Dempsey - Carpentier
World heavyweight championship
On July 2, 1921 in Jersey City, a French culminates at the top of the sport at a global event: the world championship heavyweight. Georges Carpentier, the puncher artist, is opposed to the stunner in the Manassa, the impressive Jack Dempsey. This is the first real fight of the century!
More than 80,000 spectators attending this physical opposition, but also style. Dempsey is the favorite, but Carpentier takes to achieve a feat.
For months, Georges Carpentier thinks only belt world champion heavyweight owned by the impressive Jack Dempsey. On November 25, 1920 at Claridge Hotel in New York, the fantasy world champion heavyweight becomes reality. The promoter Tex Rickard asks the two men to sign the contract. The shock Franco-American is set at July 2, 1921 in New Jersey City.

In two months, facing the Manhattan skyline, the matchmaker in New York built a huge wooden octagonal arena, The Boyle 'Thirty Acres, to the size of the event: 210 meters in diameter with a capacity of over 91 000 places.
Since the announcement of the summit, the effervescence at full swing in France. May 20, Carpentier and his "suite" boarded at Havre on the Atlantic Savoie. Descamps, Charles Ledoux, Gus Wilson, Battling Marco (promoted to cook) and the indispensable Paul Day are excited adventurers such as the New World. The band moved to Manhasset to 40 miles from New York.

In Paris, all threads evoke confrontation. Hampered by the importance that took

the duel for his countrymen, Carpentier perspective: "it is only sport!" To escape this mass hysteria, his training camp remains impervious to any visit. Joe Gans and Joe Jeannette terrible, Paul Day relayed to the tasks of sparring. The fight is signed "no decision". To win the Supreme grail, Carpentier should stop taking. If it reaches the end, the battle can not be won by score. The French, who left Georgette and her daughter in Paris, has one goal in mind: to knock the Colossus of Manassa.

For this, it screens the films of the American fighting: "Dempsey is a rock, a great boxer who lacks neither accuracy nor speed. It is far from the gross primary and the press likes to describe. " Yet, with his mask and his gruff manners bear, the king of heavy emits no sympathy. But faced with Carpentier, all America Dempsey finally recognized as its own. Enjoying this momentum, Jack prepares to Atlantic City in a camp open to the public that looks more like a carnival than a place of work.
As in all previous challenges facing the fighters bigger than him, Carpentier has a plan. Its weakness is obviously in its weight and power deficit (1.79 m to 1.85 m against 79.180 kg to 85.730 kg). Brawler shoulders of hewers and the extraordinary extension, the American will throw at him the first few minutes. The feints and cons, including French art has become the master, mobility and punch will be the key to its achievement.
Two days before the meeting, George discovers the ring. It's small. Is it an optical effect in relation to the surrounding bleachers? Descamps measurement: 4.97 m by 6.12 m, just the minimum limits. Sacred Americans! This small space encourages the proliferation of melee and adversely affect the mobility of the French. In addition, the gloves will only be 6 oz. The striking power of the champion will also be an advantage. But can not give up. Dempsey received 300 000 dollars, Carpentier has seen 200,000 (2.4 million in gold francs, or about 6 million euros).

The big day has arrived. A collective passion ablaze France as rarely before. All at a daily dedicate their "fight of the century." Balconies, in the streets, all Paris will head into the air in search of news. Red smoke, Carpentier wins. White Smoke, he was defeated. At 9 am, despite a morning thunderstorm that does not reduce the suffocating heat, the doors of the arena is open. Not to use too many impulses, Carpentier left Manhasset to 13 hours. As a head of state, his car was escorted by six officers. 80,183 paying spectators (including 10 000 women, 570 journalists, including four reporters
French) have taken place. Henry Ford, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks as well as Jim Corbett, Jim Jeffries and Jesse Willard the highest ranking. The box office goes crazy with nearly 1.8 million dollars! No sports event generated so much money. The fight was broadcast live on radio in all the United States. A Gene Tunney provides appetizers coaching.
At 18 hours, knocking on the door of the locker room lights: "It's time!" Amid a sea of ​​humanity hot, noisy cries of miles, Georges Carpentier march to the white square. Surrounded by Descamps and his followers, it seems terribly alone a few minutes to defy the force of the heavy mass of the sovereign. Dempsey, using an old trick, is pending. Preparations (set of gloves and hymns) lasts 25 minutes long. But the palpable power is not dissipated. During the handshake, Dempsey also in white shorts, does not support the eye of the challenger.

