Is Jack Dempsey a Top 10 Heavyweight All-Time?

Former LHW.

 

I have always ( and still ) feel the same. I know, as do you, that this topic has been beaten to **** around here, especially over the past few months. In fact, I think it was about this time last December that we must have seen roughly 35 threads devoted to Dempsey's legacy in what, 3 weeks?

I have never understood the logic behind rating him within a top 5 list. We can talk all we want about how he destroyed Jess Willard. We can chat until we are blue in the face about his 25 first round KO's. We can type until we develop carpal tunnel in regards to his being the first fighter to generate a million US dollars in a boxing match. Neverthless, these things do not erase the fact that he sat on the thrown for 3 years defenseless. They do not bypass the reality that there were at least two or three worthy challengers who were never granted a challenge, and what's worse were the politically incorrect reasons behind them being denied. All and all, he recorded an abismal 6 defenses in 7 years, at least 4 of which coming against men who's credentials were say, rather ordinary.

Manassa Mauler does not make my top 10, regardless of what his name recognition may mean to other fans and hostorians........

 

All I can say is that I would love for you to pick 15 heavyweights you think could beat Jack Dempsey and then we bet a fiver on each matchup.

I would make a good profit.

 

Did too.
"Just one man, Fred Fulton, stands today between Jack Dempsey, the shiftiest two-fisted fighter since Bob Fitzsimmons, and Jess Willard, the heavyweight champion of the world." -Warren Evening
Times, after Dempsey's first win over Brennan. Per the Washington Post account after the Dempsey-Fulton match, Fulton had been "looked on as the most formidable rival of Jess Willard."

Miske and Brennan were also ranked among the best contenders, and the likes of Smith and Morris round the run out nicely. Dempsey's pre-title tear is an immensely impressive thing.

 

How exactly do you think Jeff Clark fits in as a suitable opponent for Dempsey?
Between 1916 and 1926 ,Clark had 53 fights and lost 27 of them ,with 11 ko losses on his record,his best win was a 6 rd NWS dec over Langford this was the semifinal to the Dempsey Miske bout, prior to that his best wins were 2 decs over Gunboat Smith ,who Dempsey massacred twice.Bearcat Wright, didnt turn pro till 1920 his best win was a dec over a Langford who was at least 40. Bill Tate from 1916 to 25 had 46 fights and lost18,he had a nws win over Langford ,but was beat by Wills,GodfreyLangford and Norfolk,he was a glorified sparring partner.Say Dempsey ducked Wills if you want [though he signed to fight him], even say he ducked Greb [ who said the then LH Tunney was too big and strong for him], but please don't say that Dempsey ducked Wright ,Tate, or Clark!

 

A prime Bearcat Wright couldn't beat Mickey Walker ! Dempsey had been Champ a year before Wright turned pro,what would a fight between them have proved?

 

Dempsey definitely was one of the top fighters between 1917-1919, but it should be noted that it is likely the press ignored black contenders. Mcvey, Jeannette and Langford were still around and very willing to face Dempsey, but that favor was never returned.

I would not so much consider this a blemish on his record if he improved ways afterwards, but he didn't. Wills was refused a titleshot. So were Renault and Greb. He fought one black man (John Lester Johnson in 1916) who held him to a rib-breaking draw, and never fought one again.


p.s. i have an article which states "Dempsey, a relatively unknown fighter", from 1918. So apparantly, he wasn't that known all over yet, one year before he won the title. Information did spread much slower back then, of course.

 

One thing. Bearcat Wright wasn't fighting during Dempsey's pre-title run. I also consider Fulton and Miske to have been at the very top of the heavyweight scene of the era.