Originally Posted by JCWeb
December 16, 1916 - New Orleans. LA: Top heavyweight prospect Jack Dempsey faces his toughest test yet as he takes on Ireland's Bartley Madden with a Top 10 ranking at stake, in addition to Dempsey's 18-bout consecutive win streak. Going into the bout, Madden was ranked #10, one spot ahead of Dempsey, with a 21-2-2 (11) career mark. In prior bouts, Madden had narrowly lost to former WBA champ Jack Johnson while holding top contenders Tommy Burns and Otto Flint to draws. Madden had never been stopped and only been down once in his 25 previous bout, so the "Manassa Mauler" has his work cut out for him should he hope to keep his consecutive KO streak alive.
Round one, the bell sounds and Madden is able to stay away from Dempsey in the early going, despite being backed into a neutral corner. Madden lands a solid hook while Dempsey is flailing away. Dempsey finally breaks through with a hook to the head of Madden, but Madden has a slight edge in the opening stanza.
Second round sees Dempsey as the aggressor, pressing the attack on the inside while Madden stays on the outside. Dempsey bangs a right cross to the temple, and Madden lands a hook to the head. Dempsey responds with a series of blows, including a big hook, a combination and then a stinging jab and a right hook to take the round.
Third round, Dempsey again presses forward against the defensive-minded Madden. Madden connects with a jab from way outside, then works his way free from the corner while scoring with an uppercut. Dempsey shoots a jab just before the bell but the edge in the round goes to the Irishman.
Round four, Dempsey is off the stool quickly and hunting for the KO shot. He runs into a short hook from Madden, then Dempsey whiffs with a roundhouse left while Madden is accurate again, landing a cross to score more points. Dempsey looks befuddled as the round goes clearly to Madden.
The fifth round sees a reversal of roles as Dempsey tries his luck on the outside and it is Madden working on the inside. Madden scores with a sharp combination, and a left hook from Dempsey is blocked by Madden's defenses. Madden lands another combination, then doubles up on his hook, and Dempsey once again is on the short end of the score.
For the first time in his career, Dempsey trails on points at the halfway point, by as much as 49-46 according to one ringside expert.
Dempsey is back on the attack in round 6, but there is not much action until a flurry late in the round which sees Dempsey land a crushing cross but Madden is able to follow up with a combination right before the bell.
Round seven, Dempsey is headhunting again, and absorbs a right cross from Madden before landing a three-punch combination followed by a right hand. Madden fights back, landing a hook. The Manassa Mauler presses forward, scoring with an uppercut followed by a cross that gets Madden's attention. It is Dempsey's best round of the bout, but he is unable to follow up and put Madden in greater difficulty.
The eighth round sees Dempsey pressing the attacking, landing a strong cross and following with a devastating uppercut that forces Madden to retreat. Dempsey doubles up on the jab, setting up a sharp combination followed by a cross that staggers his opponent. Another right gets in near the end of the round, another strong one for Dempsey but Madden manages to stay on his feet.
Round nine, both men are tiring from the fast pace of the bout. Dempsey connects with a three-punch combo and follows up with a big left. Then he misses with a jab, but regains control right before the bell to score with a hard jab and an uppercut. Will Dempsey's rally during rounds 7, 8 and 9 be enough to carry the day?
Tenth and final round, and Dempsey looks like he wants to keep that KO streak intact as he sneaks in behind hard jab to start his attack. Madden flings a lead right that is slipped by Dempsey. Madden gets in a right cross, and The Manassa Mauler digs in a couple of body shots. Madden wings a left just before the bell sounds. Bartley Madden has become the first HW to last the distance with Dempsey, but did his early lead hold up? (The unofficial count from the ringside expert had the bout 96-94 for Madden, but several other ringsiders thought Dempsey had done enough in the second half of the bout to pull out the win.)
After an interminable wait, the judge's scorecards are read: 96-94 for Madden, 95-95 even, and then ... 95-95 even, a majority draw! After the bout, Dempsey's career record stands at 18-0-1 (18) with 790 pp, gaining just 4 pp from the draw with the higher-rated Madden.
Jack Dempsey's consecutive win streak and his aura of invincibly is shattered, and going into 1917 his future is a bit clouded, although after one more bout he will reach the Prime of his career stage. A rematch with Madden in February, perhaps?
|