First round: bust back, jaw tight and keeps hidden, Jack Dempsey seems prudent. Active, George has no choice. He must take the initiative. He bites his arm forward. Undoubtedly, the American, under the guidance of Kearns, is wary of lightning from Frenchy. Faced with his reach, the distance is hard to find, but the mobility of the challenger wonders. In the second round, Dempsey launches hunt. He goes to use his strength and his terrifying place brackets. But thanks to his sense of anticipation, and against George Dodge. An attack on the champion, he touches a splendid right. Dempsey wobbles! Descamps jumps, "There is!" Champion back for a moment. The famous French right came the face, narrowly missing the chin. Cheekbone in blood, the defending champion of the chain by preventing clashes. Unfortunately, the right thumb of French broke on impact. His best weapon is no longer operational, how to shorten the discussion? The impossible task is complicated.

Early in the third act, George uses his art movements, hoping the pain subsides. It multiplies the left to enforce. But the pressing of Dempsey, who cuts quite the distance increases. Over the second, his power and his work to the body's resistance demolish heavyweight. The difference in weight and velocity is almost inhuman. Proven, Carpentier found his corner like a lull. Descamps fixes in search of confidences. But in style, without a word, George returns to coal. The demolition of the company's stunner

Manassa is still growing. Cornered on the ropes, hammered from all angles, George breaks and eventually slipping knee. Lucid, he gets up in the income 9. Seconds later, a massive left hook hits the heart. Thrown to the ground, it is broke ... KO!
Jack Dempsey retained his belt and is fraternally meet his victim.

Beaten down the Carpentier ring, the crowd applauds U.S.. Huge lighted signs, Place de la Concorde and the Opera House, where thousands of people gathered, announce the fatal news, "Carpentier knocked out in fourth." The foolish hope breaks. Modesty replaces excess of exaltation. If France is crying, her champion was acclaimed overseas.
The New York Tribune and punctuates his story: "In terms of boxing, Carpentier was infinitely superior. A professor of intelligence as her body obeyed with vivacity and elegance to his will. Only the power decided the outcome of the battle. "
Dempsey himself strengthened in his interview: "Carpentier touched me to the second. I was struck a while, but I was lucky that he could double his right. I've never met a boxer as scientific. The slightest mistake in front of him to pay cash. Fortunately, I have not committed a fatal. "

Dempsey - Carpentier
Championnat du monde des lourds
Le 2 juillet 1921 à Jersey City, un Français culmine au sommet du sport lors d’un événement planétaire: le championnat du monde des poids lourds. Georges Carpentier, le puncheur artiste, est opposé à l’assommeur du Manassa, l'impressionnant Jack Dempsey. Il s'agit du premier authentique combat du siècle !
Plus de 80 000 spectateurs assistent à cette opposition physique, mais aussi de style. Dempsey est le grand favori, mais Carpentier a les atouts pour réaliser un exploit.
Depuis des mois, Georges Carpentier ne pense qu’à la ceinture de champion du monde des poids lourds détenue par l’impressionnant Jack Dempsey. Le 25 novembre 1920 au Claridge Hôtel de New York, le fantasme du champion du monde des mi-lourds devient réalité. Le promoteur Tex Rickard pose entre les deux hommes pour la signature du contrat. Le choc franco-américain est fixé au 2 juillet 1921 à New Jersey City.

En deux mois, face aux gratte-ciels de Manhattan, le matchmaker new-yorkais fait construire une colossale arène octogonale en bois, The Boyle’ Thirty Acres, à la dimension de l’événement: 210 mètres de diamètre pour une capacité de plus de 91 000 places.
Depuis l’annonce du sommet, l’effervescence bat à plein régime en France. Le 20 mai, Carpentier et sa «suite» embarquent au Havre sur le transatlantique Savoie. Descamps, Charles Ledoux, Gus Wilson, Battling Marco (promu cuisinier) et l’indispensable Paul Journée sont excités tels des aventuriers du nouveau monde. La bande s’installe à Manhasset à 40 kilomètres de New York.

