[JCWeb]

Finally, to the first of the year-end reports for 1923. A new HW Champ ...

WBA

Jack Dempsey CH (38-3-1) vs Bill Brennan #5 (31-12)

Dempsey carries an impressive 8-bout win streak (all by KO) into the bout with Brennan, whom he TKO'd in 7 previously. Brennan seems an unlikely challenger, having dropped a UD to George Godfrey his last time out.

In round one, Brennan gets the Champ's attention, staggering the Manassa Mauler with a huge cross. Dempsey covers up and lasts the round. Round two, both swing away from the inside, Dempsey establishes control, dominating the action. Round three, a straight right from Dempsey staggers his opponent, and Dempsey's killer instinct kicks in, proving too much for Brennan, who is out on his feet. TKO in 3 for Dempsey.

Jack Dempsey CH (39-3-1) vs Gene Tunney #4 (27-6-2)

First clash of these two ring giants in my Uni, as Tunney, a former LH Champ and the reigning USBA Champ, is thought to pose a serious challenge to Dempsey. This is one bout that lives up to expectations, so here's a few more details than usual ...

Round one, Dempsey works the jab, and he catches Tunney in the corner with an uppercut and then, late in the round, staggers Gene with a hard shot off the top of Tunney's head. Second round, slick defense by Tunney and Dempsey, working on the inside, can't connect. Both men stay outside in round three, Dempsey fires away with a straight right hand, but otherwise the action is slow to develop, slight edge to the Champ. Fourth round, Dempsey is again stalking Tunney, who connects with a straight right and emerges with a slight edge despite a Dempsey combination that connects near the end of the round. Fifth round, both men move inside, Dempsey backs up Tunney with a huge cross and takes the round with a strong uppercut. The unofficial ringside observer has it 48-47 for the Champ, in a very close bout.
Sixth round, an aggressive Dempsey scores with a big uppercut, followed by a right hand, but Tunney battles back to make it an even round. Round seven, with both men fighting inside, Tunney follows a quick uppercut with a jab en route to a huge scoring round. Dempsey's right eye starts to swell -- this could mark a huge turning point in the bout! Round eight sees some good action, as both men refuse to give ground, and Tunney connects with a left right combination, staggering Dempsey with a solid uppercut to take the round. Round nine, Tunney presses the attack, connecting with a short uppercut, sidesteps a left from the Manassa Mauler, then seals the round with a three-punch combo late in the round. Dempsey is the aggressor in round ten, staggering the Fighting Marine with a big uppercut, followed by a hook. Strong round for the Champ, but by now Tunney is ahead, 96-95, on the unofficial card.
Round 11, Dempsey is back in Tunney's face again, sneaking home a cross, but Tunney uses his jab effectively to pile up points for the rest of the round. Round 12, a frustrated Dempsey is showing signs of tiring, but he rallies strongly to rock Tunney with a straight right, followed by a hook to the head. Tunney stays outside in round 13, nailing Dempsey with a huge uppercut to take the round. Dempsey's swollen right eye has worsened. Round 14, Dempsey can't connect with his haymakers, and Tunney takes another round on points. Final round -- looks like Dempsey needs a KO to keep the belt -- and while he lands a few shots, it's essentially an even round.

After this titanic struggle, the crowd noise subsides as the judge's decision is unanimous -- 145-141 on all three cards, for the new champ, Gene Tunney! Tunney becomes the third LH WBA Champ to move up and capture the HW Title, following in the footsteps of Bob Fitzsimmons and Phila Jack O'Brien.

Gene Tunney CH (28-6-2) vs Paul Samson-Korner #5 (28-5)

For his first title defense, Tunney takes on a rugged customer, the EBU title holder, Paul Samson-Korner. No prior bouts, S-K has won his last six while Tunney is riding a four-bout win streak.

First round, a good start by Tunney. Round two, both stay outside, and Tunney connects with a sharp combination that forces the German challenger to cover up. Samson-Korner is more aggressive in round three, but Tunney outboxes him to easily take the round. Round four, more of the same, as Tunney outclasses his opponent. The fifth round sees Tunney repeatedly connect, until late in the round the ref steps in to save Samson-Korner from further punishment. Tunney by TKO 5 to keep the belt.

Gene Tunney CH (29-6-2) vs Albert Pooley #11 (29-11)

Tunney journeys down under to give a title shot to the New Zealander, Pooley.

Tunney piles up points to build a lead in round one. Pooley moves inside in round two, but Tunney catches him with a strong hook. Finally, in round three, it is over very quickly as Tunney unleashes a barrage of blows to put Pooley away late in the round. Tunney by KO 3.

NABF: Billy Miske starts the year with the belt, but in an action bout, he succumbs to a barrage by Fred Fulton, who pummels the defenseless Miske to score a TKO 5. Fulton then takes on George Godfrey, who turns the tables on Fulton and connects repeatedly to register a TKO 3 win. Godfrey then takes on ex-Champ Harry Wills in a much awaited bout between two of the best black HWs of the 1920s. KDs in rounds 7 and 10, sealed by a third KD in the final round, are enough to result in a surprise UD 12 win for the younger Godfrey.

USBA: In a battle for the USBA belt vacated by Dempsey, Gene Tunney makes short work of Fighting Bob Martin, who walks into a Tunney cross in round one and is counted out. Tunney defends once more, overcoming a strong challenge from Godfrey to take a SD 12 despite suffering a swollen left eye. The belt is vacated once more, and Fighting Bob Martin takes on "Joplin Ghost" Jeff Clarke. A perfect cross lands for Martin to register a KO in round 5 to make him a surprise winner over the veteran Clarke.

CBU: Joe Beckett defends versus South Africa's Fred Storbeck, second meeting of the two (Storbeck won a TKO 10 back in 1915 when both were at Pre). This one is a close bout, with both men on the canvas, but Storbeck takes a UD 12 to wrest the belt. He then defends versus aging Aussie vet Colin Bell, who tires badly before losing via TKO to Storbeck on a late cuts stoppage.

GBU: Beckett retains this belt but makes no defenses in 1923.

EBU: Bartley Madden takes on Samson-Korner, who takes advantage of an early cut to register a TKO 7 win via a cuts stoppage to take the title. He defends it versus Italian Erminio Spalla, this time surviving a cut eye to escape with a SD 12 verdict to retain the title.