corner. Mlke Grant shielded the champion with an umbrella while the camera men began making pictures.
Gibbons entered the ring five minutes later and was accorded a more deafening reception than the champion. Gibbons walked over to Dempsey's corner and shook hands whlle the gloves were being adjusted.
Referee Dougherty stood in a neutral corner.
FIGHT BY ROUNDS
ROUND ONE -- The fighters shook hands and clinched after Dempsey hooked a left to body. Dempsey landed three lefts to body and right to head. Dempsey shot straight lefts to Gibbons’ face and backed away, Dempsey swung left to jaw forcing Gibbons' retreat Gibbons hooked light left to head and repeated. Dempsey hammered Gibbons about body with short rlghts and lefts. In clinch Gibbons’ mouth was bleeding. Gibbons hooked left to jaw and shot over a right. In clinch Dempsey jogged Gibbons with a right uppercut. Referee broke them and Dempsey missed right to head.
ROUND TWO -- Gibbons was short with left and they clinched. On the breakaway Dempsey tried left to head. Gibbons clinched. Dempsey pounded Gibbons back of head nailed him with left and right on breakaway. Gibbons held Dempsey’s arms in clinch to protect body. Gibbons hooked left to chin, cutting Dempsey's right eye. Dempsey brought right to Gibbons’ stomach. Gibbons missed a right. Gibbons hooked solid left to head. Dempsey retaliated with the same punch. Gibbons dodged to left then clinched, then bell rang.
ROUND THREE -- Dempsey drove right and left to body. Gibbons clinched. Dempsey repeated, then hooked Gibbons with left forcing him into a clinch. Gibbons feinted, then backed away. Dempsey short with left but connected with right. Gibbons landed two lefts and swung right to jaw. Dempsey short with left. Dempsey laced right and left to body. Gibbons pounded Dempsey's stomach. Dempsey swung hard right to Gibbons’ stomach then landed another in the same spot. Gibbons swung right to jaw as the bell rang.
ROUND FOUR -- Dempsey hooked left to stomach. Gibbons clinched. Dempsey punched him around head with rights and lefts. Gibbons hacked into a corner; they clinched; Dempspy hurt Gibbons with body punches. Dempsey kept pounding Gibbons in the back of head in the clinches. Dempsey took left hook back of ear; Dempsey shot right into body. Gibbons took hook on forehead and clinched. Dempsey landed solid left. Gibbons booked left to jaw and right to head. Dempsey hurt him severely with short body punches. Dempsey bleeding from old wound over the left eye.
Crowd Cheers Gibbons
ROUND FIVE -- Dempsey missed a left to the body as they fell into a clinch. Gibbons poked two lefts to the head. Dempsey missed a left and Tom clinched. Gibbons hooked two lefts to the head and the crowd cheered. Gibbons landed a third left without a return. Dempsey rocked the challenger with a right hand to the head and nailed him with a solid right to the jaw forcing him to clinch, Gibbons danced awav forcing Dempsey to follow him. Tom poked a left to Dempsey’s face. Dempsey landed a right to the body and Gibbons a left to the eye. Dempsey shot a left to the head and Gibbons did the same thing. Gibbons hooked a left to Dempsey's eye.
ROUND SIX -- Dempsey’s left was short in the clinch and Referee Dougherty was forced to go between them. Gibbons danced away from Dempsey’s leads. In the clinch Dempsey hit Tom on the chin with short rights. Gibbons ducked a left and his head went through the top rope of the ring. Dempsey pulled him back and the crowd booed. They tried lefts to the head before clinching. Gibbons missed a left in the clinch and pounded his foe on the hack of the head with the rabbit punches. Dempsey hooked right and left to the body. Jack shot a left to the body. Gibbons nailed the champion with a left soak to the chin when the round ended.