A Paris, toutes les discussions évoquent l’affrontement. Gêné par l’importance qu’a pris

ce duel pour ses compatriotes, Carpentier relativise: «il ne s’agit que de sport !» Pour échapper à cette hystérie collective, son camp d’entraînement reste hermétique à toute visite. Joe Gans et le terrible Joe Jeannette, relayent Paul Journée aux tâches de sparring. Le combat est signé «sans décision». Pour décrocher le suprême graal, Carpentier doit stopper le tenant. S'il atteint son terme, le combat n’aura pas de vainqueur par pointage. Le Français, qui a laissé Georgette et sa petite fille à Paris, n’a en tête qu’un objectif: mettre KO le colosse de Manassa.

Pour cela, il visionne les films des combats de l’Américain: «Dempsey est un roc, un excellent pugiliste qui ne manque ni de précision, ni de rapidité. Il est bien loin de la brute primaire que la presse aime décrire». Pourtant, avec son masque bourru et ses allures d’ours, le roi des lourds ne dégage aucune sympathie. Mais face à Carpentier, toute l’Amérique reconnaît enfin Dempsey comme sien. Jouissant de cet élan, Jack se prépare à Atlantic City dans un camp ouvert au public qui ressemble plus à une kermesse qu’à un lieu de travail.
Comme lors de tous ses précédents défis face à des combattants plus grands que lui, Carpentier possède un plan. Sa faiblesse réside bien évidemment en son poids et son déficit de puissance (1,79 m pour 79,180 kg contre 1,85 m pour 85,730 kg). Bagarreur aux épaules d’équarisseur et à l’extraordinaire allonge, l'Américain va se jeter sur lui dès les premières minutes. Les feintes et les contres, art dont le français est devenu le maître, la mobilité et le punch seront les clés de son exploit.
Deux jours avant le rendez-vous, Georges découvre le ring. Il est petit. Est-ce un effet d’optique en rapport aux gradins qui l'entourent ? Descamps mesure: 4,97 m sur 6,12 m, juste les limites minimales. Sacrés Américains ! Cet espace réduit favorise la multiplication des corps à corps et nuira à la mobilité du Français. En outre, les gants ne seront que des 6 onces. La puissance de frappe du champion sera également avantagée. Mais impossible de renoncer. Dempsey a reçu 300 000 dollars, Carpentier en a perçu 200 000 (2,4 millions en francs or, soit environ à 6 millions d’euros).

Le grand jour est arrivé. Une passion collective embrase la France comme rarement auparavant. Tous les quotidiens consacrent leur une au «combat du siècle». Aux balcons, dans les rues, le tout Paris sera têtes en l’air en quête de nouvelles. Fumée rouge, Carpentier est vainqueur. Fumée Blanche, il est défait. Dès 9 heures du matin, malgré un orage matinal qui ne réduit pas la chaleur suffocante, les portes de l’arène sont ouvertes. Pour ne pas user trop d’influx, Carpentier quitte Manhasset à 13 heures. Tel un chef d’état, sa voiture est escortée par six agents. 80 183 spectateurs payants (dont 10 000 femmes, 570 journalistes dont 4 reporters
français) ont pris place. Henry Ford, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks mais aussi Jim Corbett, Jim Jeffries et Jesse Willard occupent les premiers rangs. La recette aux guichets s’affole: près de 1,8 millions de dollars ! Aucun événement sportif n’a généré autant d'argent. Le combat est retransmis en direct à la radio dans tous les Etats-Unis. Un certain Gene Tunney assure le hors d’œuvre en encadrement.
A 18 heures, on frappe à la porte du vestiaire tricolore: «It’s time !» Au milieu d'une mer humaine surchauffée, bruissant de milles cris, Georges Carpentier marche vers le carré blanc. Entouré de Descamps et ses fidèles, il paraît terriblement seul à quelques minutes de braver la force massive du souverain des lourds. Dempsey, appliquant un vieux truc, se fait attendre. Les préparatifs (mise de gants et hymnes) durent 25 longues minutes. Mais la palpable électricité ne se dissipe pas. Lors de la poignée de main, Dempsey également en short blanc, ne soutient pas le regard du challenger.

