[JCWeb]

June 23, 1917, Los Angeles CA -- Unbeaten Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney appear in separate bouts in an action-packed card. Dempsey is in the co-feature bout taking on Homer Smith for the vacant USBA HW title, his first try for a title belt. Tunney moves up to his first 10-round bout in the LH division. Tunney is up first.

Tunney's opponent is veteran TC Hank Newhart who has a 11-21 (only 2 KO) career record and is definitely on a career downslide, having lost his last 11 in a row. Tunney enters with a perfect 9-0 (9) mark, and he looks sharp early, scoring with a cross and a right hand. Newhart misses with a roundhouse hook, sneaks in a right, then Tunney takes charge with a cross and an uppercut, then Newhart clinches and survives the initial round. Round two, Tunney establishes the jab, Newhart misses with a hook, then Tunney takes advantage and lands a hook of his own and Newhart is hurt. Tunney lands a straight right, two body shots, following up with an uppercut, and by now it's clear that Newhart can no longer fend for himself, and it goes to Tunney by TKO at 2:28 of round 2.

The win moves Tunney's record to 10-0 (all by KO), worth 486 pp as he remains the top young prospect in the LH division right now.

Dempsey follows a few bouts later in the USBA title clash versus Smith, who enters with a 14-3-1 (5) mark, good to be ranked just outside the top 20. Smith has been stopped just once, by Albert Pooley, and enters the bout with a MD win over Charley Weinert. The bout is set for 12 rounds, and it is the first title contest for both men.

Round one, Dempsey pins Smith in the corner, connects with a big uppercut and follows up with a strong shot that puts Smith on the canvas. Smith rises at the count of 8 and successfully covers up to last the round. Round two, Dempsey is looking to finish Smith, who tries to stay away from the heavy blows. Dempsey scores with a lead right, moves inside and lands an uppercut, and then he rocks Smith with a combination right before the bell. Round three, Dempsey presses the attack and lands a 3-punch combo that has Smith on the defensive. Smith sneaks in a hook to the body, then another barrage by Dempsey, but Smith lasts the round. Round four, Smith elects to mix it up with Dempsey, scores with a right hand, Dempsey backs up clinches, goes for a double jab but, on balance, it's Smith's best round of the fight. Round five, an all-out attack by Dempsey, who breaks down Smith's defenses with a jab, an uppercut, a cross, then follows with a devastating hook and another 3-punch combination right before the bell. Unofficial cards have it 49-45 for the Manassa Mauler after the first five rounds.

Round six, both men elect to work on the inside. Dempsey gets there first, firing a cross followed by a straight right hand. Smith tries to fire a volley in reply, but Dempsey seizes the initiative and lands a right cross followed by a hook to the body. Another barrage by Dempsey and ref Fred Hernandez steps in to save Smith from further punishment.

Dempsey by TKO at 2:44 of round 6, and he now is USBA HW champ. After just three years as a pro, his record is now 21-0-1 (21 KOs) with 906 pp which is good for the #9 spot in the HW rankings.