101 years ago

Date: 4th July 1923

Venue: Arena, Shelby, Montana

Title: World Heavyweight Title

Promoter: The Town of Shelby

Tv: Cinematic Film

Jack Dempsey
( 55 - 4 - 9 )
Weight: 188 lbs

Tommy Gibbons
( 86 - 3 - 3 )
Weight: 175½ lbs

The boxing match that took place on 4th July 1923 between Jack Dempsey and Tommy Gibbons in Shelby, Montana, was more than just a sports event, it represented the ambitions and dreams of a small town aiming for greatness. The match was part of an elaborate plan to boost the economy of Shelby, with Jack Dempsey being the primary attraction due to his reputation as a financial gold mine. Dempsey's manager, Jack Kearns, capitalized on this appeal by negotiating a steep fee of $300,000, paid in three instalments, with the risk of forfeiture if the town failed to meet any of these payments. Unfortunately, despite the town officials' eagerness and the fulfilment of the initial payment, securing the remaining amount proved difficult.

As time passed, the burden of the second and third payments weighed heavily on the town. A local banker generously contributed the final $98,200 for the second payment, but the third instalment found Shelby's coffers empty. The match was momentarily called off on the 3rd of July, only to resume when Kearns consented to accept any remaining funds from the gate receipts. The contractual agreement with Kearns, it turned out, had set Shelby up for failure.

The ticket sales did not meet the expected numbers, primarily because Gibbons, despite being a credible challenger and a former middleweight champion's brother, did not generate enough excitement. To compound the issue, many local spectators, put off by the inflated ticket prices, breached the ticket barrier and watched the fight free of charge. Although Gibbons was the crowd's favorite, he failed to deliver a captivating performance, and Dempsey's usually commanding presence fell flat.

The match culminated in a rather undistinguished showdown that lasted 15 rounds, at the end of which Dempsey was declared the winner by referee Jim Dougherty, Kearns' handpicked referee. The audience did not dispute the decision, but their disappointment was palpable. The financial arrangement had ensured that the first $300,000 went to Kearns, and with only $72,000 of the third instalment paid, Gibbons was left with no compensation for his efforts in the ring.

Following the event, Kearns, fearing a possible backlash from the disappointed locals, swiftly arranged a hasty exit from Shelby, a town left even more bruised and shattered than the boxers themselves. The grand vision of economic revival through a boxing match had ended in a harsh and unfulfilling reality, a sobering lesson in the perils of high-stakes gamble in the world of sports promotion.