Première reprise: buste en arrière, mâchoire dissimulée et garde serrée, Jack Dempsey semble prudent. Plus actif, Georges n’a pas le choix. Il doit prendre l’initiative. Il pique avec son bras avant. Incontestablement, l’Américain, sous les conseils de Kearns, se méfie de la foudre du Frenchy. Face à son allonge, la distance est difficile à trouver, mais la mobilité du challenger fait merveille. Au 2e round, Dempsey lance sa chasse. Il s’approche pour user de sa force et placer ses terrifiants crochets. Mais grâce à son sens de l’anticipation, Georges esquive et contre. Sur une attaque du champion, il le touche d'une splendide droite. Dempsey vacille ! Descamps bondit: «Il y est !» Le champion recule un instant. La fameuse droite du Français est arrivée pleine face, manquant de peu le menton. Pommette en sang, le tenant du titre l'empêche d’enchaîner par des accrochages. Malheureusement, le pouce droit du français s’est fracturé sur l’impact. Sa meilleure arme n’est plus opérationnelle, comment abréger les débats ? L'impossible mission se complique.

Au début du 3e acte, Georges use de son art des déplacements, espérant que la douleur s’estompe. Il multiplie les gauches pour imposer le respect. Mais le pressing de Dempsey, qui coupe parfaitement la distance, s’intensifie. Au fil des secondes, sa puissance et son travail au corps démolissent la résistance du mi-lourd. La différence de poids et de vélocité apparaît presque inhumaine. Eprouvé, Carpentier retrouve son coin telle une acalmie. Descamps le fixe en quête de confidences. Mais avec panache, sans un mot, Georges retourne au charbon. L’entreprise de démolition de l'assommeur du

Manassa croît encore. Acculé dans les cordes, martelé sous tous les angles, Georges rompt et finit par glisser, genou à terre. Lucide, il se relève au compte de 9. Quelques secondes plus tard, un massif crochet gauche le percute plein cœur. Projeté au sol, il est fauché... KO !
Jack Dempsey conserve sa ceinture et vient fraternellement relever sa victime.

Battu, Carpentier descend du ring, applaudit par la foule américaine. D’immenses panneaux lumineux, place de la concorde et à l’opéra, où des milliers de personnes se sont rassemblés, annoncent la funeste nouvelle: «Carpentier mis KO au 4e». La folle espérance se brise. La pudeur remplace la démesure de l’exaltation. Si la France pleure, son champion est encensé outre-atlantique.
Le New York Tribune ponctue ainsi son reportage: «Du point de vue boxe, Carpentier était infiniment supérieur. Un professeur d’une intelligence telle que son corps obéit avec vivacité et élégance à sa volonté. Seule la puissance a décidé de l’issue de la bataille».
Dempsey lui-même renforce dans son interview: «Carpentier m’a touché au second. J’ai été un moment foudroyé, mais j’ai eu de la chance qu’il n’a pu doubler sa droite. Je n’ai jamais rencontré un boxeur aussi scientifique. La moindre faute face à lui se paie cash. Heureusement, je n’en ai pas commis de fatale».

JACK DEMPSEY AND GEORGES CARPENTIER


CARPENTIER served in the French Flying Corps during the war, but though four years or more were taken from the best of his boxing life, he did not forget how to box. During the "gap" he engaged in no recorded contests, but no doubt did a certain amount of sparring. He had gained weight and lost no ground when the war ended. During 1919 and 1920, he fought five times, knocking out five men, including Dick Smith, Joe Beckett, and Battling Levinsky. Meanwhile, in July, 1919, Jack Dempsey had knocked out Jess Willard in three rounds for the World's Championship, and Carpentier challenged him. . "Jack Dempsey " is a nom de guerre', presumably taken (since there is as yet no copyright in names) from that older Jack Dempsey who began boxing in the early eighties, and lost the World's Middle-weight title to Bob Fitzsimmons, who knocked him out in fifteen rounds in 1891.