Gibbons Weakens
ROUND SEVEN -- Dempsey drove a right to the body and a left to the jaw. As Gibbons came in the champion hooked him with a right to the chin. Gibbons hung on and backed away after the breakaway. Dempsey swung another right to the jaw, and Gibbons hooked him with a left at close quarters. Giltbons ducked a left to the head. He backed away from a hard right swing. In the clinch Dempsey kept hooking right and left to the challenger’s body and head. Gibbons backed into the ropes to escape punishment. He appeared to be weakening under Dempsey’s savage body attacks.
ROUND EIGHT -- Gibbons missed two lefts and Dempsey hooked a left to the chin. In the clinch, they exchanged punches to the head. Gibbons whipped over two lefts to the head. Dempsey drove a right to the body and a left to the head. Dempsey landed a left to the head and Gibbons smashed the champion with a left to the chin. He nailed Jack to the same spot in a clinch. Dempsey smashed Gibbons with a left jab. Tom backed into the ropes and hooked Dempsey high on the head with a left. Gibbons swung a right to Jack’s chin. As they clinched Dempsey brought short rights and lefts to Tom's face.
Jack Can't Find Tom
ROUND NINE -- Dempsey feinted and Gibbons backed away falling into a clinch. Jack was short with a left. Tom danced away from a left hook and exchanged lefts with Dempsey. Gibbons landed a light left to the body ns they came together. The elusive Gibbons was getting to be a tough target for the champion. Jack hooked a left to the nose and Gibbons drove a left to Dempsey’s chin as they clinched. Dempsey hooked two lefts to the head. Gibbons swung two lefts and a right to Dempsey’s head. They exchanged lefts. Dempsey drove Tom into the ropes under a bombardment of lefts and rights. Gibbons hooked the champion with a right and left to the head and then dug his left into the champion’s stomach.
ROUND TEN -- Gibbons landed light left to the head. Dempsey hooked his left twice to Toni’s jaw forcing him to back away. Jack drove him into the ropes with jarring punches to the head. Dempsey was wild with a left hook but crashed a right to the body, making Tom clinch. Gibbons sunk a right into the champion’s body and received two lefts to the head. A third left just grazed Tom’s chin. Dempsey missed a right but landed with a left to the head. Gibbons was short with a left and had the champion backed into the ropes ready for a right swing when the bell stopped them.
Jack Uses Rabbit Punches
ROUND ELEVEN -- Gibbons ducked a left to the head. He swung a light left to Dempsey’s head. He nailed Jack with a left hook to the chin and received three lefts to the body and head in return. Gibbons backed away from Dempsey’s left lead and swung three lefts to the head. Dempsey hooked him with two left uppercuts. The champion missed a right and brought over another left uppercut to the chin. Gibbons ran into the corner and around the edge of the ring to escape. They traded lefts to the head. Dempsey missed a right and received left to the head. Gibbons shot two lefts to the head as they clinched.
ROUND TWELVE -- Gibbons tried to feint with a left and they clinched. They exchanged punches to the body at close range. Gibbons danced away from a left hook. Dempsey missed a right to the head but hooked over a left to the head. Gibbons backed away from a left and in the clinch Dempsey hammered him on the back of the neck with rabbit punches. Dempsey drove a right to the body and hooked the challenger with a left to the head as they clinched. Dempsey missed a left to the chin, but jarred the challenger with a sharp left to the jaw. Breaking away from a clinch Gibbons swung a right and left to the champions jaw.
Dempsey Forces Fighting
ROUND THIRTEEN -- Gibbons backed away from Dempsey’s lefts and Dempsey’s leads and clinched. Jack drove two lefts to the head and received a left in return. Dempsey held Gibbons in a clinch, punishing him with jolting rights and lefts to the head. Jack missed a right but rocked Tom with a right to the chin. Gibbons swung a left to the head. Dempsey was short with a right to the body. Dempsey nailed Gibbons with a right to the jaw. Dempsey’s right was short to the head and Gibbons sent a right and left to the body. He found Dempsey’s nose with a right and left and backed away.
