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Show - I f I n"f " '' , . . i tl - mfr- - 1 Tunney is floored! But he will get 18 seconds ' - ' -- -- mOLt I world has been good to me on the canvas, stunned; break-OJiJthatngCLaun- tL" then came the historic "long count" which cost the author 1 the championship but won him a lifetime off so I'm a little in my er surprised when some Broadway restaurant reminisces and says, "You .really got a tough What long count? What bad break? I know what they're talking about the best thing that ever happened to me! The best thing. On Sept. 22, 192732 years ago next week by the way a young boxing stylist named. Gene Tunney stopped me from becoming the to regain the heavyweight title. fighter in history v It was a famous fight because sports "writers claimed Tunney was favored by a "long count" after I knocked him down in the seventh round. rs offer sympathy year after So these "what and lament about might have been." year Well, I know "what might have been" and it mirisn't all what they see in their lose rors reflecting the past, I didn't the, fight because of a "freak"; Gene Tunney whipped me. , What happened was this: a new rule had been passed which stated that after a knockdown the referee would not start the count until the standing fighter was in a neutral corner. Previously we had stood oveKa fallen opponent waiting for him to rise so we could batter him again. A fighter is conditioned to fight on instincts that he develops over the years. I delayed the count by ' standing near my opponent. Losing the heavyweight championship of the world, especially after being champ for seven years, wasn't easy to take. But, in retrospect, I've got good reason for calling that moment the best thing that, ever happened to me. At best I didn't have long to go when I fought Tunney. I don't say this to take anything away from Gene; his record as an undefeated heavyweight championspeaks for itself. What's moire, I can't honestly say I would have whipped him if., we had fought when I was in my prime-- 4t would have been a great fight, though! This much I do know for certain: even if I had regained my title that night, some other well-wish- fame well-wishe- rose-color- ed Jack was schooled to stand over opponent, as here with Firpo. Habit took seconds to break but cost him a title. Jf if 1 I 1 iT"""" T I! .H . . Family Weekly, September 12, 1959 - ., Ml II M moments for hinrand Dempsey. tojcjover--decisiv- e The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me Gene Tunney Sprawled JT by Jack Dempsey youngster would have come along soon to lift it. After all, Gene had Bone it in our firsChout when I was a year younger and without benefit of a controversial "long count." Now I'm in business where small things often make the difference between success and failure. People like to remember me as the guy who "knocked out" the champ and lost. If I had defeated Tunney and he had then beat me m the inevitable rubber bouta -- likely- possibility considering my aging legs I would have been just another champ who lost his title to a better man. There would have been no drama and, conceivably, fewer satisfactions for me afterward. People come to see me because that "long count" made me more famous than I ever would have been if the record books simply read: sey over Tunney by KO. ask me about the night Some guests flailing right hand catapulted me through " the ropes and right out of the ring. Others ask if I really broke Jess Willard's jaw with my first punch and three of his ribs with my second. But most of them want to know about thatXthing with Tunney." They want to know everything about it; whether he was really "out" or just ta ihg advantage of the extra time, why I didn't nail him in the next round, etc. I tell them what I'm telling you. That was probably the last solid haymaker I connected with. I could feel the familiar electric jolt right up to m shoulder as my gloved fist made contact with bone. Afterthat the cupboard was bare, and I knewv it. All of us like to be remembered, and I'm no ex- ception. Yes, people, wcmld haye)remembered me even without the "long count" but not as part of an American legend. So that's the real story. We live a lifetime, not a single episode. It would have been great to win 1 my title back that night. Instead I had to learn to be a loser It was quite a lesson, too. It taught me that defeat and disappointment can be blessings in 'disguise. -- . , -- |