The new Jack Dempsey was born in 1895, and his record shows that until the end of 1920 he had fought upwards of sixty contests, fifty-eight of which he won, mainly by knocking his opponents out in the first or second rounds. He weighs 13 stone, and stands just a shade under 6 feet. That is to say, he was a stone and a half heavier than Carpentier; much longer in reach. Dempsey is a very miracle of strength and hardness. It seemed an absurd match. If an animal analogy may be allowed, it was like a young leopard against a gorilla. There are, of course, innumerable accidents in boxing, chance blows and slight injuries which turn the tide of battle, an " off" day, a fault in training; but it may be laid down as a general rule that when character and strength are equal the man with the more skill wins, when skill and strength are equal, character wins, when character and skill are equal, strength wins. So it was now. Both Carpentier and Dempsey were natural fighters, both were scientific boxers, though Carpentier was more skilled than his opponent, both wanted to win, but Dempsey was immensely stronger than the Frenchman.

The contest took place at New Jersey, U.S.A., on July 2, 1921. A very small ring was used, no more than eighteen feet square. The number of rounds was limited to twelve, but it was recognised beyond the possibility of doubt that so many as twelve would not be required to settle the matter.

The moving pictures of the event show Carpentier sitting in his corner, nodding and smiling while his gloves are being put on. His grin is wide. Then with the suddenness of the camera's own shutter, it ceases. For an instant the whole face is still, the mouth closes in thin-lipped anxiety, the eyes are set, and when you see the smile break out again you know that it is deliberate, not spontaneous. In fact Georges Carpentier was acutely nervous. Who, of his size and in his shoes, would not have been ? You have but to glance at the man in the opposite corner, and you shake at the very thought of being in Carpentier's shoes at that moment. Thirteen and a half stone may mean very little; it may mean a hulking fellow who can't hit, let alone take punishment: it may mean a hulking fellow who can hit hard, but who can do nothing else. But the thirteen and a half stone of Dempsey meant a man in perfect condition, who could hit as few men can, who was extraordinarily hard and strong and almost impossible to hurt. Thirteen and a half stone of bone and muscle, not bone and muscle and fat. No fat at all. All hard stuff; not easy rippling muscle like Carpentier's, but very solid and tough and extremely serviceable.

Dempsey had left himself unshaven for several days, so that the skin of his face should not be tender, thereby gaining, besides, a horribly malign appearance. And he scowled, and when the two of them stood up he made Carpentier look a little man. Dempsey was not popular in America owing to his avoidance of military service during the war. Seeing him in the ring, unless the photographic films have lied, he looked the very incarnation of sullen rage and brute force. In private life he is an amiable man, fresh-faced and modest. He had much more than brute force: he was a skilled and terrific basher. Strength for strength, Dempsey could, as you might say, "eat" Carpentier. And they gave rather the appearance of the child and the ogre in the ring. Carpentier seemed unable to defend himself against the shattering onslaught of the American, and there was much clinching in the first round. The smaller man greatly surprised the spectators by going in and fighting at once, instead of trying to keep away and let Dempsey tire himself, which seemed to be the obvious course to pursue. He had not the strength to stop the majority of Dempsey's blows, especially the upper-cuts which came crashing through his guard. He tried the trick of boxing with his chin on the big man's chest, but even so his body suffered the more. It was, as a matter of irrelevant fact, Carpentier who scored the first hits, a left on the face and an upper-cut with the right, neither of which had any effect at all.

During a clinch the champion gave his opponent a dig in the stomach which reduced his strength immediately. This he followed by a hard, very short blow on the back of the head, given whilst Carpentier was holding close. From the position in which two men stand in a clinch, such a blow cannot be given with the whole weight of the body. The glove can travel only five or six inches, and the body's weight cannot in that attitude be swung behind the arm. I have seen in clumsy boxing a man knocked clean out by a blow on the back of the head or neck by an ordinary full swing, aimed for the jaw, which the victim has protected by bringing his head forward, but not far enough forward. But a man of Dempsey's strength can make the short blow a very serious one when frequently repeated : and he repeated it many times on Carpentier. Next he landed on the Frenchman's body with both hands. Emerging from a clinch Carpentier was seen to be bleeding from the nose. Then he swung hard at Dempsey's jaw and missed it. He had done no damage at all yet.