ROUND FOURTEEN -- Dempsey came with his crouch and they clinched. Gribbons ducked a left and the champion drove a right to the body. Jack chased Gibbons around the ring without landing a punch. Dempsey hooked sharply to the jaw but missed his second left hook to the same spot. Dempsey continued in forcing the fighting with Gibbons clinching at every opportunity. They clinched. Gibbons hooked a left to the head and Jack jarred him with a swinging left to the chin. Gibbons beat Dempsey to the punch, hooking over right and left to the head. Dempsey backed into a corner momentarily but came out fighting and fell into a clinch in the center of the ring.
Gibbons Clinches at Bell
ROUND FIFTEEN -- The crowd began throwing scat cushions into the air. They shook hands in the middle of the ring. Dempsey missed a left to the body. They clinched. Gibbons backed away, covering up from Dempsey’s onslaught. Dempsey hooked a left high to the head and backed Gibbons into the ropes in a clinch. Dempsey hooked two lefts to the head. Dempsey missed a right swing to the head. Gibbons persisted in clinching and when free ran away from the champion. Dempsey swung two lefts and a right to the head. Gibbons ducked a right to the head. Gibbons covered up to evade Dempsey’s rushes. Gibbons was tiring quickly, and seeking protection of clinches from Dempsey’s vicious rights and lefts to the head as the bell sounded, ending the round and the fight.
TOMMY GIBBONS TOO CLEVER TO
BE KNOCKED OUT BY DEMPSEY
Ringside, Shelby, July 4. -- Jack Dempsey, world’s heavyweight champion was awarded a fifteen-round decision over Tommy Gibbons, St. Paul challenger, in one of the most surprising upsets in a heavyweight match in years. Gibbons was on his feet, apparently very tired and holding on desperately when the fifteen round battle ended.
The result was distinctly a surprise as Dempsey was an overwhelming favorite in the meager betting to win in six or seven rounds. The game Gibbons astonished even his most ardent supporters by carrying the fight to the hard hitting Dempsey in some rounds and out boxing him- in spots. Dempsey outslugged and landed the hardest punches, always trying desperately to whip over a knock out punch. When the battle ended Gibbons was tired and rapidly fading from the cruel punishment Dempsey inflicted around the body. The challenger hung on constantly in the fifteenth round to avoid a knockout punch.
A tabulation of newspaper experts at the ring side gave Gibbons a shade in the fifth, eleventh and thirteenth rounds while Dempsey was out in front in the remaining twelve. The result was evidently a surprise to Jack Kearns, manager of the heavyweight Champion, who stuck his head between the ropes after the fight and shouted to the newspaper correspondents at the ring side:
"It was a nice fight, wasn’t it, Gibbons is a good man."
Referee Dougherty did not hesitate a minute before raising Dempsey’s right hand proclaiming him the winner. Gibbons, his face smeared from bleeding lips and a bruised nose, quickly extended his hands to the champion and trotted to the corner, where he received a deafening ovation.
Despite the police protection the crowd quickly swarmed into the ring and over into the challenger’s corner, pounding him. on the back and throwing their hats into the air. Gibbons smiled broadly at the friendly demonstration while the champion was in opposite corner having his gloves removed, preparatory to leaving the ring under escort of four Chicago detectives. Dempsey inflicted severe punishment on the challenger in the clinches and at short range, beating him on the back of the head with his famous rabbit punch that jarred Gibbons to his heels.
No Foul Blows
Struck at Shelby
Shelby, Mont., July 5. -- Jimmy Dougherty of Philadelphia, referee of the championship battle, declared tonight that he saw no foul blows struck by either Dempsey or the challenger.
Dougherty said:
"It was a tough assignment for the third man in the ring. Working out there in the sUn trying to separate the men through 15 rounds was action enough for any one single day. But it was a great bout. I don't think anyone will question that. Nor do I think anybody will question the decision. There was no other decision possible. Dempsey was the aggressor all the way and accomplished the most damaging work, earning the majority of the rounds. There were cries that the rules were not observed, but those who yelled at supposed violations did not know the rules which say that the men should protect themselves at all times. As to the cries of low blows, I saw none that struck and I don’t think any one else did."
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