[GIF] Dempsey batters Willard

I suspect that what made a good story on the 5th was toned down greatly by the 8th. There were even printed reports of Willard's death which quickly needed to be retracted.

He got blitzed, not a long sustained beating but blitzed. Hell, he did alright in the 2nd and 3rd. The multiplicity of injuries often mentioned do not happen in blitzes, maybe a broken jaw or orbital but no laundry list of injurues. And by September, he wanted another piece of Dempsey.

 

I think viewing the fight is all one need do. The plaster of paris rumors came about (immediately) for a reason. No use get worked up over a difference of opinion. People can choose to believe whatever they'd like. At least this decision doesn't hurt anybody, like other poor decisions people have made recently.

Let's move onto a different argument....

 

It was a horrific beating. Blood everywhere. Fleischer who sat at ringside hundreds of times stated this was the worse beating he ever witnessed. Just LOOK at that huge hematoma covering the side of Willards face. Read the myriad of ringside reports that all attest to the same terrible beating. All this very well documented information and yet there are those who for some strange reason want to alter it.

 

Did he? Strange then that he immediately retired for 4 years!

 

He did according to the reporters who spoke to him in September. But he also had business ventures and seemingly easier pickings for a dollar.

But it does remind one of the Georgie Benton (?) anecdote of his fighter in the dressing room after just getting KO'd, saying, "I want a shot another shot at him" and Georgie replying, "You just just had a shot at him."