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Tunney and Dempsey Fight on Same Card
December 11, 1915 -- New Orleans, LA: Jack Dempsey "The Manassa Mauler" and the "Fighting Marine" Gene Tunney appear on the same card in a jampacked evening of pugilistic excellence featuring such boxing luminaries as Harry Greb ("The Human Windmill'), Abe "Lil Champ" Attell, and Fred Fulton, aka "The Rochester Plasterer." Greb and Fulton, two top prospects who are each 14-0 will be going for their fifteenth wins and a spot in the top 20 rankings of their respective divisions. Lew Tendler, Mike O'Dowd and and Little Jack Sharkey are all appearing on a huge 18-bout card. Attell defends his NABF title in the main event, and Dempsey is scheduled to go 10 in the co-feature/main support bout. Tunney is set for one of the preliminary 6-rounders in what promises to be an action-packed evening.
Tunney is up first, taking on TC Tom Tubner, a LH who enters the bout with a 1-3 career mark. Tubner is a cut above the other TCs Tunney has faced thus far, and as such, he is thought to perhaps offer a stiffer test. The bout is scheduled for 6, but for the third time in three bouts for Tunney, it doesn't last the distance. A vicious hook from Gene puts Tubner down just around the midway point of round one, and Tubner is counted out. Tunney by KO at 1:30 of the first. Tunney's mark is 3-0 (3), 320 pps.
After several other exciting contests, including a 4th round KO by Fred Fulton and an exciting 10-rounder in which Harry Greb thoroughly pummeled a game Zulu Kid, who managed to last the distance despite a fearful beating, the heralded top new HW prospect Jack Dempsey enters the ring to stirring applause from the huge crowd on hand, looking for his 12th successive knockout to start out his career. His opponent is Chet McIntyre, a 2-rated boxer who sports an impressive 9-1-1 (2) mark coming into the bout. McIntyre has a decent chin, going the distance in his only loss, a UD 10 to Homer Smith, who also had him down once in the bout. Should be a good test to see where the "Manassa Mauler" is at this stage of his career.
Dempsey comes in out in round one looking sharp, scoring with a hook to the body and a straight right hand. He follows it up wiht a three-punch combo and then a cross right before the bell that has McIntyre stunned. A solid opening round for Dempsey.
Round two, Dempsey works his way inside, while McIntyre is definitely on the defensive. Jack scores with a hook and a straight right, and McIntyre is shaken but able to fire a hasty jab back in return. Dempsey scores with a cross, takes a step back to follow up with a jab, but McIntyre remains upright despite the barrage from the Manassa Mauler.
Round three, Dempsey rushes in, eager to land a telling blow, scores with a quick hook to the head which doesn't seem to faze his opponent, who keeps punching. Dempsey misses with a few wild shots, takes a few harmless punches, scores with a hook that makes McIntyre wince late in the round.
Round four, as the round starts. for the first time there is noticeable swelling below the left eye of McIntyre. McIntyre trades blows early in the round but is then put on the defensive by another whirlwind attack by Dempsey, who lands a crushing uppercut, then forces McIntyre back against the ropes. McIntyre is visibly tired now, but he manages to lay back against the ropes and hang on to last the round.
Coming out for the fifth, it's clear McIntyre's corner worked hard between rounds to reduce the swelling which is now obvious. Dempsey presses the attack again, landing a big hook to the head. A sharp combination is followed by another right and McIntyre is in trouble. A big left scores for Dempsey, yet amazingly McIntyre survives another round and is still standing. Unofficial card at ringside has Dempsey way ahead, 49-46, with McIntyre winning the third.
Round six, Dempsey presses hard as he strives to keep the KO streak alive. McIntyre stays outside, looking to establish his jab. Dempsey is relentless, and lands a cross that cuts McIntyre just above the right eye. Dempsey follows with an uppercut to head, and finally McIntyre goes down. He gets back up at the count of 8, but his efforts to cover up are futile. Dempsey pins him in the corner, and decks McIntyre with a powerful uppercut. This time McIntyre stays down for the count. Dempsey by KO at 2:33 of round 6. The TB points tracker register an incredible 37 points for Dempsey in the last round!
Dempsey's record moved to 12-0 (all by KO), and 572 pp, with the win. Obviously, stiffer competition and a top 20 ranking are the objectives going into 1916.
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