Jack Dempsey and Harry Wills, the timeline

Miske was easy money. Then Brennan and Carpentier. A busy ten-month period, certainly by the standards of Dempsey's reign. That gave him some spending money, I guess, despite Kearns' larceny. Plus the continuing movie or theatre deals and appearances on his trip to Europe, exhibitions etc. Must have made some dough. But money often is easy come, easy go.

 

During 1920, Jack Dempsey was tried on charges of avoiding the draft and was acquitted, which means he must've shelled out plenty of money in attorney's fees. In addition, it was alleged during his trial that he provided a substantial level of financial support to his parents.

- Chuck Johnston

 

Miske was credible enough, yes, he'd mixed with some of the best on fairly even terms. He was an easier fight than Wills though, on paper, at that time certainly. Based on his recent form he was worse than he had been in 1918, and ill apparently.

I don't criticize Dempsey for fighting him. 3 times in all.

 

It seems that just about every world heavyweight champion has fought challengers who were less than worthy. The big difference is that some of the champions also fought the most worthy challengers while Jack Dempsey is among those who didn't.

- Chuck Johnston

 

What journalist? Lets have a name and the article. Thomas Rice who was always hostile to Wills gave Madden two rounds and offered that some writers gave Madden one more. Harry Cross said the exact same thing. The Queensboro Star said that Madden had spoiled the fight by hugging to survive and had robbed the fans of a chance to get a real read on Wills. It said his only purpose was to try to finish the fight on his feet. The paper criticized referee Eddie Purdy for not forcing Madden to quit clinching and fight. Rollo Wilson of the Pittsburgh Courier had Wills far ahead and also blamed Madden's surviving tactics on the fight turning out the way it did. The New York Age said Wills gave Madden a beating. Joe Vila, also no fan of Wills, said that while his showing was disappointing it had as much to do with inactivity as it did anything and compared it to Dempsey's showing against Gibbons. Wilbur Wood said there wasnt the slightest doubt that Wills won and gave a laundry list of Madden's injuries adding that Madden was content to tie up Wills most of the time.

Its funny because Wills was damned if he did and damned if he didnt. He had to fight Madden because Dempsey had been trying to set Madden up as an opponent since 1920. He was told he had to win convincingly. He did this. He closed both of Maddens eyes, cut his face in several places, and sent him to the hospital. You take a guy who was compared numerous times in that era to Joe Grim and match him with Wills and then it was "if Wills couldnt knock out tired old Madden he has lost some of his standing" Nevermind that Madden was an extremely durable Chuvalo type who was known for being able to take a pounding. That outcome was what should have been expected and to top it off the following year in 1925 we have Dempsey again trying to fight Madden and ignoring Wills...

 

No because in 1919 he had gotten a shot at a fading Levinsky at LHW and lost convincingly. He then retired due to his health and it was the worst kept secret in boxing when he returned that he was still sick and needed money due to his failing business ventures. Dempsey even admits that he knew Miske was dying when he agreed to face him and did so out of charity.

 

This is true

 

some good stuff, funny they exaggerated height back then as well, they had Wills listed at 6"5....Dempsey felt sorry for Jess, didn't think he had anything but mean in his heart. Shame the fight never happened it would have added to Jack's resume if he won (which I think he would have but you never know) still would have been the right thing, again it all kind of shows Dempsey would have fought him

 

Miske was sick as a dog and could barely train. He had just lost a bundle on a failed auto dealership and needed money for his young family. Jack did him a favor in name but was particularly brutal and foul in KO'ing him. Can't teach an old dog new tricks, I guess.