Aside from Wills and Langford, who are the best men of his day Dempsey never fought?

The timeline is important here.

This happens while Wills is viewed as the standout contender, then when Wills is given an immediate shot at redemption, he only manages a draw.

Rickard could really have seen Wills off as a contender here if he wanted to.

All he had to do was match the two best white contenders, and the winner would have risen above Wills in the hypothetical rankings.

Block Wills from getting a couple of key fights, and he is out of the picture for a few years.

But Rickard doesn't do this, he matches Wills against Norfolk in another title eliminator, therefore throwing him a lifeline!

Rickard basically bailed Wills out!

 

I don't think that Norfolk was better than Miske to be honest.

I like Miske's body of work better!b

 

My eyes/opinion of Dempsey's other challengers have nothing to do with this.Wills was just too big and powerful for Norfolk who was 5.8" and really an overstuffed lhvy

 

No I was wrong! I was quoting from memory it was Firpo's fight with Dempsey for which Godfrey sparred with Firpo!
"The sixth ranked boxer Godfrey had served as Firpo's sparring partner before the latters fight with Dempsey." page 213 same book.

 

Yes some of it is in your Greb book which I own.

 

When do you think Siki would have been a credible opponent for champion Dempsey?
When do you think Johnson would have been a credible opponent for champion Dempsey?

 

And Dempsey at 6’1 187lb wouldn’t have that overwhelming size advantage over Norfolk

 

Ok well Norfolk decisively defeated Miske when he was at his peak so please note that

 

Bailed out? Anyone who has done thorough research on the era knows wills got screwed time and time again.

I would argue no other fighter in history was screwed over as much as Wills. It’s the biggest duck in boxing history

 

Dempsey did not win the title until July 4th 1919.
Johnson was on the run in exile then.No chance of a US fight and no chance of the new champion fighting abroad.
Johnson was in Leavenworth prison from July 20th 1920 until July 9th 1921. When he was freed ,he did not fight until 1923 when he was 43 years old with all that inactivity and rust.Totally unrealistic!
Siki beat Carpentier in September 1922 ,he lost his next fight for the French lhvy title to journeyman Emile Morelle. He lost the fight after that losing his title to Mike McTigue in Dublin.So,after beating Carpentier in a very controversial fight he lost his next 3 fights,all to light heavies.Siki then beat two no hopers and closed out 1923 by losing to Kid Norfolk and Jack Taylor. Siki never fought outside Europe until November 1923 and he lost the 2 fights he did have in the US that year.
In 1924 Siki won 6 against ham and eggers,lost 6 and had 2 no decs.
In1925 Siki won 3 against nobodies and lost 4 with 2 no decs.

There was never a time in Siki's career when he would have been a credible opponent for Dempsey?
To match them would have been criminal!

Yet you say he would have been a suitable opponent for Dempsey?

 

In1923 5'8" Norfolk was scaling inside the lhvy limit, we know this because he fought for the Negro lhvy title that year and he would still be giving away 5 inches in height to Dempsey.Dempsey had 2 fights that year for one [Carpentier ] he was188 and he murdered the Frenchman,for the other [Firpo,] he was 192.5lbs, 2 rounds blitz.I can't give Norfolk any chance here.

 

Miske was 23 years old.
Norfolk beat ;
Greb [foul]
Miske
Clark
Cowler
Siki
Flowers

Miske beat;
Flynn
Smith
Roper
Brennan
Renault
Fulton
Miske has more impressive wins against heavyweights, imo

 

Godfrey was with Dempsey in camp for the Firpo fight at Saratoga Springs.

 

Norfolk beat Miske twice
Jeanette
Lee Anderson
Battling Siki
Bill Tate
Jeff Clark
Gunboat Smith
Cowler
Pelkey

Its important to know that of the men you listed for Miske:

Most felt Fulton took a dive
Brennan was Norfolks stablemate thus protecting him from a Norfolk fight. They sparred together for the 1920 Dempsey fight and after Dempsey had so much trouble with Brennan he was advised to avoid Norfolk. And it was alleged Brennan took a dive in the final fight with Miske. He was even banned for it and his purse was denied.
I think Norfolks record stands up fine next to Miskes and the fact that he proved Miskes master counts for something.

 

The other Miske fight is not listed as a win for Norfolk.
Lee Anderson I am not familiar with.Siki was never a heavyweight.Tate was sparring partner level,neither Smith fight is listed as wins for Norfolk.Cowler a second stringer .After McCarty died everyone beat Pelkey he gets no kudos from me for that win.
Jeannette was a month off 40 for the first Norfolk fight and 40 for the second ,both are listed on CBZ as no decs.I am unable to access Box Rec so don't know what they have to say .