Dempsey's vaunted run to the Title

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Seamus, Jan 18, 2013.


  1. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

    58,748
    21,579
    Nov 24, 2005
    Both of them. Yeah, I'm impressed.
     
  2. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

    58,748
    21,579
    Nov 24, 2005

    Johnson's was a slow climb, it's hard to compare.
    Dempsey's was an 18-month campaign, a barnstorming KO tour and some KOs of some contenders.

    While it should be noted that Dempsey dropped a decision to Willie Meehan in a 4-rounder in 1918, and didn't face Harry Wills, who was probably the other leading contender, it has to be said that Joe Louis's run at the title was rudely interrupted by Max Schmeling and Louis's managers then did their bit to de-rail Schmeling's rightful first shot at the title.
    Not saying Louis's record wasn't uber-impressive going in to the Braddock fight, but it's a clear example of the machinations of shrewd management being the deciding factor.
     
  3. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,611
    27,290
    Feb 15, 2006
     
  4. PetethePrince

    PetethePrince Slick & Redheaded Full Member

    28,760
    84
    May 30, 2009
    :deal
     
  5. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    113,089
    48,283
    Mar 21, 2007
    But I haven't done that. That would indeed be unresonable. It's the equivalent of seeing that single line and deducing that the fight was controversial in the absence of any other evidence. I mean you literally can't even say you've seen a report that has the fight to Levinsky!

    Why? Greb almost certainly beat the guy twice before Dempsey fought him. That's as close to a definition of fighting leftovers as i have ever seen. You want him to beat him three times to qualify? Or four?


    You can say he won it in the opinion of the huge majority of ringsiders, as far as we are aware. This is the exact definition of every valid points victory in history.


    People overlooked it all the time at the time.
     
  6. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

    58,748
    21,579
    Nov 24, 2005
    Lots of fighters had beat Levinsky before Dempsey did.
    (I'm not sure Clay Turner didn't beat him in the fight previous. Reports differ)
    But no one had knocked Levinsky out before, according to Levinsky and the available record.
    Hardly anyone KO'd him after either, despite him fighting until he was all washed-up and almost 40 years old.

    In that respect, it's a good result for Dempsey.
     
  7. Nightcrawler

    Nightcrawler Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,432
    32
    Dec 18, 2011
    a good result yes but considering it's one of the best wins for what some say is one of the best fighters ever, it's not that impressive
     
  8. Manassa

    Manassa - banned

    7,766
    93
    Apr 6, 2007
    Similar to Louis versus King Levinsky.
     
  9. Nightcrawler

    Nightcrawler Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,432
    32
    Dec 18, 2011
    i'm a massive fan of wlad's. and if someone asked me to rate his resume, i'd say it's lacking. he is in a sub par era but fights the best he has. no all time greats though on his ledger
     
  10. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

    82,055
    22,159
    Sep 15, 2009
    Yeah despite Greb being a clear better choice, the levinsky victory is still great.
     
  11. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    61,961
    46,797
    Feb 11, 2005
    Dempsey could punch like mule kicks. And he often sold out his entire game to land big punches. I ain't going to deny that.
     
  12. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    61,961
    46,797
    Feb 11, 2005
    Good, not great.

    People got excited when Sam Peter knocked Jeremy Williams cold as a cucumber. No one had done that before. A similar head-turning victory but not a great one.
     
  13. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,611
    27,290
    Feb 15, 2006
    Down to brass tacks then.

    How many local papers are you aware of having scored the fight for Greb?
     
  14. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,611
    27,290
    Feb 15, 2006
    The crucial difference is that Levinsky was actualy regarded as being one of the better contenders of the period, while Williams wasn't.
     
  15. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    113,089
    48,283
    Mar 21, 2007
    Yeah, or to get down to brass tacks, why is fighting a guy another guy is beaten twice not leftovers and why is a one line second hand summary indicative of a controversial fight? But to answer your quesiton, one.

    Plus the wire, plus the four or five indicating Dempsey won on Boxrec plus two others (unless they are covered by the Boxrec detailing, I can't remember of hand). So that makes a ratio of something like 7-1 (or 5-1), overwhelmingly in favour of Greb. Unless, of course, you are excluding The New York Times Report, the Pittsburgh Post report and all the others that aren't printed within a few miles of where the fight took place for some reason.


    Thomas Hauser HBO 115-114 Bradley/Pacquiao
    Bart Barry HBO 116-115 Bradley/Pacquiao

    Controversial? Not because of the cards against, that's for sure.