Most one sided fight in history?

[McGoorty]

The first thing one discovers when putting this theory under the microscope is that the extent of Willard’s reported injuries have been greatly exaggerated. The report quoted by Pacheco and a few others, is based off a medical report by a man who was not a licensed physician! A reputable physician did not examine Willard after the fight.

Arly Allen who is writing a book on Jess Willard supplied the following Kansas newspaper reports:

A statement was issued after the fight by Jim Byrne "official physician to a local athletic club in Toledo" that Willard had a dislocated jaw, a fractured cheek bone and several "mashed" ribs and that it would be "at least six weeks before Willard is back to normal condition and can move comfortably." This was reported in the Kansas City Times July 8, 1919, p. 10 "Willard's Jaw Dislocated.”

Pacheco and other reporters based the extent of Willard’s injuries off of this widely distributed report by Byrne who was not a physician. However it soon turned out that Jim Byrne was not a doctor, but was rather a "rubber" in a bathhouse in Battle Creek, Michigan. According to the reporter in an article, "Willard's Jaw is All Right," Kansas City Star, July 8, 1919, p.11, Byrne "doesn't know a nickel's worth about the human anatomy."

Other reports also make it clear that Willard was not as severely injured as has been claimed. An interview by a reporter from Kansas City on July 5, 1919, "Jess Refuses to Alibi," Kansas City Star, July 6, 1919, p. 14, the day after the fight, showed that "aside from the swelling on the right side of his face, which is under cold applications, he was none the worse apparently for his encounter with Dempsey."

In an interview on July 7, the Kansas City Times announced that Jess and his wife were leaving Toledo and driving their car back to Lawrence, Kansas that day. His condition seemed to be fine. "The swelling over his left eye had entirely disappeared and the only mark he bore was a slight discoloration over the eye and a cut lip." ("Willard starts for Home," Kansas City Times, July 8, 1919, p.10).

Another reporter interviewed Jess in Chicago on his way home. "Hello, Jess" said the reporter, "How do you feel ?" "Hello," said Willard, "I'm feeling great. Would you like to spar a few rounds ?" (Kansas City Star, July 10, 1919, p. 10).

Later, according to a reporter for the Topeka Daily Capital, July 16, 1919, p. 8, who interviewed Jess when he got back to Lawrence, "The ex-champion didn't have any black eye, nor any signs that he was injured in any way."


If one's jaw was broken in 13 places it would be practically impossible to speak and give a post fight interview. But Willard clearly did. The July 5, 1919 NY Times quotes Willard as saying, "Dempsey is a remarkable hitter. It was the first time that I had ever been knocked off my feet. I have sent many birds home in the same bruised condition that I am in, and now I know how they felt. I sincerely wish Dempsey all the luck possible and hope that he garnishes all the riches that comes with the championship. I have had my fling with the title. I was champion for four years and I assure you that they'll never have to give a benefit for me. I have invested the money I have made." Willard not only gives a lengthy interview but refers to his condition as only "bruised" and says he had put others in the same conditon he was in.

Joe Chip, who rode with Willard in a car back to their camp after the fight, backs up the fact that the extent of Willard’s injuries is not so severe as has been reported. Chip said, July 5, 1919 Youngstown Telegram, "Willard was not beaten up so badly. His right jaw was pretty well bunged up but not broken. His right eye was closed and his stomach was red, but this was nothing. He lost no teeth and so far I did not see anything about his condition to warrant the services of an ambulance -even though he was whipped to a frazzle."

A couple days later Chip reaffirmed his statement, July 7, 1919 Youngstown Telegram, "The report that several teeth had been knocked out is untrue. Jess was cut in the lip, also under the right eye. Dempseys body punches did no harm."

Historian Steve Compton who submitted the Youngstown, Ohio reports commented, "The only people who ever said anything about Willards injuries knew nothing about the fight. Chip wasnt a friend of Willards and other than being an employee for the duration of the fight he had no other ties to Willard. I have never seen a contemporary account by anyone from the Willard camp as to the severity of his injuries which have become commonly quoted today. Joe Chip was a sparring partner for Willard, and other than that had no relationship whatsoever to Big Jess. The statements were all made within days of the fight."

All of these reports seem to contradict the common modern descriptions of Willard having lost 6-8 teeth, suffered multiple jaw fractures, a fractured eye socket, a broken nose, and broken ribs.

I actually really enjoyed that read mate.......... Willard was a tough guy,.... but if his injuries are exaggerated,.... then so is Willard's toughness is exaggerated......... I never could understand how he lasted two more rounds after suffering such injuries..... He probably would have died from the injuries described. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bert Sugar has to be blamed for the story getting even more mythical,.... Bert reckons Willard had a dent in his skull, now if there is no previous mention of a "Dent".... then has Sugar just made this up ?????...... Bert also said that Willard claimed that no legal glove or man could have done that to him (dent) ????... I still think it's the most one-sided fight I've seen........ although I would say that Steele V Dundee is close to being the worst,,,,,, I lost track of the knockdowns Dundee suffered... does anybody know how many there were ????

[McGoorty]

Of course it was. But I get tired of reading these hyperbolic statements about crushed skulls, eye sockets, teeth, ribs, hearing loss, etc. in and effort to make Dempsey look super human.

You want real hyperbole.... try the Illiad,.... Achilles is better than Superman, I've read the 'Epic Of Gilgamesh",.... and that guy could beat Achilles, Heracles, Samson and 3 lions, one wild boar and defeat a Yeti (the Yeti turned out to be his brother).. all with one hand behind his back......... Or the old testament stuff....... seriously, mankind is good a myth-building.... I am pointing out how long we've been doing it.

[wmute]

I feel Frazier-Foreman was pretty one-sided. Mostly, because Frazier looked like a toy ball. I am surprised no one mentioned it. Is it because it is too short?

[joseph5620]

I feel Frazier-Foreman was pretty one-sided. Mostly, because Frazier looked like a toy ball. I am surprised no one mentioned it. Is it because it is too short?

That's actually as good as any if you're talking about the one sided nature. I wasn't looking at distance and feel Calzaghe's decision over Lacy was as one sided as any one round blow out.

[jabsRstiff]

If we're going with fights that were over quickly, Hearns KO of Duran is one of the most one-sided wipeouts in boxing history that involved two elite fighters.

[McGoorty]

If we're going with fights that were over quickly, Hearns KO of Duran is one of the most one-sided wipeouts in boxing history that involved two elite fighters.

While we are at it, who was the guy that was blown away by Jimmy Thunder, all 15 seconds (or approx) of it ?????????????????,....... It was all Thunder had,.... but it was a chilling KO.

[StarshipTrooper]

While we are at it, who was the guy that was blown away by Jimmy Thunder, all 15 seconds (or approx) of it ?????????????????,....... It was all Thunder had,.... but it was a chilling KO.

Crawford Grimsley. KOed by the first punch thrown.

Poet

[StarshipTrooper]

[jabsRstiff]

While we are at it, who was the guy that was blown away by Jimmy Thunder, all 15 seconds (or approx) of it ?????????????????,....... It was all Thunder had,.... but it was a chilling KO.

That was Crawford Grimsley.

It really wasn't that one-sided before the KO blow....in fact, I think Grimsley's approach to the center of the ring was far better than Thunder's. It's just unfortunate he got caught with that punch, because he was really getting the better of Thunder!

[McGoorty]

Cheers West COASTS C.J. Dennis...............