The Long Count Fight, also known as the Battle of the Long Count, was a pivotal boxing match that took place on September 22, 1927, at Soldier Field in Chicago. This highly anticipated rematch for the world heavyweight title pitted Gene Tunney against Jack Dempsey. The fight earned its memorable nickname due to a delayed count by the referee after Tunney was knocked down in the seventh round. This delay, caused by Dempsey's failure to immediately
retreat to a neutral corner as required by a new rule, allowed Tunney crucial time to recover and ultimately win the match, retaining his championship belt. The controversy surrounding this "long count" continues to be debated among boxing enthusiasts to this day.
The Road to the Rematch: A Year of Anticipation
Just 364 days before the Long Count Fight, on September 23, 1926, Gene Tunney had already defeated Jack Dempsey by a unanimous decision, claiming the world heavyweight title at Sesquicentennial Stadium in Philadelphia. Despite Tunney's clear victory in their first encounter, the prospect of a rematch generated immense public and media interest. Dempsey was a legendary figure, one of the "five greats" of sports in the 1920s, and his loss had been a significant upset. Tunney, known as "The Fighting Marine" due to his background in the Marine Corps and his appreciation for literature and the arts, presented a contrasting image to the more rugged Dempsey.
The first match between the two had not been held in Chicago because Dempsey had learned that gangster Al Capone was a big fan and did not want Capone involved with the fight. However, before the rematch, it became known that Capone had bet $50,000 on Dempsey, leading to rumors of a potential fix. These rumors were later disproven by the actual events of the fight. Despite Tunney's previous win, bookmakers still favored Dempsey in both matches, highlighting his enduring popularity and reputation.
The New Rule and the Seventh Round Knockdown
The rematch was fought under a new rule regarding knockdowns: a boxer on the canvas had 10 seconds to get back on their feet, but only after their opponent had moved to the nearest neutral corner. This rule, which was not yet universally applied, had been specifically requested by Dempsey's camp during negotiations. It was a significant change designed to ensure fairness and prevent a boxer from hovering over a downed opponent, ready to strike immediately upon recovery.
According to many accounts, Tunney was largely dominating the fight when, in the seventh round, Dempsey cornered him against the ropes. Dempsey then unleashed a powerful combination of blows that sent the champion to the canvas. This was a historic moment, marking the first time in Tunney's career that he had been knocked down. Tunney, dazed and disoriented, grabbed the top rope with his left hand. Dempsey, accustomed to standing over his fallen opponents, remained close to Tunney, observing him, rather than immediately retreating to a neutral corner as the new rule stipulated.
The Controversial Count and Tunney's Recovery
Because Dempsey did not move to a neutral corner, the referee, Dave Barry, delayed starting his ten-second count. This delay was crucial, as it provided Tunney with valuable extra seconds to recover from the knockdown. Witnesses at the time estimated that Tunney was on the canvas for anywhere from 3 to 8 seconds before Dempsey finally moved to a neutral corner, allowing the official count to begin. The official timekeeper, Paul Beeler, later stated that he had counted 13 seconds by the time Tunney got back on his feet.
Tunney ultimately rose at the ninth second of the referee's count and managed to finish the round. In the eighth round, Tunney resumed his long-distance boxing style and even knocked Dempsey down, though Dempsey quickly recovered. Interestingly, when Dempsey was knocked down, the referee appeared to start the count immediately, without waiting for Tunney to move to a neutral corner. Tunney went on to dominate the final two rounds, winning the match by a unanimous decision and retaining his world heavyweight title. The seventh round was the only one he lost. The "Long Count" remains a subject of intense discussion, with many debating whether the delay truly altered the fight's outcome.