The second round was the most interesting in a very short fight. Carpentier crouched and jumped in with a left and right which landed on the head, but did not hurt the American. Carpentier hit again and missed. They clinched, and Dempsey sent in some more body-blows, pulling his man about the ring as he pleased, so long as he held. Then Carpentier backed away, and for an instant Dempsey's guard was down. The Frenchman halted in his retreat and shot a left hook in at the jaw. It was beautifully timed, a fine seizing of a small opportunity, a test of courage. And for Carpentier it was a great moment, a triumph of presence of mind: thought and action were well nigh simultaneous. The blow seemed to shake Dempsey, and the huge crowd yelled with delight for the Frenchman, who immediately followed up his advantage. He had been hurt: he was weak, but he had taken his opportunity. That left was a hard blow, almost as hard as any he had ever struck. It was a wonderful chance: he had never thought he would be able to get in a blow like that, not after that first round. And now he would hit again, and he swung his right hand to Dempsey's jaw with all his might. But there was just a shade of flurry about that blow, and Carpentier did a thing he had not done for years : he swung his hand in its natural position, instead of twisting it over a little in its passage so that the finger knuckles struck the jaw: and the natural position made the impact fall upon the thumb. It was a beginner's mistake, but a frequent one when hot haste makes a man a little wild. Carpentier felt a sharp and agonising pain, but he struck again with his right, and this time he missed. Dempsey came forward and this time it was he who clinched, before attacking the French man's body again with his half-arm blows. And so the round ended.

What had happened was this : the full weight of Carpentier's blow falling on his thumb broke it and sprained his wrist. Dempsey shook his head and retired a step or two, and declared afterwards that he could not remember the blow. This is unlikely.

He added that he might possibly have been caught when he was off his balance and so appeared to stagger. We may say for certain that the two blows, left and right combined, would have knocked any other man out. Certainly their effect upon the champion was trivial; though it is said that some one in his corner stretched out his hand for the smelling-salts, so as to be ready in case Dempsey came to his corner dazed.

The third round began, and Carpentier retreated as his opponent advanced on him. He knew too much now to attempt to " mix it," he would keep away. His only chance lay in Dempsey's tiring himself. He said afterwards that those two blows in the second were the best he could strike, and when he saw that they had failed he lost heart. "Dempsey gave me a blow, just afterwards, on the neck which seemed to daze me," he said. Well, there are various degrees of losing heart. Carpentier may have realised that his task was hopeless, but he meant to go on. He landed a right at very long range with no power behind it to speak of, and Dempsey clinched, before sending home several of his rib-shattering half-arm blows. Carpentier's strength was going. These body-blows had hurt him severely, and their effect was sickening and lasting. Then Dempsey hit him a little higher, just under the heart, and the Frenchman's knees gave. He was nearly down, but managed to keep on his legs until the end of the round. But he was looking ill as he went to his corner.

Directly the fourth round began the sullen giant crouched and attacked Carpentier with all his strength, driving him fast before him round the ring until he had him in a corner. Dempsey swung his right and Carpentier ducked inside it. They were close together, and he had to submit to a bout of in-fighting, trying to force his way out of the corner. But Dempsey got him close up against the ropes and sent in a very hot right to the jaw. Carpentier collapsed upon hands and knees. The ring, his antagonist, the faces peering at him from the level of the stage, were misty and vague. There was only one idea in his mind, only one thing that he could hear. He must get up somehow before the referee counted ten. . . . Four five (he was not done yet) six seven (he must stay down as long as possible) eight nine. And at that Carpentier jumped up quickly and flung up his arms to guard against the inevitable rush. It was no good. He did not know his own weakness. Dempsey just pushed his arms aside, feinted with his left, and sent his right crashing to the heart. Again Carpentier fell, and this time he was counted out