Does Dempsey get too much of a free pass for the Meehan fights?

I looked this fight up in the SF papers when I was in SF. Meehan cuffed Dempsey around pretty badly in the 4th round, apparently.

Dempsey's defenders pointed out there was no reason for him to take this fight, but he did as it was for a Naval charity of some sort.

I wish I still had my notes on these articles. One thing I remember, though, is that Meehan is described as swarming Dempsey rather than bouncing around. There were comments that Dempsey had trouble with a fighter who came forward. Perhaps someone here who lives in SF could visit the library and post the various stories.

 

You are nearly right.

His style was a bit like Calzaghes but he tended to run the entire fight so he was hard to catch in a four rounder.

 

What can I say? You allways come up with the goods!:good

 

I look at the Meehan fights like I do Marciano's bout with Cockell. Don was bouncy on his feet and actually pretty good, despite his frame. Meehan gave lots of fighters, not just Dempsey, a hard time in the ring. Was quick on his feet and hard to knock out, despite his 'pudgy' build.

 

Some pictures of Meehan:

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Vs Al Norton.

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Shaking hands with Dempsey.

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I like how that was considered fat back then.

 

Fat then did not mean the same thing as fat today.

 

Truer words were never written. :yep

 

Second fight, Oakland Tribune, July 28
Emeryville, Cal.
Willie Mleehan was a disappointment
to those who backed him to beat Jack
Dempsey. There was a time when the
fans thought it could not be done when
somebody mentioned that Mleehan was
growing fatter. Last night he showed
that it could be done. Meehan was so
fat that it hung in rolls over his belt and
although he was game enough he did not
have the punch after the first two rounds
to do Dempsey any damage and Dempsey
was returned a winner.

 

They would have had to invented some new superlatives for some of the fighters who have held versions of the heavyweight title since Lewis retired.

 

Oakland Tribune, More on the July 1917 fight.
MEEHAN NOT IN SHAPE
Meehan took a lot of punishment and
gamely came back for more in his bout
with Dempsey. In the second and third
rounds Dempsey had Meehan about to
the groggy stage, but each time Meehan
rallied, pulled himself together and finished
the round with a strong attack.
But Meehan was too fat and too far
from being in condition to make his old-
time whirlwind attack. Once or twice
only did Meehan tear loose and bear in
with a two-handed windmill attack on
Dempsey and each time he had the hig
fellow all but sewed up. But Meehan
did not have the strength or wind to
keep it up and if the fight had gone two
or three rounds longer, Dempsey would
about have Meehan at his mercy, Dempsey
looked an improved foghter....

 

From what people here have said before, the Some of the Meehan fights were supposed to be exhibitions, but who knows if perhaps the claim was designed to mask the losses.

 

their first fight,Oakland Tribune 29 March, 1917.
San Francisco Boxer Shows Up the Salt Lake
Champion at Emeryville Show
Willie Median is still the riddle of the ring. Tho Sun Francisco marvel
made a bum out of the Salt Luke champion. Jack Dcmpsey, last night in
the Emeryville open-air arena, and he did tho job so thoroughly that there
was no room left for argument. Dempsey may come back and lick Meehan
some future day, but last night be was as helpless as a man with both
hands tied.
Median was in the best condition ringsiders over remember seeing him
in. He must have taken off twenty pounds, for his legs were slim and
sleek, and his paunch reduced to respectable proportions. Moreover, Meehan
was thoroughly confident, and lie surprised even his admirers by discarding
all his clownish tactics for tho first two rounds, carrying the fight io his
opponent, and actually outfighting him. Then by way of variation, Willie
began pulling some of his circus stuff, and Dempsey could not land a glove
on him. The Salt Lake man looked just as bad in tho ring last night as Al
Norton did when the latter undertook to box Meehnn in the ball park last
Thanksgiving Day. The judges handed down a unanimous verdict, but there
was no need. Meehan won by from here to next week. The scrap by rounds:
Round 1—They worked to close quarters and opened an attack on the body.
Meehan made Dempsey miss, and attacked
the Salt Lake's man's stomach.
Dempsey landed right upper cut to chin,
and they traded ri ghts to stomach.
Meehan hooked his left to head repeatedly
while Dempsey sought an opening.
Dempsey missed left and right to head.
The old cut over Dempsey's left eye was
opened. Even round..
Round 2.—Meehan hooked left to head
and they indulged in a furious rally with
honors even. Dempsey got in a right
and left hook to head and repeated to
the stomach. Meehan was not using
any of his circus punches, and showed a
disposition to trade wallops with the
Salt Lake man. Meehan repeated left
to stomach three times. Meehan hooked
two left to head and took the round.
Round 3—Meehan again worked left to
stomach and they clinched. Meehan
worked left to body and right cross to
jaw. Dempsey could not connect. Meehan
slipping by all his punches and
standing off Dempsey with left swings.
Meehan made the Salt Lake man look
foolish. Meehan a mile.
Round 4-They came to close quarters
and indulged in a furious rally, each
man swinging to jaw. Dempsey tried in
vain to bring over a hay-maker, but
could not touch the shifty San Franciscan.
Meehan pounded away at the
stomach arid ducked away from the return.
Meehan had a clear lead at the
bell.

 

these are some excellent reports. I dont think there is much dispute as to who won the first fight, its the last fight and the couple of draws that were arguable according to newspapers

 

actually the first four fights are considered legitimate. However it has been said that the last fight was for the navy relief fund or something, meehan was supposedly in the navy