Lol, so what world class real HWs did Dempsey stop and beat? Those guys like Willard were laughable oafs, couldn't even box, they were just big and heavy, that was their asset... They wouldn't last one round against Norton's competition, but i forgot we are on the famous Classic room, where the older the fighter, the more magical he was, too bad there are those little facts called records and video evidence... Do you guys see Dempsey beating Ali or Holmes? More "athletic" means stronger, exactly a better athlete overall, that's Norton compared to ancient Dempsey...
Ali and Holmes are top ten ATG heavyweights .Anyone claim the same for Norton? More athletic? Charles ,Mathews, than Marciano. Patterson, than Liston . Corbett than Fitzsimmons. Williams ,Tucker ,Biggs, than Tyson. Patterson than Johannson. Holyfield than Bowe. Why don't you share all the early footage of Dempsey's ko's over these "oafs " with the forum? I don't see anyone but you claiming Norton had superior power to Dempsey, but I forgot it's the school holidays. Maybe the Classic isn't going to be your metier?
I actually seeing a prime Dempsey giving both Ali and Holmes tough tests. He had speed and power. He had stamina, a terrific chin and his own 77 inch reach. Neither Holmes or Ali was the type,of puncher I feel would blow Jack out like say a prime Tysonor a Lennox Lewis. As far as Norton goes I find this whole,argument dicey. Ken was a terrific fighter but froze against big punchers like few fighters I have ever seen, even those less than highly skilled like Shavers who to this day I'm still surprised that Norton did not out box and then stop. Norton absolutely froze. Foreman destroyed him. Shavers destroyed him. Even coming back he looked real good beating a then undefeated Tex Cobb fighting at a hard pace for ten rounds in a heck of a fight but then froze against ****ey. The debate is if one believes Dempsey was for real or not. If a 188 pound Cooper could for all intents and purposes knock out Ali then there is no doubt a strong cruiser can match up well with the right heavyweight style wise.
What does a boxer look like? In 100 years, when boxing styles evolve, and new multimedia mediums emerge, will todays boxers still look like boxers? Does a boxer look like Ali? Or like Marciano? Like Klitschko? Or Wilder? If there is a "correct" way of looking like a boxer, why doesn't everyone have that same style?
Quality of film has plenty to do with it. Post a herky jerky typical silient film era footage of Dempsey and the lesser posters rage how poor he looks. Post the same footage but slowed down to normal speed, a first generation print and everyone is amazed Dempsey slips seven consecutive jabs from Tunney.
Yeah, but even if you follow that line, where do you draw the line. I mean, there are some fit 225 pound boxers in my local gym, amateurs and semi-pros mostly. They'd almost certainly impress you far more than films of Baer and Firpo. You might disagree but something tells me Baer and Firpo would have wrecked them.
Willard didn't have fundamentals, but beat Jack freakin Johnson? Reducing undisputed champs to 3 week amateurs is a bit zany if you ask me.