[JCWeb]

The Oct 28 Cow Palace fight card continues until the co-feature which matches unbeaten prospect Jack Dempsey with the 18th ranked HW, veteran Carl Morris, one of the Great White Hope HWs, whose 21-6 (12) record includes wins over Luther McCarty, Denver Ed Martin, Al Palzer, John Lester Johnson, and Colin Bell. However, two recent KO losses to top 10 contenders Frank Moran and Harry Wills have caused Morris' stock to decline, and Dempsey is favored against a very tough opponent.

Round one, Dempsey controls the action, moving in behind a solid combination. The Manassa man follows up with a hook and a jab, moving in to cut the ring off. A straight right hand is blocked by Morris, but Dempsey staggers Morris right before the bell with a strong right hand. Solid start by Dempsey.

Second round and Dempsey is the clear aggressor, picking off a Morris jab and scoring with a cross of his own. He then unloads with a straight right, a hard cross and a hook to the head -- staggering Morris. Morris is trapped in a corner and Dempsey hones in with a devastating cross. A volley of punches leaves Morris hanging on. Dempsey misses with a roundhouse left just as the bell sounds.

Round three, Morris starts well, landing a cross and a combination, ducking under a big right by Dempsey. Dempsey pursues his man and nails Morris with a right hook. A stunned Morris covers up and clinches to try to last the round. Dempsey works his way inside, lands two quick jabs, causing swelling around the left eye of Morris. Dempsey scores with a solid uppercut to end the round.

Both men seem willing to mix it up on the inside in round four, and Dempsey pushes Morris against the ropes but is off target with his punches. Morris lands a hook to the head but Dempsey keeps moving forward. Dempsey is telegraphing his punches, and the bell sounds after a good round for Morris.

Round five, Morris is the aggressor while Dempsey elects to stay on the outside. Dempsey scores with a jab, and the swelling around Morris' eye worsens. Then Dempsey unleashes a barrage of punches and Morris goes down! After taking an 8-count, Morris arises to face Dempsey's killer instinct with a full minute and a half left in the round. Dempsey is wild with the left, connects with a hook to the body, then a left hook and a right hook, but Morris manages to barely hang on to last another round.

Dempsey seems to be looking for the knockout in round six, but a wary Morris is more defensive-minded. Dempsey takes a Morris cross to the chin as he works his way inside, where he find the range with a straight right that staggers Morris. Dempsey follows up right another right and a crushing uppercut that again has Morris barely hanging on.

For the second time in 18 bouts, Dempsey is forced to go past the sixth round. This time he seems determined to keep the KO streak alive, hurting Morris early in the round with a big uppercut. Then a left hook to the body has Morris clutching and grabbing while gasping for air. A Dempsey jab gets through and a nasty cut appears above the right eye of Morris. A three-punch combo staggers Morris, followed by an uppercut that snaps his head back, and Morris crumples to the canvas. Morris arises but is on shaky legs and it doesn't take much longer for the ref George Siler to waive it off. Dempsey by TKO at 2:45 of round 7.

The win moves Dempsey's record to 18-0, all by KO, and 786 pp. Jack is now knocking on the door of the top 10 in the HW ranks, moving up to #11, and another bout is in the offing for December of 1916.