Though i could be wrong, I would personally pick Jack Dempsey to beat pretty much anyone who preceded him as champion. I don't know if I can see Johnson, Jeffries, Corbett, Fitz or any others taking him. His punching ability combined with his rather fast footwork was a combination that really hadn't been seen before his time. Johson's inside fighting tactics and tendency to wear his opponents down might prove to be a test, but he isn't going to just smother some of those lethal onsloughts that Dempsey often unleashed on his foes. Jack would have to take numerous bombs in an effort to take Dempsey into deep water, and frankly I don't know if he'd survive the storm.. I'm picking Dempsey by KO...Not sure what round.
Johnson is big, strong and skilled enough to manhandle Dempsey in the ring........ Dempsey's ferocious attack would work well in the early going, however, Dempsey was often too wild and would begin to get tagged in return by sharp counters from Johnson..... Johnson takes Dempsey the **** out somewhere in rds 11 thru 15 in a 15 rounder........ Peace..... MR.BILL
i agree with this. the only thing in wich johnson was better then dempsey was his defensive capacities but that is not enough to last against a ferocious fighter like dempsey.
Dempsey is my favourite heavyweight ,but I think Johnson outsmarts him here. After a torrid 6 rds Johnson begins to take over with his clever boxing,he is strong enough to tie Dempsey up and clever enough to block his big bangs to body and head.
Hard fight to call. I image it would either be Dempsey by early to mid KO or Johnson by decision. I'm leaning ever so slightly towards the former.
It may well be that Dempsey would tag Johnson ,in one of his whirlwind attacks and apply the crusher.That would be my preferred scenario,[Dempsey is my favourite heavy ], but I feel that Johnson would be cagey enough to survive the early tornado, and gradually assert himself through superior boxing, but he sure would have some hairy moments along the way.
Johnson's survival and defensive tactics were bested by none. That much is certain. In order to beat the man you had to be committed for the long haul. For that reason I don't see Dempsey finishing this early, but I can't stand to think of the punishment Johnson would have to take in order to get the better of him. This would not be a 35 year old weathered Jeffries he'd be taking on ( a fight that took Johnson 15 rounds to finish. ) Johnson could very well win of course, but the beating that he'd sustain would be absolutely helacious.
Johnson by wide decision over 15 ... no one pullled that wildcat routine on Johnson. Too strong, too talented, too smart, too good. However, Dempsey tough and extremely dangerous straight through.
Tough fight as both were good at what they did, Dempsey was the harder puncher and had great Killer instinct and Johnson was a great defensive fighter....I favor Dempsy to Catch Johnson with a powerfull flurrie but Jack would grab and hold and parry and jab and land a few good shots of his own...I just think a prime Dempsey had real good fire power and had the faster hands....Dempsey by stop or UD